#13211
Technical Communications and Customer Support: Partnering to Publish What Customers Want to Know 
Most customers do not provide direct feedback on product documentation. Instead, when documentation fails to provide the information that a customer needs to use a tool effectively, he or she calls Customer Support for advice. To find out what information was missing or incorrect in our product documentation, I analyzed the Cadence Customer Support call logs that pertained to my products to find out what questions customers ask most about each product. I then partnered with teams of applications engineers (AEs) to improve our documentation by answering common questions, both on the Web in FAQ documents and in product manuals.
Guglielmetti, Krista. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Documentation>Assessment>FAQ
#18465
Technical Communications for Scientists and Engineers
Communications basics for scientists and engineers.
Elliott, Celia M. University of Illinois. Presentations>Slideshows>Engineering
#21702
A brief perspective on technical editing.
Rajan, D.V. STC India (2003). Presentations>Editing>Technical Editing
#14531
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
#15208
Technical Presentations: From Neophyte to Master
Discusses ways that technical presenters can improve their speaking skills.
Walinskas, Karl. Intercom (2000). Articles>Presentations
#13974
The Technical Talk: More Effective Use Of Visual Aids 
While most technical writing teachers assign the oral report and insist on visuals, very few offer their students good classroom examples of technical report visual aids. However, a set of 35 mm slides on one teaching topic could be easily produced with neither expensive equipment nor much ability in graphic design.
Jobst, Jack W. JAC (1981). Presentations>Advice>Visual>Visual Rhetoric
#13391
Technical Writer as a Team Member—A Case Study
In light of the current emphasis on teamwork in the workplace, this case describes one project benefiting from a technical writer on the team. This case study describes a nine month process of meetings and collaborations among a team of diverse professionals. The role of the technical writer involved identifying document content, assigning writing tasks, coordinating review, and overseeing production.
Carter, Kathy E. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Collaboration
#13210
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
#14506
Technical Writers on Technical Staff: An Alternative Career Path
The technical ladder provides an alternative to the traditional management ladder rewarding top performers while encouraging them to continue doing what they do best. Technical staff can provide a career path for technical writers who plan to remain with the same company over a long period of time. Not everyone can become a manager; not everyone can become a member of technical staff. But, a dual ladder significantly increases the opportunities for recognition and for job satisfaction.
Tatge, Pamela K. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Technology
#22640
Plan; know your purpose, audience and scope; leave enough time to write and edit several drafts; don't bore the reader.
Kirk, Elizabeth J. and Mary Wiberg. AAAS. Presentations>Scientific Communication>Writing>Technical Writing
#22277
Technical Writing: An Overview
A PDF document intended as a resource for teachers. The overview handout defines technical writing, lists examples, states rationale for teaching technical writing, reviews principles for writing instruction, explains basic technical writing concepts to be taught to students, and outlines methods for evaluating technical writing.
Zuidema, Leah A. Michigan State University (2003). Presentations>Writing>Technical Writing
#27072
In this tutorial, you will learn how to teleport an object such as AutoShape and text from one position to another by making use of PowerPoint XP/2002's Motion Path animation.
PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Resources>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#14083
Ten Practical Techniques for Single-Sourcing with FrameMaker
A PowerPoint slide show about using FrameMaker for single-source document creation and management.
WritersUA (2002). Presentations>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Adobe FrameMaker
#20520
Andy Warhol once said that everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes. So when that time comes don't screw it up - follow these 10 tips for broadcast success, whether you're talking to Matt and Katie via satellite uplink or your employees via a Webcast.
Yewman, Dave. Presenters University. Articles>Presentations>Streaming>Video
#23286
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
#13098
The Theory and Practice of Outsourcing
This paper discusses the reasons why companies are interested in information outsourcing (the theory) and how it can be made to work for the benefit of companies and individual information developers (the practice). The paper examines how information developers can, and do, react to the prospect of outsourcing. And by doing so, I hope to help information developers to understand the process and take advantages of the benefits it does offer them, while recognizing that there are some downsides to the process. where an organisation can best utilise its own core competencies.
Griffiths, Dave. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Management>Outsourcing
#26533
Theory, Pedagogy, and Program Design
Four presentations about the integration of theory and pedagogical innovation into the design of academic programs.
Gibson, Keith, Margaret Hundleby, Alan Chong, Amy Franklin, Robert Irish, Katherine Tiede and Deborah Tihanyi, Kendall Kelly and Katrine Dahl. CPTSC (2005). Presentations>Education>Theory
#28714
Review: There Must be Many I's in Today's Small UX teams: Jared Spool at NYC UPA
Jared Spool led the NYC UPA membership in an energetic discussion of user experience successes and failures. Comments ranged widely but centered on three main questions.
Herring, Richard D. Usability Professionals Association (2007). Articles>Reviews>Presentations>Usability
#18253
There's More Than One Way To Wire That: When Assembly Workers Are Technically Writers 
While technical writing is becoming a more obvious part of undergraduate education, it is not uncommon for an engineer to face the task of writing documentation without much training in the craft of communication. Other members of production teams may have received even less training, and yet have an equal or greater need to have a say in how documentation is produced and what it contains. In this paper, we will examine a situation in which an assembly worker, or system integrator, demanded the opportunity to document the appropriate ways to assemble complex Test and Measurement systems (for evaluating the electronic components of products such as PC’s, cars, and cellular phones), and the effects her change in roles has had on the production processes for both systems and their documentation.
Hall, Susan P. and Lili Fox Vélez. ACM SIGDOC (1999). Presentations>Documentation>Workplace
#13208
Thought, Behavior and Writing Style in Technical Communication
This presentation clarifies Japanese writers' tendency of written statement from the text-organization and writing-attitude. The result of investigation is the same as the presenter's hypothesis, that is, Japanese writers try to approach the point of argument by a roundabout way of developing a paragraph. 55% of the examinees showed this tendency. The fact that Japanese technical writers are willing to go along with the policy of the native speakers of English was also revealed through the interview and obtaining information by means of questionnaires.
Otsuka, Yoshihiro. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Business Communication
#18531
Three Good Reasons To Stop Using PowerPoint
Quit using PowerPoint? But why? After all, you're used to PowerPoint, it does the job, it's the corporate standard, and you're not a techie trying to impress an audience with your know-how. All you want to do is create and deliver a good presentation with the least amount of effort. Which is precisely the point. If the objective of a presentation is to train, teach, sell or motivate, then good may not be good enough – PowerPoint may not be good enough. Other programs may have better options for illustrating specific processes or techniques, or they may have advantages when it comes to re-purposing the content for distribution via print, CD or the Web. Your time is also valuable, and there may be times when PowerPoint is not the most efficient way to create the visuals you need.
Waldman, Harry. Presentations (2003). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#14543
Three Whiz-Bang Online Ways to Promote Professional Development in a Whiz-Bang Online World
If we're going to encourage our employees to ride the information Highway, we need to be training them wilh Lamborghinis, not horse-drawn carriages. Well, Toyotas, at least! An on-paper approach to professional development in an online world is self-defeating. Three online techniques that can act like fuel-injected superchargers to propel reluctant employees up the On ramp to the Information Highway are 1) HyperHighway: a HyperCard stack which leads users to inhouse resources and experties, 2) ExcelStaff: a Microsoft Excel skills matrix which helps managers develop and cross-train personnel through strategic staffing decisions, and 3) ElectroChat: an Electronic Bulletin Board approach which encourages professional growth through informal networking. Happy motoring!
Voss, Daniel W. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Management>Online
#18261
A panel of experts will discuss how to work in an authority vacuum. Whether working within or consulting to an organization, multi-talented, multi-tasked professionals are finding themselves working in an authority vacuum. Often, these jobs are nestled in the management ranks. Often, too, the position and the job are so new that the rules have not yet been written. Not everyone can function in such ambiguity. Yet major economic changes are forcing many of us to face more uncertainty than ever imagined. Not only can the panelists help define anew type of evolving management structure but they can also help in giving us concrete ways of dealing with daily uncertainties.
Sopensky, Emily A., Sally J. Derrick, Patricia Gabella, Robert G. Hurst and Krysti Ray. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Management>TC
#13686
We are going to examine the similarity between a well-functioning body and a thriving team. Specifically we’ll look be looking at balance, coordination, and growth. There are enough parallels in these three categories to show how when a team is treated the same way we treat our bodies we end up with similar results.
Ferrari, Tiffany. STC Proceedings (1999). Presentations>Collaboration>Management
#26205
Tips and Tricks for Including AVI (Video) Demos in Your Online Tutorial
This presentation focuses on creating video demonstrations of software for online tutorials, using AVI files, and Inserting these files into Windows Help or HTML.
Rosenberg, Nad. STC Orange County (1998). Presentations>Documentation>Multimedia>Video
