Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation

Participants were asked to read the document carefully. 
Each participant was scheduled for a test session over the course of the 
following two weeks. The procedure for conducting test sessions was al-
most identical to that in the pilot study. However, the changes highlighted 
above were incorporated into the procedures. In addition, as previously 
mentioned, the text formatting task was omitted from the test. 
Upon arrival, each participant was welcomed and offered refreshments. 
The purpose of the study was again explained and participants were asked 
to read and sign the consent form. Participants were then given one of the 
user guides to read for 20 minutes. At the same time, the video camera was 
started. After the participants had finished reading the user guide, they were 
given a task sheet. It was explained that they should move on to the next 
task only when instructed to do so. A verbal explanation of the tasks writ-
ten on the task sheet was also given to ensure clarity and to give participants 
the opportunity to ask questions.
Participants were told that during the task, they should always try to find 
answers and solutions to problems from the user guide. Participants were 
told that they could only ask questions or ask for help from the test admin-
par
ticipants asked questions the answers to which were contained in the user 
guide, the test administrator directed the participant to the relevant page in 
the user guide. If, after reading the relevant section of the user guide, a par-
ticipant still encountered difficulties and appeared to be in danger of not 
completing the task, the test administrator provided more explicit and de-
tailed information; each of these instances counted as a separate interaction 
with the administrator. 
When participants had completed the tasks, Camtasia was stopped and 
participants were again given the opportunity to take a break. Participants 
were asked whether they had any initial comments on the test. The admin-
istrator did not discuss these comments because the only reason for asking 
this question was to help put participants in an analytical frame of mind and 
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ticipants were instructed to begin when ready. During the test, where par-
istrator as a last resort. The Camtasia screen recorder was started and
Arrangements were then made to meet each participant exactly one week 
prime them for the QUIS questionnaire which was administered next. 

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Results of Usability Evaluation
completed in the presence of the test administrator and lasted on average 10 
minutes.