In Pictures tutorials began as part of a research study we conducted for the U.S. Department of Education. The goal: to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to learn computer subjects.
As part of the study, we created simple, illustration-based tutorials. Everyone who tested them—not just people with learning disabilities—said the new tutorials enabled them to learn faster and easier than conventional text-heavy books.
So where are the color screenshots? The cartoon characters? The video animations? We don't use these things, because the study showed us that:
- The simpler, the better.
Tutorials should be as simple as possible. Multimedia animations may look nifty, but they can be hard to follow. That's why these tutorials use static screenshots.
- Black-and-white is better than color.
Color screenshots can create a "kaleidoscope" effect that makes it difficult to focus. Black-and-white doesn't. That's why these tutorials use black-and-white screenshots.
- Tasks are more important than features.
Most computer learning aids concentrate on features—the things a program can do. But most people care about tasks—the things they want to do. That's why these tutorials focus on common tasks.