Help for Newbies

[Sean Wheller]

On Wednesday 02 March 2005 14:13, squareyes wrote:
> I personally would like to see some type of user guide that is easy to
> access, and with information that very new computer users can
> understand. There is a great deal of help available, but it's so
> scattered that new users have no idea where to find it. 

The reason it is so scattered is because everyone is off doing their own 
thing. In one aspect it is good people are doing, in another is is not so 
good that efforts are so dispersed.

The question of developing in SVN using Docbook is, IMHO, separate from 
accessability. The result of development is transformed to HTML and is 
available under Yelp within the distro. Take a look at the Quick Guide 
http://people.ubuntu.com/~mako/docteam/quickguide/

It is developed in SVN using Docbook XML and transformed to HTML on a 
scheduled build. Our combined efforts can build the User Guide far more 
quickly.

> When they do it 
> tends to be very technical, which means finding the answers to the help.
> Sounds like a great idea, once done wouldn't take much modifying for it
> to suit the next release (after Grumpy) Once the basics are understood,
> then online help is the way to go. 

We see things differently, I am not focused on PDF, HTML or Online Help I am 
focused on creating documents for user audiences. The presentation format 
that enables users to read the documents is a vehicle to enable 
accessability.

> Would be happy to help in any way I 
> can. As for now, am writing it to CD and giving it to those I pass Warty
> on to.

Sure, keep doing what you are doing now. There is no way we can adjust this 
initiative around what I have suggested at this moment in time. It is 
something I was thinking to consider for after Hoary.

-- 
Sean Wheller
Technical Author
sean at inwords.co.za
http://www.inwords.co.za
Registered Linux User #375355
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