Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation

User Curves 
User curves are a way of visualising the progress of learners and helping to 
determine their needs and achievements. Coe (1996:44ff ) compares a user’s 
approach to learning how to use new technology with Erikson’s stages of
development (Erikson 1965: 239-266). The 
Technical Information User 
Curve
is introduced to help plot the stages in learning technical information 
from entry level users to power level users. 
Entry-level users
perform only what they are instructed
to and achieve the
direct results of those instructions. At this early stage, users can only comply 
with direct instructions and they are only concerned with their immediate 
circumstances. 
Beginners
focus on the basic aspects of the task at hand and begin to
build 
simple symbolic models. They cannot yet apply these models elsewhere. 
Intermediate users 
learn more about the basics and develop an understand-
ing of the logic and principles involved. 
Power users 
have a deep understanding of the product and can
apply this 
knowledge to new tasks. 
Another unique type of user is the 
outsider
who does not participate in 
the learning process. Outsiders could be occasional users who do not want 
or need to learn how to use the product, preferring instead, on the rare oc-
casions that they need to use the product, to learn a single task well enough 
to perform the immediate task. This 
ad hoc
use and learning cannot be 
charted on the curve. 
Users can approach this learning curve at any stage and, with practice, 
they can move up through the various stages. They also can choose not to 
participate in the curve and remain at the outsider stage. 
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The Transition from Problem-Solving to Skill