If you use a GPS (as hubby and I do), this instance of xkcd will strike a chord with you. It is hard to get people to just tell you where they are. Everyone wants to give instructions based off of what is familiar to them.

The strip made me think: How frequently do we give directions based off of what we know instead of what the person who needs the directions knows? Do you explain things using your words or theirs? Do you look at things from the viewpoint of a user or from the viewpoint of an expert?

When I screencast, I try to create the instructions and information based on what the viewer knows. This is harder than it appears, but well worthwhile.