Hardware Setup Job Aid

One of my positions at Microsoft was to run content publishing in a small, innovation lab called the Unlimited Potential Group (UPG). UPG exclusively focused on highly speculative "version 1" products, often economically positioned for emerging markets. Most efforts did not make it to initial release. Of those that did, if the project showed promise, it would more often then not be handed off to a larger division at Microsoft for longer-term development. 

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Such was the case with Windows MultiPoint Server. This was software/hardware partnership that allowed multiple users in close physical proximity to each have a unique Windows experience on a low-cost station by sharing the processing power of a single PC (think low-cost classroom and library scenarios here). 

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During the extended beta testing of MultiPoint Server, we learned that the hardware setup was a frequent point of failure. Remember, these were being set up by teachers and librarians in emerging markets, not IT pros. The setup required precisely connecting several different types of cables between hardware devices. Trouble was, if even a single cable was misconnected, it was difficult to quickly identify and fix the issue.

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To help remedy this known issue during the beta, I partnered with a graphic designer to produce the hardware setup guide shown below. Project goals included:

• Improve hardware setup with clear guidance.

• Achieve very low production cost (basically color copies on heavy-stock paper for a small quantity)

• Support inexpensive localization. All translatable text is contained within the callouts table. Translators simply translated that text in place; no changes to the graphic image were required.

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Business result: Feedback from our usability participants gave the setup guide highly positive feedback. Because of how I had laid it out, it was cost-effective to translate, print, and distribute.