Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the pAliteracy is the paradox of being able to read but choosing not to. The term was first coined in 1984 by Daniel Boorstin, Librarian of Congress, in a publication tracking the decline of reading skills in the United States. Nearly 20 years after Boorstin's first alert, observers of American culture continue to report that aliteracy is widespread and growing.

Two forms of aliteracy: functional and conditional

As initially coined and as it comes into wider use, the term aliteracy refers to the paradox of being able to read but simply choosing not to. We'll use the phrase "functional aliterate" to describe a person who

• Has poor reading skills and finds reading cumbersome and inefficient
• Does little or no reading for entertainment
• Usually avoids any reading if possible

Beyond this basic functional aliteracy, there are more complex levels of reading capacity. Developers of work instructions need to consider a much larger group of people we will call "conditional aliterates." These are people with satisfactory reading skills who can and do read things like training materials, user manuals and periodicals. Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the pre continue to report that aliteracy is widespread and growing.

Two forms of aliteracy: functional and conditional

As initially coined and as it comes into wider use, the term aliteracy refers to the paradox of being able to read but simply choosing not to. We'll use the phrase "functional aliterate" to describe a person who

• Has poor reading skills and finds reading cumbersome and inefficient
• Does little or no reading for entertainment
• Usually avoids any reading if possible

Beyond this basic functional aliteracy, there are more complex levels of reading capacity. Developers of work instructions need to consider a much larger group of people we will call "conditional aliterates." These are people with satisfactory reading skills who can and do read things like training materials, user manuals and periodicals. Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the pthe phrase "functional aliterate" to describe a person who

• Has poor reading skills and finds reading cumbersome and inefficient
• Does little or no reading for entertainment
• Usually avoids any reading if possible

Beyond this basic functional aliteracy, there are more complex levels of reading capacity. Developers of work instructions need to consider a much larger group of people we will call "conditional aliterates." These are people with satisfactory reading skills who can and do read things like training materials, user manuals and periodicals. Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the pre are more complex levels of reading capacity. Developers of work instructions need to consider a much larger group of people we will call "conditional aliterates." These are people with satisfactory reading skills who can and do read things like training materials, user manuals and periodicals. Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the p Under favorable conditions, they will do their best to understand work instructions, even poorly written ones. But it's a different matter when things go wrong--like a sudden machine stoppage, a frozen computer screen, a spill, an angry patient, or products falling off a conveyor belt--and the problem announces itself with signs like alarm bells, flashing warning lights, error messages, pain or smoke. Under these conditions, it's a rare person who has the temperament to find and read a text-heavy instruction to learn what's wrong and how to fix it.

The problem of poor reading comprehension caused by either form of aliteracy is further compounded by

• Increasing technical job demands
• Growing incidence of workers for whom English is not the native language
• Higher job stress related to workplace productivity pressures

All of these conditions demand work instructions that are easily accessible and that explain the task in a format that can be quickly and easily understood. Unfortunately, what employers usually have available for assistance are pages of outdated text filed away in binders or in a computer database.

© The Bishop Company 2006

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