"The instructions clearly state ..." Can't people read?
Understanding and complying with the instructions that accompany consumer products is not always easy, and indeed people may ignore the instruction entirely. Designing adequate instructions is a complex task. The basic requirements for good instructions can be specified, but the problem is one of developing adequate design procedures to meet them. Such procedures will involve co-ordinating the skills of experts in verbal and graphic communication, as well as those of experts familiar with the research literature and with techniques of empirical evaluation. The consequences of poor instructions can be serious. Moreover, changes in the legal notion of product liability may encourage manufacturers to re-examine how their instructions are prepared.
Wright
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Medical Research Applied Psychology Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EF, UK.