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Designer's Worksheet
Choosing a Communications Medium to Deliver Information

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The following table summarizes the key issues to consider when choosing a medium for delivering information to users.

 Delivery Medium

 Use(s)

 Develop-ment Effort Develop-ment and Delivery Cost Develop-ment Time
Print
  • Reference
  • How-to (user’s guides)
  • Workbooks
  • Job aids
  • Brochures
  • Newsletters
 ¨ $$ º
CD-ROM (for distribution of print materials
  • Reference
  • How-to (user’s guides)
  • Workbooks
 ¨ ¨ $$ º º
CD-ROM (for distribution of materials intended to be viewed online)
  • Application programs (including EPSSs)
  • Tutorials
  • Reference
  • How-to (user’s guides)
  • Workbooks
  • Simulations
  • Games
  • Job aids
  • Brochures
  • Demonstrations
 ¨ ¨ ¨ -

¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨

$$ - $$$$$ º º º -

º º º º º

Diskettes Same as CD-ROM (intended for viewing online) ¨ ¨ ¨ -

¨ ¨ ¨ ¨

$$ - $$$$ º º º -

º º º º º

Network (such as a web site or an information service) Same as CD-ROM (intended for viewing online) except that information can be distributed more quickly because master copy is immediately made available on server without additional duplication ¨ ¨ -

¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨

$$ - $$$$$ º º º -

º º º º º

Audio
  • Training (especially reviews)
  • nnouncements
 ¨ ¨ $$ º º
Video
  • Training modules with visual material that cannot be brought into the classroom, such as manufacturing procedures and large products for sale
  • Announcements
  • Presentations on sensitive subjects with the potential for strong emotion and that do not need immediate communication
 ¨ ¨ - ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ $$$$ º º º -

º º º º

Teleconference
  • Announcements
  • Presentations on sensitive subjects with the potential for strong emotion
 ¨¨ ¨ $$ º 1/2
Live
  • Training that requires direct, visual observation
  • Announcements

    • Presentations on sensitive subjects with the potential for strong emotion

¨ ¨ - ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ $$$$ º º º -

º º º º º

Summary of Issues in Choosing Media

¨ Refers to the relative complexity of developing communication products in this medium, from ¨ (easy) to ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ (extremely complex).
$ Refers to the relative cost of developing communication products in this medium, from $(relatively inexpensive) to $$$$$ (extremely expensive).
º Refers to the relative amount of time needed to develop communication products in this medium, from º (limited time) to º º º º º (extremely time consuming).

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(c) Copyright. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Saul Carliner. All rights reserved.