Quote:
Originally Posted by rkomar
Just within the programming world. I'm seeing a trend away from written documentation to videos. It seems that many younger people can't follow the written instructions as easily as those spoken and displayed in videos. It's strange to me, since the text is so much more precise and concise, but there you have it.
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I read a lot and have since I was 3. I often find a well done video will show me the error of my ways if I am having a problem with something specific. Usually, probably always I read the instructions first.
For games I often don't read the instructions till have done the tutorial if there is one.
And I have come to appreciate the numerous how to videos on cooking and repairing etc.
I recently managed to repair a vacuum and my carpet cleaner thanks to videos. My dishwasher I fixed last year by reading written instructions from the web.
I don't think it is the younger generations abilities at fault, just that sometimes users who have experience can address a specific point in a different or even better manner and the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has been around for some time I think.
And while documentation is no doubt improving, some of it is still unusable, poorly translated, or incomplete. I've even written some of it myself I am afraid.
Maybe they will come up with a better way to read, but not all will like them. We have audiobooks but I prefer to read.
Can't say I am worried though about reading 100 years from now. A lot of people don't read much today, and a smaller percentage of the population read 100 or 1000 years ago and the world trundled along. Many happy well adjusted and intelligent people prefer not to read and while I may not understand it as I personally read a lot, it is their choice to make not mine.
Helen