A discussion is presented of how properly designed instructional manuals can meet the needs of operators of home computers, office systems, and word processing equipment. It also details several ways that structure and content presentation can help one produce more effective manuals.

Humor is a characteristic not usually associated with technical publications. In this paper I discuss humor and its usefulness to text and illustrations by analyzing several examples that use humor effectively. I demonstrate some successful uses of humor in technical publications by looking at three areas. First, though technical material can be dry, humor can make it easier to use. Second, whether this can be done is a function of the author's freedom from constraints. Third, the audience must be sophisticated enough (at least with regard to the subject) to appreciate the humor.