Information for use is a part of any type of product it supports. Confusing product information and inadequate instructions are major sources of frustration for consumers and skilled workers. Defective information can pose a risk of harm or loss, leading to prosecution or liability claims against the supplier or brand owner. This document gives principles and general requirements for conveying information to users that are as applicable to complex and safety-critical systems (e.g. industrial plants), as they are to simple consumer products (e.g. a can of paint), to software, and to specialized testing equipment. Information for use is needed for anyone (skilled and unskilled) who encounters a product for the first time: whether to assemble from a kit, install, operate, maintain, or dispose of it. |