Information Center Changes

The Information Center is a great tool for customers to use to find out how to use the hardware and software on their AS/400.

It can also be used to find out about a product. The readily accessible nature of having a shipped CD-ROM and the Internet, helps to ensure that customers can get the documentation easily and quickly.

However, the use of FRAMES and the hard-to-understand navigation make this a difficult product to use for cutomers. There needs to be more testing to see how customers use the documentation provided in the Information Center.

I have attempted to re-design parts of the Information Center. Mostly, these are ideas about how it can be improved and made to be accessible in ways that will aid the customer and not hinder them.

Following are some possible designs and uses of InfoCenter:

• Example 1. Using FRAMES, different nav bar and short welcome page.
• Example 2. Using a TABLE instead of a framed nav bar--like AS/400 web site.
• Example 3. Using TABLE, MENUS, and interior navigation. Also shown is use of dynamic glossary.
• Example 4. Using a Java applet nav bar.
• Example 5. Benefits of using an index or site map.
• Example 6. How the masthead could be to optimize accessibility.