Typography is the study and process of typefaces; how to select, size, arrange, and use them in general. Traditionally, typography was the use of metal types with raised letterforms that were inked and then pressed onto paper. In modern terms, typography today also includes computer display and output.
#18150
Beginning a Documentation Project
Starting a documentation project is like opening a box filled with puzzle pieces and trying to figure out if you have all the right pieces for the right picture without knowing how many pieces make up the puzzle and what the picture looks like.
#24908
A physicist-turned-editor shows you the basics required for copyediting physics papers (physical quantities, symbols, units, scientific notation, the structure of mathematical expressions, the nature of graphs), and points the way to learning enough 'editorial physics' to begin substantive editing.
Murphy, Peter W. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Editing>Scientific Communication
#23377
A Behavioral Framework for Assessing Graduate Technical Communication Programs 
Behavioral science, with its emphasis on association, reliability, and validity provides a promising set of models upon which to enhance further work in scientific and technical communication. Our proposed model is based on the five independent variables that, when constructed validly and measured reliably, may be associated with effective programs in technical and scientific communication.
Coppola, Nancy W. and Norbert Elliott. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Assessment
#20969
When she learned that I would be teaching a course in her department, the department secretary made a mailbox for me and made sure that I received a copy of every memo and announcement distributed to the rest of the faculty. Other part-time faculty appreciated this service, so it became a part of the secretary's standard operating procedures. But I never received the mail because the mailbox was in Crookston, Minnesota and I taught the course by instructional television (ITV) from St. Paul, Minnesota, approximately 350 miles away.
Carliner, Saul. Saul Carliner Studio (2003). Articles>Education>Online>Collaboration
#28171
Behind the Scenes of Creating Value
There's a lot of volunteer work that that goes on behind the scenes by chapter members to create value. Today, I'm inviting you to get involved so you can take part in and benefit from creating value.
Koster-Lenhardt, Victoria 'Vici'. Carolina Communique (2004). Articles>TC>Community Building>Volunteering
#19370
Behind the Scenes of Scientific Debating
In analysing a scientific debate, there are at least two types of relevant information. One is the debate itself, experienced first hand or via a transcript. Another is what can be called backstage information, which includes the debaters’ preparations, plans, notes, thinking and reservoir of arguments and responses. Familiarity with backstage information can provide insights for understanding the dynamics of the debate. Often, the only individuals with much backstage information are the debaters themselves, plus perhaps one or two advisers or close friends. An observer of the debate seldom has access to backstage information. The next best thing, then, is generalisations based on backstage experience with debates of a similar nature.
Martin, Brian. University of Wollongong (2000). Articles>Scientific Communication>Rhetoric
#26975
Behringer Multitrack Audio Mixer
Introduces how to perform multimedia audio mixing and editing using a Behringer multitrack mixer.
Pratt, Andrew and Dave Long. Studio for New Media (2004). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Audio
#18408
We humans are biological animals. We have evolved over millions of years to function well in the environment, to survive. We are analog devices following biological modes of operation. We are compliant, flexible, tolerant. Yet we people have constructed a world of machines that requires us to be rigid, fixed, intolerant. We have devised a technology that requires considerable care and attention, that demands it be treated on its own terms, not on ours. We live in a technology-centered world where the technology is not appropriate for people. No wonder we have such difficulties.
Norman, Donald A. JND.org (2002). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Usability
#25226
Being Personal isn't About Being Their "Buddy"
I have written often about the value of writing online in a personal voice. In particular, emails and newsletters lend themselves to a genuine, personal tone.
Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Writing>Technical Writing
#31045
As Business Analysts we have such a great opportunity everyday to use a variety of skills in ever changing project situations. This gives us the chance to showcase and develop in multiple areas that will help us evolve the profession of Business Analysis and help us each grow in our own careers.
Wick, Angela. BA Collective (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Collaboration
#28918
Information Architects are often put on the defensive by spears flung by brethren in related disciplines. In taking the accusations seriously and accepting truths within them, Grant Campbell reveals greatest strengths in shallowness, insularity, and being 'relegated' to history.
Campbell, Grant. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Information Design>Professionalism
#20928
Being User-Centered When Implementing a UCD Process
For those who are interested in usability – whether long-time advocates or newly introduced – this is a good time to introduce a user-centered design process.
Quesenbery, Whitney. WQusability (2001). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods>Usability
#19541
Belonging and Diaspora: The Chinese and the Internet
The Internet has become a new global phenomenon, enlarging new democratic discourse and has helped to foster new empowerment and learning experiences. It has also been argued that the Internet can be used for social and political mobilisation. In the case of ethnic groups, the Internet can be used to create new communities or to re-create past knowledges, enabling the maintenance and cultural reproduction of 'old' communities. In the case of the Chinese community, it has been pointed out that the Internet while has been useful in creating a Chinese presence, it nonetheless privileges essentialism and communal hegemony. This has been specifically the point made by some cultural theorists. In their study of the Chinese and Chinese-ness, cultural studies theorists have criticised the hegemonic formation implicit in discussions of the Chinese. They point out that the search by diasporic Chinese for an authentic Chinese meaning is inherently flawed and futile. In deconstructing the notion of Chinese and Chinese-ness, they argue that identities are contingent, often multiple and evolving. This paper takes seriously this criticism proffered by cultural theorists. It seeks to examine and locate their claims in the context of the relationship between diasporic politics, communalism and the Internet. The paper starts with a brief overview of the Chinese diaspora; it next examines the relationship between the new information and communication technologies and the Chinese diaspora. It will also look at how this new technology is shaping and changing the way Chinese diasporic lives are experienced. In so doing, it examines the claims advanced by cultural theorists, in particular their analysis of identity and its relationship with diasporic politics and essentialism.
Wong, Loong. First Monday (2003). Articles>Cyberculture>Community Building>Ethnicity
#10324
Below the Neutral Axis: A Case of Writers, Managers, and Companies in the Current Economic Context 
As a growing and integral part of America's corporate workforce, technical writers increasingly share general employee benefits and burdens. Negative trends that affect the workforce in many companies now threaten serious damage to the teams that technical writers work on, the projects they develop, and ultimately the revenues that pay their salaries. The structural and secondary effects of such trends are explained; an illustration is given in the case of one company; and predictions are made about where such trends will lead.
McKeown, Roger R. Technical Communication Online (1997). Articles>Human Computer Interaction
#21441
Nearly everyone has a licenced or unlicenced version of Winzip or any other compatible utility installed. You can do a lot more with them than just to compress and combine files into a single archive. E.g. you can "freeze" the present state of a project or use the CRCs to identify files.
von Obert, Alexander. Techwriter.de (2003). (German) Articles>Communication>Software>Compression
#29506
Dr. Shneiderman muses on mulidisciplinarianism and reminds us that no computer is smarter than a wooden pencil.
Adlin, Tamara and Ben Shneiderman. UX Pioneers (2007). Articles>Interviews>User Experience
#30145
Benchmarking the Document Management Process 
The Bank of Canada manages the public debt as fiscal agent, for the Federal Government. As a public service organization, it is committed to deliver quality services to its clients in a cost effective and efficient manner. Recognizing that a fundamental role of documentation is to provide continuity within a changing environment, the Public Debt Department (POD) piloted best practices benchmarking of its internal documentation unit with partners identified as having best-in-class processes.
Edwards, Roy, James D. McGuire and Shirley A. Hancock. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Content Management>Assessment>Case Studies
#31405
Benchmarking: Ugly Truths and Unpredictable Outcomes
A walk through a benchmarking project, sharing some of the behind-the-scenes stories of benchmarking gone right, and gone wrong. So, here they are, complete with tales of terror, moments of madness and even some back-room horse-trading.
Sinickas, Angela D. Sinickas Communications (2000). Articles>Management>Communication>Assessment
#18495
Benefits and Issues of Binary Localization
The process of localizing C/C++ Windows applications has evolved considerably over its relatively short life span. Due to the demands of fierce global markets, the localization industry has progressed from rather painful methods of localizing bulky and inconvenient source files to using highly sophisticated tools that allow for a quicker and considerably more efficient process of directly localizing binary files. Taking advantage of these localization tools and switching to a binary strategy has proven to provide many benefits that streamline and expedite the process of localization. The classic approach to localization involved translating hundreds of resource (RC) files and resizing dialogs using tools such as Microsoft Developer Studio. As newer builds of the same products started being released more frequently and translators' work became more repetitive, localizers started to take advantage of various translation database tools to help save translation time. While database tools with RC filters streamlined part of the translation process and allowed translators to begin their efforts sooner, it was still fairly tedious, time consuming, and error prone to resize graphical user interface elements separately for each build. Localizers therefore started to combine aspects of translation database technology and visual editing into tools focused exclusively on software localization. Currently, the localization industry is taking its next evolutionary step; leaving behind a tiresome and time consuming RC-based process for the quicker and cleaner process of directly localizing precompiled binary modules. Today's advanced localization tools promise to provide integrated localization solutions that allow translators and engineers to work directly with binaries saving enormous amounts of time and effort.
Syed, Sarosh. SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software
#14579
The benefits of usability include: increased productivity; decreased training and support costs; increased sales and revenues; reduced development time and costs; reduced maintenance costs; increased customer satisfaction.
#18749
Benefits of Using a Professional to Write User Documentation
Studies have shown organisations value the following benefits: overall organisation, the sales team, and documentation meets the customer's requirements.
Cherryleaf (2003). Articles>Writing>Professionalism>Documentation
#28163
To get the most out of your STC membership--take action. Join a committee, write an article for the newsletter, go to a workshop, volunteer for the chapter conference.
Feldman, Diane. Carolina Communique (2006). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#26172
Best Approach for Chinese into English Translation!
By managing large projects involving Chinese translation into English in the past two years, it has taught me that in handling this language pair, the ideal candidate is not native English-speakers, but native Chinese-speakers living abroad.
Zhang, Yi. WTB Language Group (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>China
#23693
Several weeks ago, a supercilious colleague informed me that spell checkers and grammar checkers had rendered editors and proofreaders obsolete. When I attempted to explain that electronic grammar and spelling checkers are not reliable because they yield false negatives and false positives, she disagreed strongly. I went on to further explain that language is more complex than any computer can fathom, and that until artificial intelligence truly arrives, the best grammar checking program will continue to live between our ears. I am sorry to say that my colleague arrogantly declared that I was mistaken. I wrote the verse below in her honor.
Kasper, Rosa. MetroVoice (2002). Articles>Language>Word Processing
#15004
The Best of Both Worlds: Combining Usability Testing and Documentation Projects
Describes two cases in which usability testing and documentation projects were performed in conjunction with one other. It describes how usability testing affected the design and content of the documentation and how follow-on usability studies added significant new data not revealed in the initial tests.
Kantner, Laurie, Stephanie L. Rosenbaum and Connie Leas. Tec-Ed, Inc. (1997). Articles>Documentation>Usability
