Re: [user-assistance-discuss] Clarifying Our Goals

[Gordon Meyer <bb@g2meyer.com>]

Hello -

I've just joined, so allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am here  
as a private citizen, but I currently work for Apple and have been  
heavily involved in designing Apple Help for the past several years.  
I'm happy to lend technical info on that as much as I'm able.

Nice to meet ya'll. Thanks to Jeremy for posting the instructions on  
how to get all the archives so easily.

On the subject of priorities, some thoughts:

> [HELP-RUNTIME-ML] The definition of a UA runtime format that would
> replace the plethora of specific or proprietary ones like JavaHelp,
> Eclipse Help, Apple Help, Oracle Help, MS Compiled Help, MAML etc.
>

I agree with Jeremy that this is a lower priority, but for different  
reasons. Specifying a runtime inevitably dictates, or at least  
influences, interaction, user interface, and the design of onscreen  
help. There are many companies who want to design their own user  
experience, and in my opinion, that has been a big factor in why  
other "standardized" help systems have not caught on.


> [HELP-INTERCHANGE-ML] The definition of a common intermediate
> (transient) format that could be compiled into all of the specific or
> proprietary UA formats.

It seems to me that this has the highest probably for success, in  
terms of adoption, so I think it is a priority. Its benefit is very  
clear and easy to sell, and it meets a real need in the industry.


>
> [HELP-REQUIREMENTS-DEFINITION] A set of UA delivery requirements to be
> incorporated into existing authoring and runtime formats like DocBook,
> DITA and ODF.

Piggybacking onto another effort, particularly DITA, strikes me as  
the best approach. A Help standard that layers on top of something  
else makes sense to me and seems more likely to gain traction.

As for other topics, I have to confess to not being able to tell  
exactly what their value might be (Unified-Help-ML, for example) so  
given my lack of comprehension I'll just be quiet.

Best Regards,
   --Gordon