Research Points the Finger at PowerPoint

If you have ever wondered why your eyes start glazing over as you read those dot points on the screen, as the same words are being spoken, take heart in knowing there is a scientific explanation. It is more difficult to process information if it is coming at you in the written and spoken form at the same time.

Patty, Anna. Sydney Morning Herald (2007). Articles>Presentations>Instructional Design>Microsoft PowerPoint

Researching and Planning an SGML Implementation  

The potential benefits of re-usable, portable information have many organizations contemplating a move to a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) environment. A successful SGML implementation requires thorough research to identify project goals and requirements as well as a formal implementation plan.

Stertzbach, Lori A. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Information Design>SGML

Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides

Recently, much criticism has arisen about the design of slides created with Microsoft PowerPoint. This web page challenges PowerPoint's default design of a single word or short phrase headline supported by a bullet list. Rather than subscribing to Microsoft's topic-subtopic design for slides, this web page advocates an assertion-evidence design, which serves presentations that have the purpose of informing and persuading audiences about technical content.

Alley, Michael. Virginia Tech (2004). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Microsoft PowerPoint

Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides

Summary, models, and templates of a new design of slides for technical presentations. This design is fully documented in Chapter 4 of The Craft of Scientific Presentations (Springer, 2003).

Alley, Michael. Penn State University (2004). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Visual Rhetoric

Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides: A Case for Sentence Headlines and Visual Evidence    

The traditional design of presentation slides calls for a phrase headline supported by a bulleted list. Recently, many critics have challenged the effectiveness of this design. This article argues for a significantly different design that offers numerous advantages in most communication contexts but that is particularly well suited to technical presentations. Originating at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and refined in more than 400 critique sessions at Virginia Tech, this alternative design is characterized by a succinct sentence headline supported by visual evidence. What distinguishes this design from other visual -evidence designs are its specific layout and typography guidelines, which were chosen to make the communication efficient, memorable, and persuasive. Although more difficult to construct than the traditional design, the alternative design shows much promise as a more effective means of conveying technical information to various audiences. This article outlines the key advantages and challenges of using this design, and concludes by assessing attempts to disseminate this design through lectures, workshops, and the Web.

Alley, Michael and Kathryn A. Neeley. Technical Communication Online (2005). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Persuasive Design

Retrofitting Paper-Based Documentation for Hypermedia Delivery  

The trend to online delivery of information means new challenges for developers. New skills must be learned. Large-scale conversion projects must be completed while new materials are developed. Though conversion can be a monumental task, research and planning are the keys to a smooth transition. Five steps are critical to the conversion process: (1) Analyze the needs for developers ard end-users. (2) Develop a design document to outline how the hypermedia system should work. (3) Develop a transition plan. (4) Implement the Plan. (5) Update and maintain the system.

Hatley, Stacey D. and Travis Williams. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Web Design>Information Design

Setting Usability Requirements For A Web Site Containing A Form  

We describe the challenges of understanding and setting usability requirements for a web site containing a form. We define 'usability requirements.' Ideally, usability requirements should be defined early in a project. In practice, we often find that the first opportunity we have is when we are asked to undertake an evaluation. Collecting the users' opinions of the requirements as part of the evaluation can often prompt the organization into investigating the users, leading to a better set of requirements and, eventually, a better web site.

Miller, Sarah and Caroline Jarrett. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Accessibility>Web Design>Usability

SGML—A Pilot Project For The Department Of Energy  

SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is a viable transmission vehicle for Scientific and Technical Information (STI) communications. SGML is an integral component within the CALS (Computer Aided Logistics and Support) initiative. SGML as identified in this paper will be the transmission device for STI. This paper is designed to provide a high level overview of the Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to the Technical Information and Publications group within the Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory. This paper will address the genealogy of the initial efforts to (1) generate a specification (limited to tagging scientific and technical data) (2) generate applicable Document Type Definitions (DTD’s) and (3) develop a proof of concept to DOE for evaluation. This paper is not designed to provide a lesson in document analysis, DTD preparation or SGML transmission. This paper does however provide a structured approach starting at ground zero and systematically reaching the point of document delivery.

Stickels, Thomas C. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Information Design>SGML

Simple Good--Complex Bad

An IBM Ease of Use poster with the message Simple Good - Complex Bad.

IBM (1999). Design>Presentations>Posters>Minimalism

Small Screens, Big Lessons: Learning from Well Designed Small Screen Interfaces

By utilizing techniques and design principles that support flow, small screen interfaces can further increase user satisfaction and minimize the sense of time on task. Lesson methods include 'Using progressive disclosure' and 'Balancing Visual and Structural Simplicity.'

Hibbitts, Paul D. SlideShare (2006). Presentations>Web Design>Wireless Web

Standardizing Information for Your Users  

If the modular approach to developing documentation is poorly coordinated, it can be a waste of time and resources. In this paper, learn how a team of technical writers overcame the problem to develop and standardize their documentation.

Gokhale, Sunil and Louis Jude Selvadoray. STC Proceedings. Presentations>TC>Information Design

Structuring Help for Re-Use  

Many teams are still laboring to transform poorly organized manuals into online help. But the biggest cllallege you face going from paper to online is not interface, but structure The better your structure, the easier your users will navigate.

Price, Jonathan R. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Documentation>Information Design

Students' Technological Difficulties in Using Web-Based Learning Environments  

To provide quality education as we seek to use emerging electronic technologies, TPC faculty must continually reconceptualize what constitutes a classroom and what characterizes our roles as effective teachers. To explore these issues, we focus on the technological difficulties students encounter when learning in a web-based environment that includes using websites for course content, email to interact and send attachments, instant messaging, and listservs or threaded discussions. How do students with little experience in using these types of computer technology learn to complete the tasks required by their courses successfully? How do faculty prevent them from becoming so frustrated with the technology that they give up or transfer that frustration to course content, creating a barrier to their learning?

Southard, Sherry and Philip Rubens. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Education>Instructional Design>Online

Teaching and Learning in a Global Environment  

Much research in technical communication addresses issues of writing for other cultures. Language is understood within the context of culture, so communication is a cultural activity. Therefore, to successfully communicate with international audiences, we need to learn both what formal studies can offer and what individuals from other cultures reveal about our understanding of those studies.

Coggin, William O., Yevgeniy Borodkin, Su Suocai and Karen Skelton. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Education>Instructional Design>International

Teaching Teachers at the Institute in Technical Communication: A Special Report on Our Pilot Project  

In STC’s first special opportunity grant, seven STC-funded high school teachers attended the Institute in Technical Communication, held at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi in June, 1999. Originally developed for teachers at two-year colleges, the 19th Institute became a small experiment, combining high school teachers and 13 other teachers from community and technical colleges.

Chisnell, Dana E. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Education>Instructional Design

Teaching Technical People How to Think (About Graphical User Interface Design)  

Advances in technology have opened up new opportunities for technical communicators in the area of graphical user interface design. This paper describes our effort to take advantage of these opportunities. We have educated ourselves in the core issues of current research; we have leveraged our expertise in page layout and design; and we have participated in the development of standards for GUI design. Although progress has been slow, we are encouraged by early feedback from our management.

Janicko, Raymond P. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>User Interface>Instructional Design>Education

A Team Approach to Training  

The new hire training program for Technical Communication staff at Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories (BNW) consists of a team approach where several individuals have defined roles and responsibilities for ensuring that all new hires receive the information and support required to be successful in their positions. This paper describes our training program.

Edler, Sandra K. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Education>Instructional Design>Collaboration

Technical and Scientific Illustrations: From Pen to Computer  

A brief look at the 19th Century David M. Greene collection of engineering textbooks at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reveals how illustrations (1) conveyed messages to a specific audience, (2) addressed a subject, and (3) were designed for specific viewing contexts. The technology of computer-aided drawing has reestablished the importance of visual language in scientific documents.

Powley, William. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Graphic Design>History>Technical Illustration

Technical Illustration And The Video Camera  

A video camera is an excellent tool for preparing technical illustrations and procedures. A video tape of a procedure provides chronological information. It provides visual images that can be used as the basis for technical illustrations. Visual images and details are recorded permanently so that they are not forgotten. The research information can be passed on to another author. A case study illustrates how a video tape can be used to document a procedure and produce electronic illustrations.

Schneider, Livingston S. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Graphic Design>Video>Technical Illustration

A Technical Writer's Introduction to XML  

XML is one of the hot topics in Web technology. More and more XML sites are being developed every day. You've probably seen XML without realizing it. It's also showing up in specific tools for technical writers: Sun's JavaHelp uses XML components. But when you try to learn about this exciting new technology, when you review the many books that are appearing on shelves, or sites popping up on the Web, you'll find that the information that is available is mostly aimed at developers. This session cuts through the technical detail to the core of XML, to the value that it brings to technical writers and their users. Unlike HTML, which is based on a specific set of tags, XML allows you to define your own tags. This means you have the ability to tag information based on content rather than format structure.

Rockley, Ann and Steve Manning. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Web Design>XML

The Changing Face of Document Design and Technical Communication: The Impact of Trends on How We Think about Our Work  

Characterizes the evolving trends, and helps you consider the impact of trends on your thinking and doing.

Schriver, Karen A. IDblog (2004). Presentations>Document Design>TC

Tips and Tricks of Information Management  

Technical communication, when it comes down to basics, is getting the right information across to the right audience, with results. But how do you wade through all that ocean of information? How do you sort them, separate them, store them, and retrieve them at your fingertips? In this presentation you will learn tools such as L files and Mailword, and share other tips and tricks of managing information in an open discussion with other participants.

Dijamco, Renato A. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Information Design>Management

To SGML or Not to SGML. That is the Question?  

SGML is a tool that will change the way technical communicators work, it will also change the way companies operate. To implement SGML requires careful planning. Success will allow information to be created once and used repeatedly. This technology will benefit any company that requires large amounts of technical information to be shared and eventually updated. DTDs, FOSIs and parsers will all have to be understood before a move to SGML is contemplated. SGML does for document creation what word processing did for typing, some years ago. It adds repeatable format structure and style to an information document.

Rhodes-Marriott, A. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Information Design>SGML

Translating Hardcopy Documents to HTML Online Documents  

The ever-increasing popularity of the World Wide Web has created another assignment for the professional writer-the need to turn hardcopy documents into HTML coded documents. This paper discusses some of the translation tools available, the problems to watch when converting documents, and the benefits of using special translation tools for converting your original hardcopy documents into HTML documents for online viewing.

Hoess, Laurence. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Web Design>HTML