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THE READABILITY
OF COMPUTER 'MODEM PROGRAM
MANUALS
By Eric C. Talaska
A TERM PAPER
Communication Dr. Robert M. Brady
University of Arkansas October 12, 1993
COMM3343 Readability Analysis Assignment Fall 1993
1. Meets General Requirements of Assignment Flesch Reading Ease /' Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level/ Gunning'sFog/' Typed/
t;)-
Use ~f"Samplesll to generalize from
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Describes One or Compares TW9"Texts"
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2. Organization ,
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Introduction v' Body/ A~f Conclusion ~
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3. Presentation of Data and Results
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4. Paper Points to Importance of Study
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. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I.
II.
III.
INTRODUCTION
1
SAMPLES FROM QMODEM
7
READABILITY
STATISTICS
OF QMODEM
12
Counts Averages Readability
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
SAMPLES FROM CROSSTALK
14
"MANUAL" FORMULAS
17
FOR CROSSTALK
"MANUAL" READABILITY
READABILITY Counts Averages Readability
STATS. OF CROSSTALK ...19
STATISTICS
FOR CROSSTALK
20
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.
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VIII.
CONCLUSIONS ••••••••••••..••.••••••••..•••••
Results
of formula applications
Relationship
IX.
21
BIBLIOGRAPHY
to questions
•.•••••.•..........••.•..••••••
22
,,. ....._
THE READABILITY
There computer
OF COMPUTER
is an increase ~
modems
that is directly
computer
manuals.
linked to the readability
In this study, concentration
placed upon modem manuals,
although
to any other computer are becoming
to use without languages
and skills. more
manuals.
addressed
regarding
ways they are. they written
Unfortunately,
they written
to find out why.
that need to be
why the modem manuals
are written
are they written
many people abandon
computer
will vary,
via critical
towards
of demographics?
Or are learning
Why do so
use due to frustration
trying to figure out the manuals
(especially)?
depending
analysis 1
Are
that can afford moderns~
for anyone that is motivated regardless
the
for?
a5 5marter than everyofte els;i
how to use a modem,
interpreted
the manuals
(in this case, not
questions
for the fortunÂŤ~peoPle
to these questions
computer
however,
"user friendly"
What demographics
~nd are 5tereotyped
that is, easier
of "difficult"
important
shall be
Fortunately,
easier to read), and thus it is necessary There are very
of
they are extremely
more user friendly,
the knowledge
are not becoming
to communicate
but there is a problem with computer
literacy
computers
MANUALS
in the use of
(modulators/demodulators)
more efficiently,
similar
MODEM PROGRAM
in
The answers
on how the data is
of data prese~d.
.
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There have been many serious
• r
about the modern communication accessible,
difficult
to understand
even be some pOlitical \)0
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however, manuals
...\......,
be difficult
issues addressed
revolution.
it is more vulnerable
reason why the modem manuals
social
Since it is more
to abuse.
are seemingly
for the average influence
This may be a purposely
reader.
inVOlved.
to uncover.
made
There may
That would,
It seems as if the
are wri tten in such a way as to "w'eed" out a certain
,
audience. The readability problem
of modem manuals
of cyberphobia
accept something
either.
does not aid in the
People
are less likely to
new if they cannot understand
one reason why less than 5% of the population selves computer-competent. make the manuals
Why wouldn't
easy to understand,
more likely to buy the products Again, perhaps afraid of modems,
because
ignoran~
considers
them-
the manufacturers
since people would be
of the previous or even average
and thus increase
This is
if they can understand
/.:'''2 II
II
it.
reasons.
them?
They may be
people wo ul.d abuse
the chances of modems being con-
trolled by the government. But wha t about whi te collar ones that pose the greatest certainly
threat towards
Aren't they the
society?
They
are the ones that are most likely to understand
the modem manuals. this dilemma.
This arguing
increases
With that argument,
stand why the manufacturers manuals
criminals?
it is difficult
and writers
easy for the average person
the importance
to under-
are not making
to comprehend.
of
the
,.
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3
'00l.9
:~/ One mixture
necessary
of English
about equivalent computer
user.
words are:
discussion
involves
and computer
jargon.
window,
For example,
jargon
and loop.
differently
statistics
one wouldn't
using the standard
simple words become more complex
Are the
readability
formulas
This
when "clean a
This jargon will no qoubt have a profound
on the readability
is
to the beginning
run, menu, bug, memory, must be interpreted
the
jargon
Some of the most basic computerese
reading a modem manual.
because
Computer
to ancient hieroglyphics
kind of vocabulary
window."
computerese:
affect
formulas
NtJ ~~
to understand~
in~ev;~
lP",1.[ '"
Ta~
"----
book appropriate
in this study?
trfi
).1yt
"'C /Y
It seemS-W-J::5"e tlie case
that they are, but they need to be more sophisticated.
They
,S1>V
Ur~~2) ~I~~
will give us a basic understanding manuals.
There are many tables, outlines,
other various
outlays
of typeset
times help readability This probably example,
depends
and sometimes
Thus far, the discussion
primarixy
to another manual. attention manual .
will be Crosstalk
is called QMODEM.
but another may be
of a distraction.
the readability
is compared
for Windows,
"1"
•• ,
the most
and the other
Both are user's manuals
sort va re .11'\ pacKage-s.
of
and contrasted
that will receive
ofJt'tY( ..
wi th7tomputer
For
has been based upon modem
but often
The manual
and
hinder readability.
This study involves
one manual,
of the
that some-
on what the reader prefers.
to be somewhat
in general.
pictures,
in the manuals
one reader may prefer pictures,
find the pictures
manuals
of the readability
that corne
. 4 •
Most emphasis
t
will be placed
because
is most preferred
Windows
is becoming
as opposed
on Crosstalk
by users.
more preferred
It is also in Windows. and more efficient
to the way in which QMODEM
is used.
allows the user to work with the modem more dependent regardless
on the user's
manual,
to use
Windows
instead of being
of which must be used
of how smart the user is.
of use by allowing
for Windows
Windows
the use of a mouse.
promotes
ease
Qmodem requires
user to type all data in for processing,
assuming
the
the user
knows exactly what to type. ~
~
((~.~
l
because
(
20% rule of thumb.
) ~~.
More samples have been collected it is longer than Crosstalk,
glossary.
in context.
asked questions
that includes
with answers
and a 53 word
It also has six paragraphs
has two paragraphs
what Crosstalk
is.
at the beginning
Crosstalk,
With no glossary, about the intended statements
and a large table that explains
and an appendix
however,
that
divided
in
does not have a glossary.
let us look at what the guide says
audience,
to explain: k'opiea
of which Crosstalk direetly
PC users who want to communicate Managers
that
(4.5) is.
It also has three paragraphs
explain how to use the guide, seven parts.
They
appendix
explain how to use the manual and what Qmodem Crosstalk
a better
and an index to help the user in
Qmodem has a helpful
fifteen commonly
thus allowing
Both are very similar
both have an appendix comprehension.
on the Qmodem book
has four
rrOM -eeJÂŁ-e). with a host computer
who want a basic understanding
of Crosstalk
.
.'
5
and its features
••
Before reading knowledge
this guide, you should have a working
of the following
*
Microsoft(R)
*
DOS 3.3 or newer1
operating
Windows(TM)
What can be classified
3.1
as "working knowledge"
some other form of a readability generalized literate.
environments:
that the intended
may take
test, but it can be
reader should be computer
This means that the reader should meet several
prerequisites
before using the manual.
that wants to use the computer the modem?
Apparently
What about the user
for the sole purpose
of using
this person would be out of luck
unless he or she meets the prerequisites. We now know that the guide computer Modems
literate
audience.
are very useful
(manual)
is written
for a
That fact is rather disturbing.
in society
for things such as elec-
tronic mail and data inquiries.
Why don't the publishers
spend just a couple more dollars
to add in better glossaries
and the such? willing
It seems to be the case that consumers
to pay for such an improvement
very small compared
are
since the cost is
to the cost the modem and computer.
There are other books that help, but since these programs are very new, the books are already fore a challenge
lCrosstalk Associates,
obsolete.
to keep up with the latest
for Windows
It is there-
in moderns.
(Digital Communications
Inc., 1992), p. xiii.
.';..
...6
The deeper, end of the study shall begin. three types of readability
formulas
Primarily,
will be used:
the
~~ Flesch Reading Gunning
Ease
Fog Index
(1974), the Flesch-Kincai~
(1968), all of which
(
/rvd..
and the
determine
a grade
level of readability. The Microsoft Fle~h Reading
Corporation's
chart for interpreting
Ease scores differ from that of Flesh's
original
chart only in the estimated
column.
Both charts will be considered
in this study, but Microsoft's
reading grade level in analyzing
information -
attention
the
data ~ ~O~ ~ IJ 1').1 .e,ÂŤ, ~e most ~
will
-
/It"~
in charts due to its sophistication.
The differ-
~ovl~?
K~ 0'-1 1>(1 r for Microsoft simply means Microsoft's
-
than that of Flesch's is that if Flesch's
E.R.G.
(for Flesch)
original.
E.R.G.
should not interfere
it is virtually
impossible
way.
is "7th grade",
is presented
That difference
What that then
as "6th grade."
with the average
since
to get the exact grade level any-
-----------------The first statistics
will be from the Qmodem book.
Five samples were randomly intervals
of about 60 pages.
250 functional first page.
pages.
from the book at
The book has a total of about
The first sample was taken from the
The reason for doing so is that the opening
the book usually continue
selected
to read.
actual samples
determines
whether
The following
The samples were copied
or not the reader will
two pages contain
and the re-compiled
of
the
data from the computer.
out of the book
including
errors.
I
.. . .. ~
7 Sample #1
This docIulmenltaltion is or/gan/ized for use as an in/iltial setJup guide, and as a refJerJenoo book. Intro/duc/tory inlfotlmaltion on Q/mo/dem 4/./5 is pre/sen/ted first (chap/ter 1), folllowed by step/-by/step inlstalllaltion
and conlfiglulraltion
inlstrucltions (chap/mrs 2 and 3), folllowed by com/mand
refJer/enee maltelrilal (chap/ter 4 and 5) and fi/nal/ly by Qlmo/dem 4/./5 Script doc/ulmenltaltion (chap/tel 6). UnIless you are in/tilmatelly familiar with Qlmo/dem 4/./5 you should be/gin with chap/ter 1 and foVlow the inlstrucltions through chap/ter 2. Aflter comlplet/ing the set/up ma/te/rilal, a full read/ing of the com/plete conlfig/ulraltion
and op/erlaltionlal refler/enee is strong/ly reclomlmendled.
Q/mo/dem 4/./5 is a very verlsaltile and conlfiglulralble pro/gram.
.
,
.
~, ...
..
"
8
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Sample #2 This is probla/bly the sin/gle most want/edfea/ture
in a comlmulni/caltion
pro/gram ... A meth/od
to quick/ly con/figlure your new mo/dem to work! It's not like the old days where we hadjust a hand/ful of moldem comlmands and ev/er/ylbod/y knew them by beart. Now we have High-Speed moldems with things like MIN/P and V/./3//2 and VI.I4//2 and Speed BuffJer/ing and so forth. Each moIdem mak/er that en/hanced up/on the Hayes stand/ard had to come up with their own new comlmands.
To add to the con/fulsion, some have the same comlmand(s). but
mean diflfer/ent things to diflfer/ent mo/dems!
.
':
...
9
.. Sample #3
The QuicklLeam inlter/ac/tions,
Script Re/cordler is much like a vidle/o camlerla.
As it re/cords your
it ere/ates a Script which ean be re/played latler to repllilcate the ses/sion while
QuicklLeam was actIive. AL T Q is a tog/gle; if the QuickJLeam reloordler is not act/ive, it -is startled Ifit is act/ive, it ter/milnates and the Script is saved. In a out/shell, QuieklLeam
stores inlcomling dalta inlrer/nallly un/til you type inlforlmaltioQ
your/self. QuickJLeam aslsumes that your dalta was en/tered in re/sponse to a prompt or ~s/~n I
I
fromthe syS/tem you are con/nec/ted to. The last 3112 cbar/ac/ters re/ceived are as/Sl1meQ to be tlle prompt to which you are re/spondling, comlmand.
which will be re/flectled inthe filnal script as a WAITIFOR
10
.. Sample #4 This is the pop/ullar stream/lag pro/to/col
put in/to the publlic do/main by TeVeinet Zlmo/dem
us/es a varJilaible sized block to trans/fer date over even the nois/i/est phone lines. Zlmo/dem was de/signed as a Batch trans/fer pro/to/col. As such, it shares the same trans/fer winldows and al/lo/caltion methlods that the YImoJdem pro/to/col us/es. Should er/rors occur. ZlmoJdem does not re/quire a bigh-/speed or er/ror-/corJ~tJing
mo/dem
with MlNIP or VI.I4/2 to be efIfectlive. While it is not as fast as Y/mo/demlG or Xlmo/dem-l1IK/G, it does per/fonn well enough to have be/come a 'stanldard' in the inldus/try.
,
:
.
11
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Sample #5
What is script? A script is a QlMOIDEM 4/./5 pro/gram. de/signed to per/form spe/ciflic and/or rep'e/tiItive funcltions much fastler and more re/lila/bly than with manlulal methlods. Scripts can be used to do just about any/thing that can be done at the keylboard; your i/mag/ilnaition is the only lim/it. Com/man uses for scripts inlclude: 1. Au/toimat/ed log/on 2. File transfers
3. Com/pletelly au/to/matled seslsions 4. Unlatltendled QIMOIDEM 41.15 op'er/altions The Quick/Learn Script Re/corlder is an exltreme/ly conlvenlient fa/ciUiIty, but it has its Iimliltaltions.
Bas/i/cal/ly, QuicklLeam can on/ly Ie/cord your inlter/ac/tions with are/mote
com/pulter and repllilcate them ex/actIly. It canlnot add delcilsion-/makling
log/ie to the scripts il
creates, or aclcount for unlexlpectled or chang/ing con/di/tions. 2
2
(Mustang Software, Inc., 1992) In chronological order by sample: pages 3, 35, 121, 143, 192.
,
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TABLE 1 READABILITY
STATISTICS:
Sample#
QMODEM
1
2
3
4
5
Words
103
97
120
112
110
108
Characters
547
437
564
526
594
534
Paragraphs
2
2
2
2
6
6
Sentences
5
5
7
7
7
6
Sentences per Paragraph
2.5
2.5
3.5
3.5
1.2
2.6
Words per Sentence
20.6
19.4
17.1
16.0
15.7
17.8
4.5
4.7
4.7
5.4
4.9
Averages:
Avg.
(These factors influence the readability of a document)
Characters per Word
5.3
Readability: (Measured by these standard indexes) Passive Sentences
0%
0%
71%
14%
Flesch Reading Ease...........
23.3
65.9
65.4
58.4
Flesch Grade Level...
17.0
8.4
8.5
10.5
13.3
Flesch-Kincaid.............................................
15.1
8.9
7.9
9.1
9.6
10.1
Gunning Fog Index
17.6
10.6
9.7
10.3
12.2
12.1
Source: Microsoft Word
14% 48.1
20% 52.2
11.5
?~ )) \~-<~v \.J1~
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1
13
..
These statistics
on Qmodem
guide has a Flesch reading
that the Qmodem
ease of "fairly difficult
the 9th to 12th grade reading by the way, satisfies
indicate
level."
That reading
both Microsoft
and Flesch.
ease would be drastically
avoided
due to the inaccurate
changed.
information
level,
If the
charts and such from the Qmodem book were included, reading
and of
the
They were that would have
been given from the formula applications. The five samples book is in paragraph determine
As portrayed
earlier,
or hindered
The nature
It is difficult
each reader may be either
What makes them especially
work correctly.
There
comprehension;
and illustrations.
complex
is that every
in order for the program
the reader must comprehend
factor that makes them complex
in consideration,
Now the study shall concentrate
random samples ed.
guide.
Then manual
formulas
Taken this
to say that a few findings.
on the readability
First, on the following
and the Microsoft
in
is that more jargon
is used in the text.
it can be conclusive
to
all of it.
grade levels need to be added on to the computer
the Crosstalk
is complex,
is no plus or minus any percent
is used than that of which
to
affect the read-
of the charts and illustrations
must by exact
most of the
that it depends on each
by the charts
single character
Another
from.
This study will conclude
facilitated
however.
or sentence
because
how the charts and illustrations
ing ease. reader.
are still adequate
statistics
will be applied
of
pages, three
will be present-
from them.
14
.
'
Sample #1: Crosstalk Cross/talk is a comlmulni/ca/tions to comlmulnilcate PIC can
pro/gram that aJ/lows a PIC run/Ding Milcrolsoft Win/dows 3/./1
with a host. The host can be any com/putler that Cross/talk is conlnec/ting to. A
oon/nect to the host dilrectlly, through a mo/dem atltached to the PIC, or through a mo/dem
shared on a LINN. The host does not have to be run/ning Cross/talk in or/der for your PIC to conlnect to it. Cross/talk alIlows you to share inlfor/ma/tion, comlputling pow/er, and re/sourc/es with other P/Cs, with buJIleltin boards and other on-lIine serv/ic/es, and with main/frame and minlilcom/put/er sys/tems, such as IIBIM mainlframes and OlEIC VIAIXf(R.) minlilcom/putlers.
;,.'
15
••
Sample #2: Crosstalk To transfer files to a Ker/mit host that does not sup/port servler mode, fol/low these steps: J. Make sure you are con/neetled and log/ged on to the host com/put/er, as ex/plained in "Con/neetling to the Host, " earlliler in this chapter. 2. Pre/pare the host to send or re/ceive your file by enlterling the aplpro/pri/ate host com/mands or star/ring the pro/tO/col pro/gram, ifnec/eslsary. 3. From the Ae/tion pull-/down, ehoose File Transfer and then Send File(s) or Re/eeive File(s), delpend/ing on the di/rec/tion of the translfer. Eifther the Send FUes or Re/ceive Files diallog box is dis/played. 4. If you are send/ing a file to the Ker/mit host, type the name of the file in the File Name ed/it box.
i-'
16 :
.
Sample #3: Crosstalk N/ AlSIl suplport aIJlows Cross/talk to com/mulnilcate through an AlClS to a mo/dem pool. You can use N/ AlSII sup/port with the folllow/ing inlter/face pro/grams:
*
Net/work Pro/duct Cor/por/altion's Net/work Com/mu/nilca/tioru; Serlvic/es In/ter/face (N/CIS/f)
*
Tel/elbit Alsyn/chro/nous Comlmu/nilca/tions
Serv/er
To use N/ AlSIL N/c/SIE, and Alc/S, you must run the in/ter/face pro/gram after loadling your net/work soft/ware and before startling Winldows. (Cross/talk pas/ses da/ta to the inlter/face pro/gram, which then dilrects the dalta to the aplpro/pri/ate net/work delvice.) Relfer to the READIME.ITEXT file for inlfor/maltion on the la/test N/ AlSIl soft/ware ver/sions testled with Crossltalk. The READ/ME.ITEXT file also inlc1udes a list of testled N/ AlS/J/NJc/SIl driv/ers and ver/sion num/bers. 3
3
Digital Communications Associates, Inc., pages chronologically by sample: 1-2, 3-28, a-II
.'
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17 12
..
The following the readability
statistics
statistics
(which will be compared
by Microsoft)
with
are done manually, . l
1
.._
__ .-
Sample number one ~all
number one of Crosstalk. presented
before
come from
sample
is analyzed.
depicts how to get the Flesch Reading R.E.
~ {><
\0
0
-ro --r<f~ ~
~
~
sample
will be The following
Ease score:
206.835 - .846 wI - 1.015 sl
Where R.E.
=
reading
vII
=
number of syllables
sl
=
average number
ease score
:("
c¢
I...\.~ ~
=
previous
All three formulas
another
d-t~ .
O~ voV'f'VL'~
that is, with step by step calculations.
IIV-
per 100 words
"",,'"
of wo r d s per sentence
~~
So, we have R.E.
=
206.835
R.E.
=
206.835
R.E.
=
49.5
The following where G.L. and
sl sw
= = =
formula
- 1.015(20.8)
J ItA -Jt)t- 0 ~1 J. ".,c( ~ is for the
(.39 sl + 11.8 sw) avg. number
-Kincaid:
-
of words
avg. number of
=
.39(20.8) + 11.8
G.L.
= =
8.112 + 19.588 -
The Gunning where G.L. and
swl
tence word
So, we have G.L.
G.L.
d'f1 ~'VA
- 15.59
12.11
Fog index formula
=
.4(sl + swl)
=
number
is a follows:
of words that have three syllables
or more per 100 words So, we have G.L.
=
.4(20.8 + 15)
G.L.
=
14.3
r ,:
18 ~3 The same formulas
••
apply to sample number two as
follows:
-
Flesch R.E. = 206.835 R.E.
206.835
:::::
1.015(19.8)
J'
106 _
R.E. Flesch-Kincaid
Gunning
G.L. = .39(19.8)
=
7.722 + 14.75
G.L.
=
6.9
Fog G.L.
= =
.4(19.8 + 11)
Applying
R.E. R.E. G.L.
Flesch-Kincaid
G.L.
.39(17.5)
15.59
~re-
of all three samples~ Obviously,
table~
is~.
this table
of data.
r~organjzed
J r.l...
I J..)
on the
is not as complex
results
figuring
as compared
The algarythm
must confl ict wi th the way calculations.
pu. f!J'n
The results of manual
and different
processing
in these manual
-
- 15.59
.4(17.5 + 26)
shows a lot of similar the Microsoft
+ 11.8(1.97)
6.825 + 23.245
17.4
t~.
1.015(17.5)
22.4
=
as the previous
Microsoft
166.662 - 17.7625
G.L.
-1-
-
206.835
Fog G.L.
~r
to the last sample, we get: .846(197)
14.5
The. results
",f)01
15.59
206.835
= =
G.L.
~ble
= = = = =
to
used by
syllables were counted
The syllables in the following
were counted results.
'-
I""
j
PII"fWl 1
15.59
12.3
the formulas
Flesch R.E.
-
j~ ~
-
+ 11.8
G.L.
G.L.
Gunning
__ /,)1 ~1,)(E.
80.7
:::::
~I-r"~<
IN
by
p.
c((O)~
I
19 ]4 TABLE READABILITY
/fJ LK
::2
STATISTICS:>
,
NfCd ~ d~~f~~
================================================= Sample:#: 1
2
3
Avg.
49.5
80.7
22.4
50.9
Flesch-Kincaid. ........
12.1
6.9
14.5
11.2
Gunning
14.4
12.3
17.4
14.7
Flesch Reading
Ease ....
Fog Index
These statistics in readability. previous
indicate
When compiling
statistical
results,
Qmodem and the Crosstalk
that each sample
data from all of the
we can conclude
guides are unstable
that both the in readability.
If more samples were taken, the averages considerably.
is unique
It is safe to predict
may change
that because
of the
:#)cL fluctuation
among averages4
have a profound
'
Just one sample evidentlr
impact on the averages.
Among the three main formulas, is the most inconsistent. measurement measurement.
is somewhat
As noted earlier,
of a conflict
This applies
the Gunning
for.
somewhere
around
considering
1
the guides.
syllable
towards both modem guides.
to what grade level the modem guides
According
Fox index
among each means of
The issue here is that it is difficult closely
can
to the charts,
the grade
11!;z. That is difficult
how much trouble
to distinguish are written
level seems to be to believe
the average adult has in using
_20
.' TABLE 3 READABILITY
Counts:
STATISTICS:
SampIe# 1
CROSSTALK
2
3
Average
104
115
103
107
Characters........................................
490
524
584
533
Paragraphs.......................................
2
6
5
4
Sentences.
5
4
6
5
2.5
.7
1.2
1.5
20.8
28.8
17.2
22.3
4.7
4.6
5.7
5.0
Words...............................................
Ayerages: (These factors influence the Readability of a document)
Sentences per Paragraph................. Words per Sentence.........................
Characters per Word........................ Readability:
(Measured by these standard indexes)
Passive Sentences........ Flesch Reading
0%
25%
Ease........................
-
0%
8%
43.6
54.8
Flesch Grade Level...
13.8
7.4
14.0
Flesch-Kincaid
12.2
5.8
10.9
11.7
Source: Microsoft Word
t'f..(,tqt ",*"
(s
~ljl,L1(v
/'<
1l11'\
Su t:> ~ -no-Y' 'P M
\1
These samples were taken just as samples were taken from the Qmodem guide. There were approximately
140 functional pages in the Crosstalk: guide. Again, Crosstalk is very similar to
Qmodem in context.
()u ~ ~
do
'. ~.
21
According approximately 100 words.
to Microsoft,
standard
writing
standard
equivalent
slightly
Microsoft
writing
per
have an average of above the so called
also claims that the Flesch-
index of seven or eight is
to the Flesch Reading
modem guides averages
averages
and 147 syllables
The modem guide statistics
"standard writing".
manuals
5
17 words per sentence
about 20 words per sentence,
Kincaid
1
Ease score of 60-70.
above that also; therefore
are at least more difficult
The
the modem
to read than "standard
writing" . We must not forget that part of understanding guides
involve the interaction
no formulas
to calculate
how readable
data is one the monitor. relatively
difficult
of the computer.
what
on the monitor when using the modem. function
and
that it is
is being displayed
However,
there is a
key that, when used, allows the user to access a
wide range of explanations
for "what does wha t
One of three things are necessary become possible a modem:
There are
the information
We can generalize
to understand
the
for the average person
rewriting
the user friendly instructors
in computer
interested
in using
modifications
and/or the teaching
classes.
"
for modem use to
of the modem manuals,
program,
i
of the
of
~\
<"
.~
.;;.: ..
... " .....~
,. 1•
BIBLIOGRAPHY GUIDES Digital
Communications
Associates,
Inc. Crosstalk
Window·s. 1992. Mustang
Software,
Inc. QMODEM.
22>
1992.
for