Podcasts are digital media files, usually digital audio or video, that are made available for download via Web syndication. The syndication aspect of the delivery is what differentiates podcasts from other files accessible by direct download or streaming.
#28782
Ann Rockley on the Rockley Group Blog and a New CMS Report
Ann Rockley shares information about an upcoming report on component content management systems her group will be releasing this summer. She also says the Rockley Group is launching a blog to provide quicker information to users in a more interactive way. She talks about the growing presence companies have in the blogosphere, and why they chose WordPress as their blogging tool.
Rockley, Ann and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>Content Management>Podcasts
#30463
Are you Hurting Your Career By Not Blogging or Podcasting?
Talks about myths, rewards, trends, tips, and issues surrounding blogging and podcasting, especially in terms of how it affects your career.
Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Publishing>Online>Podcasts
#28783
Chris Thompson on Searching for a Content Management System
Thompson talks about his search for the right content management system. He talks about the importance of content reuse across an entire system and having a workflow for editing, reviews, and translation. He discusses AuthorIT as a possible CMS solution. He also gives tips for talking with CMS vendors without being suckered in.
Thompson, Chris and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>Content Management>Podcasts
#28381
A weekly podcast for technical writers by a company called DMN Communications.
Davis, Aaron and Scott Nesbitt. DMN Communications. Resources>TC>Documentation>Podcasts
#28795
The Convergence of Web 2.0 with Help Documentation
This podcast talks about the convergence of web 2.0 with help documentation. It mentions examples of Web 2.0 sites, such as Flickr, Payscale, and Digg, and what help files need to incorporate these same Web 2.0 features.
Johnson, Tom H. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Design>Web Design>Documentation>Podcasts
#31761
Creating Effective Presentation Slides
The key methods you can employ to create effective presentation slides.
Doumont, Jean-luc. IEEE PCS (2008). Design>Presentations>Usability>Podcasts
#28749
Creating Help in the Web 2.0 Age
This is a presentation titled 'Creating Help in the Web 2.0 Age' that Neil Perlin gave to the Suncoast Chapter in Tampa, Florida in February 2007. Neil talks about what Web 2.0 is, and how help can be delivered on the fly according to specific user requests.
Perlin, Neil E. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Presentations>Documentation>Help>Podcasts
#31759
Dealing Proactively with Audience Questions
What’s the best way to handle questions from the audience when presenting? This podcast examines key things you can do to deal proactively with audience questions.
Still, Brian. IEEE PCS (2008). Articles>Presentations>Audio>Podcasts
#28790
Debbie Kennedy on Modular Writing and Reusability
Kennedy's presentation on modular writing and reusability was attended by about 200 people. In her presentation, Debbie explained how to chunk content by first looking at different content types: procedures, processes, facts, principles, and so forth. She also mentions a tool called Content Mapper that writers can use to chunk and reuse information through Microsoft Word.
Kennedy, Debbie. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Writing>Content Management>Podcasts
#30579
Design Critique: On Plain Language
An interview with Whitney Quesenbery about minimalism and plain language in user experience design.
Quesenbery, Whitney. Design Critique (2007). Articles>Interviews>Minimalism>Podcasts
#31737
Five Books to Add to Your Technical Communication Library
Heidi Hansen takes 15 minutes to discuss five books that she read over the past year and published book reviews for.
Hansen, Heidi. Tech Writer Voices (2008). Articles>TC>Policies and Procedures>Podcasts
#30632
Foundations of Interaction Design
An interview with David Malouf on his article, Foundations of Interaction Design. We discuss several foundations of Interaction design including time, metaphor, abstraction, and negative space. David also provides greater detail to comments posted on his article from readers from around the world.
Malouf, David Heller and Jeff Parks. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>User Interface>Interaction Design>Podcasts
#28778
Geoff Sauer on tc.eserver.org, the Largest Tech Comm Index Online
Geoff Sauer is one of the founders of tc.eserver.org--the largest online index for all works related to technical communication. The library indexes works by technical communicators in dozens of categories, and allows users to add new works, rank them, and get RSS feeds of specific titles. There are over 25,000 RSS feeds generated on the site and 15,000 visitors each day.
Sauer, Geoffrey and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>TC>Podcasts
#29172
Information Architecture: Organizing Chaos, Metadata, Taxonomy vs. Folksonomy, and the Dublin Core
An interview with Kevin Shoesmith about information architecture and the challenge of organizing complicated websites. Shoesmith explains about the importance of metadata, providing user-driven organization, taxonomy vs. folksonomy, the Dublin core, the usability of web menus.
Shoesmith, Kevin and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Information Design>Metadata>Podcasts
#28762
Keith Hoffman, president of the Madison Wisconsin Four Lakes Chapter, talks with George Hayhoe, editor of the Technical Communication Journal, about the emergence of technical communications in China and Korea, and the forces behind the push for technical communicators.
Hayhoe, George F. and Keith Hoffman. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>TC>International>Podcasts
#28766
Is Technical Writing Boring? Tech Writers as Information Architects
Is technical writing boring? We discuss a post that spawned a lot of comments and exchanges. We also talk about an article on information architecture in the Tech Comm journal.
Johnson, Tom H. and Heidi Hansen. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Podcasts
#28779
Jack Molisani on Trends in Technical Communication
Shares some trends in the technical communication industry, arguing that writers need to become hyphenated to move forward and be successful in the future. Molisani owns a technical writing staffing company and also produces the Lavacon conference, which is in New Orleans this year, but is traditionally in Hawaii. He says users aren't concerned about polished language these days; they just want accurate, relevant content.
Molisani, Jack and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>TC>Planning>Podcasts
#28763
I talk with Katherine (Kit) Brown, Brenda Huettner, and Char James-Tanny about their latest book, Managing Virtual Teams: Getting the Most from Wikis, Blogs, and Other Collaborative Tools.
Brown, M. Katherine 'Kit', Brenda P. Huettner, Char James-Tanny and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Collaboration>Content Management>Podcasts
#28788
Mike Brazill on Writing for Developers
Brazill gives tips for writers who document APIs or write other information for developers. He says that because developers are busy and want to get started, you have to write less and provide more examples. Developers are more goal-oriented than task oriented. He also explains the different levels of API writing.
Brazill, Mike and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>Documentation>Podcasts
#28769
A Natural Conversation about Technical Writing
An introduction to the new co-host, competition entries, an interesting entry from Microsoft, audio in instructions, screen demos, the STC annual conference, other technical communication tools, wikis, blogs, NetVibes, Get me the Geeks video, David Pogue, Walt Mossberg, and more.
Johnson, Tom H. and Heidi Hansen. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Podcasts
#28753
Presentation on Writing and Web 2.0
This is presentation Keith Hoffman gave on writing and Web 2.0 at the University of Wisconsin. If you recall, Keith wrote the feature article in January's Intercom on Web 2.0.
Hoffman, Keith. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Presentations>Web Design>Writing>Podcasts
#28548
Review of Word 2007, Tool vs. Industry Experience, the Slow Movement, E-mail Tips, and More
In this week's Tech Writer Voices podcast, Heidi and I talk about some innovative research from Microsoft, Word 2007, convincing upper management you're not a cost, focusing on information users actually want, tool versus industry experience, the curse of knowledge, the slow movement, and a tip for handling your e-mail inbox.
Hansen, Heidi and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Podcasts
#28781
Abel's presentation on Web 2.0 was the most popular presentation of the STC 2007 conference (at least this is my impression from these interviews). In his presentation, Abel touches upon RSS feeds, wikis, blogs, geospatial positioning, social networking, tagging, podcasts, and other Web 2.0 technologies. He expands here on geospatial positioning and tagging. Abel also explains why he uses a newsletter in addition to a feed for his popular blog, www.thecontentwrangler.com.
Abel, Scott and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>Web Design>Podcasts
#30065
The Sheer Audacity: Get More, in Less Time
Gives a few pointers on how to give your podcast a more professional sound in addition to a number of easy-to-follow procedures for more complex functions. Though aimed at the beginner and intermediate Audacity user, anyone who wants to save time by using Audacity will find the tips and tricks useful.
Franklin, Jerry. Podcast Academy (2006). Articles>Documentation>Audio>Podcasts
#31762
Who to target with your email, how long it should be, and what should and shouldn't go in it so that it can be an effective means of communication for you.
Hayhoe, George F. IEEE PCS (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Email>Podcasts
