I think that a cloud based solution is a great idea. But for mobile users this would a problem. One possible solution would be to include *all* of the content that is available online in a repository that *gets updated when the contents on the web changes*. Then is is not just static and can be redesigned. If the downloaded format was HTML, then this would not require another application. I think that a cloud based solution would be great, but there needs to be a easy way to download all of that content locally.
On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 8:30 PM, Jim Campbell <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi All, > > On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 6:34 PM, Shaun McCance <[email protected]> wrote: > >> On Wed, 2010-07-07 at 17:13 -0400, Kyle Nitzsche wrote: >> > >> http://mdzlog.alcor.net/2010/07/06/weve-packaged-all-of-the-free-software-what-now/ >> >> [snip] >> >> > With which I agree in general. >> > * on-disk docs might effectively be limited to only what is necessary to >> > get started and get connected to the web (localized, of course). >> > * run-time help links might instead display appropriate content in the >> > browser. >> >> [snip] >> >> > Naturally, there are disadvantages, such as: >> > * no internet connection = no help (beyond the minimal on-disk help) >> > * umm.. any other disadvantages? >> >> A greater disconnect between applications and their help. Our >> traditional help consists of islands of documents that are >> largely separate from the applications they document. >> >> One of my current projects is a library for deeply integrating >> help into applications. (It was Phil's idea, although he might >> not realize it.) Imagine help buttons and menus automatically >> populated with the most relevant content, searching for help >> directly in the help menu, and on-board help blurbs that come >> directly from the help and link into it for more information. >> >> These are the sorts of things that user assistance professionals >> are dreaming about, but most help tool vendors are still stuck >> in the 90s. We have the opportunity to blaze new trails with >> free software. Stop playing catchup and make UA professionals' >> mouths water. >> >> It's possible to have this sort of deep integration with cloud >> content, but it's harder. I have no doubt that help will move >> more and more to the web, but then, applications will move more >> and more to the web as well. If we jump there too early without >> thinking about how to really improve things, we'll lock ourselves >> into an outdated and inadequate help model. >> >> -- >> Shaun >> >> > To be fair, I don' t think that the two approaches to help have to be > mutually exclusive. What Shaun is talking about is awesome > application-level help. There will still be a need for people who want that > help content in different formats, whether they be manuals or help that is > searchable on the web. > > As for on-disk vs. cloud/web-based content, I think having more web-based > content is necessary now. We would still have the option of keeping on-disk > help relatively light. For example, we could not include (as many?) > screenshots in on-disk help as would be available in other formats. > > Also, as far as I know, Ubuntu is one of the few distros that ships a good > amount of on-disk help at all. Fedora just ships their release notes in the > main install, and OpenSUSE (I think) just features some sort of > getting-started guide. Both have their other help available for download on > their websites. Does anybody know how RHEL and SUSE have theirs set up? Do > they have much "distro-specific" help in the base install? > > As for Apple and Microsoft, they may have a good amount of on-disk help, > but they don't concern themselves with fitting all of their OS and > applications onto a 700mb CDROM. For base installs they have DVD's and > having some of their content accessible via the web. > > I bring up those comparisons not necessarily to say, "Oh, they do it that > way, so that way is the best way," or to say, "Just do it however X group / > company is doing it," but to set realistic expectations for us. I want us > to be mindful of bandwidth / offline-access issues like the ones that Phil > W. brought up, and want to give room for Shaun's application-level help > ideas, but a better web-presence for Ubuntu help would also be a big step > forward. > > Jim > > _______________________________________________ > Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual > Post to : [email protected] > Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual > More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp > >
_______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
