#28032
Design, Technology and Their Roles in Social Changes
Christina Li interviewd Nico Macdonald on aspects of design, technology and society. Nico offered his insights from his own experience of working in political compaign and design consultancies.
Li, Christina. uiGarden (2006). Articles>Technology>Design
#31978
Developing the Political Perspective on Technological Change Through Rhetorical Analysis 
Rhetorical analysis provides a means through which a political perspective on technological change can be developed at a micro-discursive level. Through the analysis of managers' arguments and counterarguments, this article identifies three rhetorical strategies that negotiate the relationship between the technical and the social: attributing the effects of technology; claiming convergent and divergent interests; and constructing identities for self, groups, and the technology. It argues that a rhetorical approach maintains space for agency on the behalf of employees (through the witcraft of argument) and analytical skepticism concerning the reality of technology properties and effects (through counterargument). In addition, it proposes the concept of the argumentative context as a means of bridging the gap between individual and organizational rhetoric.
Symon, Gillian. Management Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Management>Technology>Rhetoric
#20530
Does "New and Improved" Always Mean Better?
A few years back a Canadian company asked me to review their corporate presentation. They seemed pretty pleased with what they had created but asked if I could take a look at things with a professional eye and provide them with some constructive feedback. I rarely turn down these types of requests because every one of us can benefit from some objective perspective from time to time. They went on to tell me that they had been working hard over the years to improve the quality of their presentations and they even went to the extent of purchasing Macromedia Action (no longer available). This high-end presentation design package featured timeline-based slide orchestration, a boatload of new effects, easier media integration capability and a host of other features to be able to create `professional results in minutes'.
Endicott, Jim. Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Technology>Microsoft PowerPoint
#29079
Does Being Technical Matter? XML, Single Source, and Technical Communication
XML is a recent Web design language that will enable technical communicators to produce documentation that can reuse information and present it across multiple types of media for diverse audiences. However, little is understood about how XML will impact technical communication in terms of theory, academic research, and pedagogy. In this article, I argue that XML requires more interdisciplinary approaches toward the teaching and research of technical communication, particularly with respect to the integration of technical and rhetorical knowledge.
Sapienza, Filipp. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2002). Articles>Technology>Single Sourcing>XML
#29942
Does Communication Everywhere Improve Communication?
As much we think we are multitaskers, there's a limit to what we can process. How has technology's enabling of communication anywhere and everywhere affected us in the context of traditional activities? How do they interplay with each other?
Cheng, Kevin. OK-Cancel (2005). Articles>Technology>Wireless Web>Collaboration
#11746
Does Usability Have a Role in Telecommunication?
The theme of this year’s annual conference is 'Global Communication Odyssey.' Wireless phones, the Internet, and e-commerce rely on telecommunication to deliver service to the customer. Our own Alice Preston and David Dick describe the role of usability in telecommunication.
Preston, Alice and David J. Dick. Usability Interface (2001). Articles>Usability>Technology
#29431
The Domino Effect: Changes Have Unforeseen Consequences
It's obvious that almost all the changes you make will affect your user community, but considerably less obvious how helpful that community can be about providing feedback before you make the changes.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (2000). Articles>Technology>Collaboration
#11818
An article in the Washington Post, June 7, 1999, called Terminal Tantrums; 'Computer Rage' Is Widespread, a Study of Users Concludes describes research out of Britain, that we were among the victims of Technology Related Anxiety (TRA), specifically, 'computer rage.' The study reported high levels of PC-related abuse by colleagues 'as a result of frustration' with information technology. The abuses included 'swearing at their PC,' kicking it, and 'bullying the IT department'.
Dick, David J. Usability Interface (1999). Articles>Technology>Usability
#28122
Don't Get Too Excited About Windows Source Code
Microsoft's offer to open the code to key protocols is probably not as revolutionary as it sounds.
McAllister, Neil. InfoWorld (2006). Articles>Technology>Programming>Microsoft Windows
#15120
Argues that using dual monitors can simplify technical writers' jobs and save time. The article includes directions for attaching a second monitor to a computer.
Blank, William. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology
#14671
E-mail and Tattoos: A Primer on Netiquette 
Rogers and Perri discuss the hazards of e-mail and present five tips for using it properly in a professional environment.
Rogers, David J. and Monica C. Perri. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology>Software>Email
#24576
Earthlink Scores Big: TV, Web, Core Values
A recent Earthlink TV commercial demonstrates how a company can use humor, sci fi, innovation, and benefit oriented brand marketing to please and inform customers. Plus, a great web site and high quality ethical core beliefs and values. Very user-centered.
Streight, Steven. Blogger.com (2004). Articles>Technology>Marketing>E Commerce
#25367
Educating your boss and co-workers about what we do for them on the company Intranet can be a major headache or it can be a fun-filled, creative exercise. It is our choice.
Burns, Barbara. Wise-Women (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Technology
#24560
The Effect of Interpretive Schemes on Videoteleducation's Conception, Implementation, and Use
Often, new technologies are seen as artifacts whose use is obvious. This study, which builds on Weick's notion that all technologies are equivocal, challenges that assumption. Using a case approach, this research examines how various groups at Far West, a professional school, interpret the implementation of a two-way video and audio videoteleducation (VTE) distance learning system and analyzes why different groups interpreted the technology in fundamentally different ways. From this case data, a model is created that examines the effects that dominant organizational groups' interpretation and thus conceptualization of VTE have on its system design, support, training, and rewards; measures of effectiveness; and rule generation.
Suchan, Jim. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2001). Articles>Technology
#24545
This article looks at how two offices changed their informal work relationships and patterns in response to a major technological innovation in their field. This inductive study involves a cross-case analysis with field studies covering a two-year period. The research applies the models suggested by social action theory to help explain outcomes. By the end of this study, one office had lost its funding and was eliminated, while the other has survived and grown. The article examines whether the differing organizational responses to new core technology were related to each office's ability to survive.
Kahn, Russell L. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2000). Articles>Workplace>Technology>Collaboration
#26417
Ethical Lessons Learned from Computer Science
In this article, we will address the question 'How can computer science methods help us to better understand ethics?'
Bergmair, Richard. ACM Crossroads (2004). Articles>Technology>Ethics
#21969
Review: Examining Technology's Wake
Based on world-wide archival research involving more than a hundred researchers, interviews with surviving witnesses, and other sources, the book reconstructs the development and utilization, from the end of the 1890s on, of the Hollerith punch card machine -- the first modern system for rapid processing of data.
Ornatowski, Cezar M. Lore (2002). Articles>Reviews>Technology
#24788
Facing the Frontiers of Advanced Technology, Global Integration, and Communication
Poetic phrases emerge from the root word techne, such as pyrotechnics, advanced technology, and technical communicator. Your role is likely to expand. You might become involved with international standards or the computer network. You might create interactive multimedia information.
Geary, Carol C. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Technology>TC
#20911
Federal Scientific and Technical Information and the U.S. Competitive Edge
The importance of scientific and technical information stems from its critical role in all phases of the innovation process. These include education, basic research, applied research and development, product development and manufacturing, and the application of science and technology to meet the needs in the commercial, not-forprofit, and governmental markets.
U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment (1990). Articles>Technology>Policies and Procedures>Government
#23420
From Technical Writing to Technical Communication: Looking to the Future
This paper focuses on the technical communicator’s role as it relates to computer technology.
Fisher, Julie L. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>TC>Technology>History
#20582
From the Moon to the Microchip: Fifty Years of Technical Communication
Explores technologies and technical writing discussed in this journal over the past 50 years. Describes how computer technologies were applied to gain efficiency in production. Notes that single sourcing and content management focus on text creation.
Durack, Katherine T. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Technology>TC
#29027
Getting Personal: Individuality, Innovation, and Technical Communication
This philosophical article explores individuality and innovation (creating new technology) as they relate to the communication approaches of scientists, engineers, and technologists. I suggest that effective communication between technical and non-technical people is difficult because technical communication lacks humanity, a personal dimension. I also suggest that dimension is lacking because technical people give up their identity to be considered competent and I argue that a different approach to communication education for scientists, engineers, and technologists is required to equip them with requisite communication skills to make their personal contribution to successful innovation.
Steiner, Carol J. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (1999). Articles>Collaboration>Technology
#30496
Getting Smart: Ways to Improve Your Intellectual Performance
Today's information developers are often confused by rapidly evolving technology and overwhelmed by the volumes of information they face each day. Although they might well feel that their mental faculties are taxed to the limit, research in cognitive psychology provides new strategies for coping in today's intellectually demanding environment. The purpose of this workshop is to give information developers insight into their intellectual strengths and to introduce strategies that can help them improve their intellectual performance.
Flanders, Alicia. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Information Design>Technology>Cognitive Psychology
#21124
I have spent a lot of time thinking about the things Dave Winer has talked about in the last few months. Just today, for no good reason, my mind lit up like a firestorm and I think I put several of his ideas together. At the least, I have started to describe a vision of life where technology is so important you would be shocked. However, at the same time the technology takes over, we are all as human as ever. We get what we want, exactly how we want it, without ever suffering through the pain of the technology.
Rhodes, John S. WebWord (2001). Articles>Technology
#20333
Sometimes we focus so much on tools and technologies that we forget the underlying theory of basic, good technical writing. Yes, there are basic laws of technical writing which remain intact despite the constant changes in the way we produce documentation or the way users access it. Whether you are writing a printed user guide, an online reference manual, or context-sensitive online help, these same basic laws apply. I call these basic laws my 'golden rules' for producing effective user documentation and eliminating sloppy habits. This workshop covers each rule in detail, plus provides practical tips for applying them.
Guren, Leah. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Writing>Technology>Technical Writing
