#30301
Font Type: Helping Us Understand Information
You wouldn't think that something as seemingly insignificant as the type of font you use could be so important, but it really is. As one of the goals of technical communication, we try our best to make information easy to find and understand. The type of font being used has a lot to do with this goal.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Design>Typography
#30302
In the first lesson on font type I highlighted how they can be used to make information easier to understand, and how the look of the font accomplishes that. Here I'd like to discuss how fonts can actually affect the meaning of that information.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Design>Typography>Visual Rhetoric
#26523
Globalization, Pedagogy, and Research
Four presentations about the teaching of scientific and technical communication programs in a highly international industry climate.
Cleary, Yvonne, Clinton R. Lanier, Russel Hirst and Kirk R. St. Amant. CPTSC (2005). Presentations>Education>Globalization
#31984
HTML Museum: Font and Page Size
I want to spend some time on a series of articles on web design usability practices. I call this series, the HTML Museum. I hope to update it with articles that address past web design practices and why they are no longer in use.The first exhibit deals with font, text and page size.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2008). Articles>Web Design>Typography>History
#30304
The guide contained here is intended to help you on your quest to create a good, usable resume. I don't promise you that you will get a job after following my advice, but it will get you a lot closer to your goal.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Careers>Resumes
#30300
This site features general advice, tips, guidelines, articles and tutorials on subjects related to usability and technical communication. The content is aimed at students and professionals who are looking for quick, easy-to-follow guideance about better usability and technical communication.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Resources>Usability>TC>Blogs
#31983
Technical Communication and Programming: Using Writing Rules
This article is about better commenting practices for the purpose of—perhaps—helping some to better their programming practices. But before beginning, let me qualify the entire thing by saying that I am not a programmer—not the professional kind anyway. I have created small programs in the past for some of my employers, but that is not how I make my living. Therefore, I am not trying to teach principles of programming. I am only a writing teacher who happens to enjoy programming as a hobby. And while I cannot provide insight into better programming principles, I can offer guidance about writing those short pieces of text programmers always embed, but sometimes neglect. Helping students write better documents is, after all, my occupation; and believe it or not the principles I teach to write better papers are not that different from the principles needed to write better code.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2008). Articles>TC>Technical Writing>Methods
#30303
Principles of usability can apply to everything, not just physical objects. When using or creating graphics, documents, symbols or logos, stop and try to think about whether or not the item is usable.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Articles>Usability>Technical Illustration>Risk Communication
#31985
People often use colors in their documents in the wrong ways. Many students think that bright colors should be used in a document when they want to attract someone’s eye to a place on the page. Colors alone, however, should be used in synch with white space, font size, type and placement of whatever it is you want someone to be attracted to. Furthermore, just because something is filled with a bright color does not mean that it is eye-catching or attractive. True, bright colors will quickly draw the eye there, but use colors in a way that will make the eye stay there, not glance away in disgust.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2008). Articles>Document Design>Visual Rhetoric>Color
#34199
Analysis of the Skills Called for by Technical Communication Employers in Recruitment Postings 
Provides a framework of experiences and skills employers call for in job postings. Shows that potential employers are seeking very technical or domain-specific knowledge from technical writers. Shows that specific technology tool skills are less important to employers than more basic technical writing skills.
Lanier, Clinton R. Technical Communication Online (2009). Careers>TC
