It would ensure that production operators have clear guidelines to follow and subsequently produce material in a consistent and efficient manner. This is not to say that operators will not have to make decisions from time to time regarding the format of particular features which are not dealt with in the style, but decision-making at this level should not have a significant impact upon text readability if production procedures are followed. In addition, the adoption of a single style for text formatting means that production time is used more effectively through operators not having to experiment with new styles of layout. This consistency in presentation ensures that instructional features of the text are signalled in a consistent manner and that devices used for accessing the structure of the text are common between related documents. The implementation of a consistent presentation style across all subjects in a course should, at least, provide one less barrier to learning for those studying at a distance.
Authors can envisage the presentation of their texts at the writing stage.
In the same way that production operators are given clear guidelines for layout, so too are authors presented with a range of carefully designed and tested options for the development of their instructional text. With each component of a study package, or a course, carrying a common design theme, there becomes a visually cohesive link which indicates that each is an integral component of a larger family of materials. Developing style It is perhaps presumptuous to assume that the computer publishing operator will possess the appropriate design skills necessary to prepare text which conforms to established typographic principles. This is, however, the expectation of many employers who are subsequently disappointed when their word processing staff are unable to produce the kind of quality documentation they have come to expect from their traditional publisher. These composition skills, which are essential in ensuring the readability and aesthetic appeal of the printed page, typically exist only within the traditional printing and publishing sectors of industry.