**5. Acknowledgement**

The authors would like to thank the engineers of Gordon Auto Body Parts Co., Ltd. for their technical supports. Ted Knoy is appreciated for his editorial assistance.The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan, for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC-100-2221-E-002-061-MY2.

**3** 

*University of Leeds United Kingdom* 

**Product Instructions in the Digital Age** 

Product instructions are guides with the purpose of helping consumers to use products properly when they cannot be communicated through the design of the product itself. They are usually "on the product itself or its packaging or in accompanying materials" (ISO/IEC GUIDE 37, 1995, iv). They perform many different tasks and the good ones benefit both the users and the manufacturers. They should ensure users can operate products properly and safely. For manufacturers, instructions can add value to the products, encourage sales and

In recent times, products tend to be designed for intuitive use. However, this is not the case for every user and for every product. Thus product instructions are still necessary and have their unique values. For example, many newly developed products are very complex and involve multiple functions, these functions are experimented with only when necessary and when the user guides are available. Thus, instructions for these products have to be

In this research, the authors investigate problems of product instructions as well as suggest possible explanations for those problems. The study aims to find solutions to enhance the effective and inclusive performance of product instructions in a commercial environment in this digital age. The ideal was to find a method to produce durable product instructions that can be easily accessed, understood, stored and updated for all; meanwhile fulfilling the

In the Oxford English online dictionary (2006), the word "product" is defined as "that which is produced by any action, operation, or work; a production; the result. Now that which is produced commercially for sale". Another word "Instruction" is described as "making known to a person what he is required to do; a direction, an order, a mandate (oral or written) (www.oed.com, 2006)". Thus the term "Product instructions" refers to the guides associated with products to provide detailed operating instructions. In one of these international standards, "Instructions for the use of products of consumer interest" are defined as: "the means of conveying information to the user on how to use the product in a

The initial purpose of instructions is to communicate vital information to users, and help them to use products correctly when this cannot be achieved through the design of products

reduce time for customer service which makes good business sense.

requirements of being cheap to produce and environmentally friendly.

carefully prepared if the current trends are to continue.

correct and safe manner" (ISO/IEC GUIDE 37, 1995, iv).

**1. Introduction** 

**2. Product instructions** 

Dian Li, Tom Cassidy and David Bromilow

#### **6. References**

