IETM Vs 3d Blowups

Answer 1

There is a misconception about IETM. As the name indicates interactive, then people assume that it is a 3d based on blowup software. Interactive means, users can browse or cross-refer or interact with the software to search on a particular topic/sub-topic.

Assume that you have 3000 pages in 10 different manuals, you cannot refer to all the pages quickly. But this interactive electronic technical manual searches the entire database of 3000 pages in a second and displays results. Because all the text is converted into the database, hence search and retrieval will be done in seconds. Users can see related topics and also on rollover of text, users can see images, Video or text descriptions, etc.

Users can save bookmarks and annotate text etc. Users can see his search history, document access history, etc.

These elements are called INTERACTIVITY. These features power the document and make it an Interactive electronic manual. These documents are technical in nature and seen using electronic devices hence they are termed interactive electronic technical manuals.

What is IETM and What is Not IETM?

Interactivity does not mean, clicking on the part it will blow up into sub-parts, and clicking on a subpart it will further blow up and an explanation comes in voice-over, etc.

They are called 3d Blowups or 3d Virtual Reality models and Computer-based tutors (CBTs)

Having said this, still we can put these 3d blowups in IETM. If the Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has any videos or 3d animation blowups then we can plug them into IETM.