The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an international professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication. It has hundreds of local chapters (also known as 'communities.'
Technical Communication is a broad term which includes technical writing, instructional designing, graphics, website designing or any form of communication which helps in communicating the technical information in a simpler way to the targeted user. This also includes audio tapes, video films and micro clips.
Malik, Suman Lata. Tripod.com (2007). Resources>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
InFrame is the independent electronic magazine devoted to Adobe FrameMaker. Its hope is to provide the FrameMaker community with a regular source of tips, information, and idea exchange.
Hays, Dennis. InFrame. Journals>TC>Document Design>Adobe FrameMaker
The Inmates are Running the STC
The latest on the STC Transformation blog mentions that of the thousands of STC members, only 1% are contributing their views to the blog. So, they wonder, what do the other 99% have to say? One commentor thinks that this 99% are silent because they're happy with their memberships. I think this group has probably just forgotten they're members.
Berger, Jenny L. Creative Tech Writer, The (2003). Articles>TC>Organizations>STC
Innovate, Illuminate, Activate-Write! 
This workshop will help you ignore old patterns, tap into your creative potential, and find innovative answers to anything. Bring your sense of humor and an outlandish willingness to stretch.
Oestreich, Linda L. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC
Inspections: Part of the Quality Evolution 
Inspections are apart of the rebirth of Total Quality Management directed at customer satisfaction. Although inspecting documents takes extra time and fortitude, the rewards far outweigh the investment. A formal inspection process improves the quality of documents and reduces costs over the long term. Through early defect detection, inspections have proven their value time and time again. In this workshop, we will share inspection process guidelines used at Bull Information Systems, and raise issues related to inspections.
Alicee, Audrey L. and Leigh A. Wales. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>TC>Quality
Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators
A UK organization (member of Intecom) that allows members to exchange views and information with other technical communicators. Offers book reviews on various subjects (e.g. editing, writing, indexing, web design, user interface design, and programming and mark-up languages). It also offers information on training and education for technical communicators.
Institutional Boundaries and Finding a Voice in Emerging Technical Communication Programs
The border between institution types has long been a site of conflict and interest in the field of technical communication. One related border is becoming increasingly important: the border(s) between a diversifying range of institutions interested in technical communication and the PhD-granting institutions supplying them with teachers/scholars.
Knievel, Michael. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>TC
Instructor's Guide for The Bedford Handbook 
An electronic edition of the best-selling handbook by Diana Hacker, The Electronic Bedford Handbook 6.0 combines the comprehensive coverage and class-tested reference features of the text with the cutting-edge convenience of an e-book, resulting in an interactive e-handbook that serves both as a guide to research and writing and as a reference for the electronic age.
Hacker, Diana. Bedford-St. Martin's. Resources>Education>TC>Technical Writing
INTECOM stands for international co-operation between technical communication organizations, and aims to improve technical documentation and communication. INTECOM represents approximately 30.000 technical communicators in fifteen member organizations.
Assuming that not everybody knows the INTECOM Code of Good Practice, we use this opportunity to publish it in this and following issues of TC-FORUM.
TC-FORUM (2000). Resources>TC>Professionalism
This panel will present a discussion of the purposes and activities of INTECOM, the international umbrella organization of technical communication societies. The panel will describe the organization of INTECOM, its major programs such as the international FORUM conference, the value it offers to member organizations, and the activities and programs of some of its member societies.
Hibbard, Jeffrey L. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>TC>International
INTECOM's Code of Good Practice
To improve the standards of technical communication throughout the world, INTECOM has approved this code of good practice as a guideline for the professional technical communicator in his or her daily, highly important task.
INTECOM (2003). Articles>TC>Standards>Professionalism
Integrated Strategic Communication: More than the Sum of Its Parts 
Adopting a hybrid organizational structure over 40 years ago has permitted the Communications Department of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control-Orlando to evolve new capabilities and undertake new missions. The result has been an independent organization that proactively responds to business opportunities, strategically applies numerous resources, and adds new skill sets that help Missiles and Fire Control capture and retain military contracts.
Voss, Daniel W. and William C. Wiese. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>TC>Workplace
Integrating Academics and Industry: A Challenge for Both Sides

Rapidly emerging technologies are bringing radical changes and challenges to today’s workplace, not just for our own profession but for many others as well. As society’s information needs change, so do the roles of technical communicators. Even the questions technical communicators face are constantly evolving: Which medium to use—and when, and how? Paper or online? Verbal or visual? Such questions were unheard of when many of us entered the profession, but they are commonplace for many practicing technical communicators today (as they certainly will be for many of today’s university students in their careers—and it’s impossible to guess what other questions will be just as routine for them, questions we cannot predict because quite likely the concepts and gadgets and words involved do not yet exist).
Sutliff, Kristene. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Education>TC
Engineering 100/University Course 163 at the University of Michigan is structured as if the students were staff engineers for a company, and we have integrated technical communication by having the students write a laboratory report for the company managerial staff. Acunique component of this assignment is that the lab manager is equally able to evaluate the technical material as well as the communication in the reports. The students responded positively to the experience, but the results show a continued need to emphasize the informational needs of the audience regarding lab protocol and recommendations for future research.
Sulewski, Rob. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>TC
Intellectual Property for Technical Communicators: A Primer 
This paper presents a high-level overview of intellectual property issues, such as how to deal with patents, copyrights, and trademarks in the United States (other countries have other laws; this information may not apply to them). Technical communicators deal with intellectual property, and the protection of intellectual property, in day-to-day work. We must therefore know the basic rules for protecting our company's intellectual property interests, and must pay strict attention to dealing correctly with our and others' intellectual property matters.
Delain, Nancy Baum. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Intellectual Property>TC
Intellectual Property for Technical Communicators: A Primer 
This paper presents a high-level overview of intellectual property issues, such as how to deal with patents, copyrights, and trademarks in the United States (other countries have other laws; this information may not apply to them). Technical communicators deal with intellectual property, and the protection of intellectual property, in day-to-day work. We must therefore know the basic rules for protecting our company’s intellectual property interests, and must pay strict attention to dealing correctly with our and others’ intellectual property matters.
Delain, Nancy Baum. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Intellectual Property>TC
The backdrop facilitating Margaret Martinez’s study and the increased interest in studies of learners and of alternative learning environments is a complicated one. Most certainly, technological advances during the last decade have invigorated educational institutions and corporate interest in providing alternative educational opportunities for under-represented audiences. Additionally, numerous educational researchers have noted the increased pressure to provide improved educational experiences that are driven by both internal and external pressures on traditional educational institutions.
Mehlenbacher, Brad. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Education>TC
An Interactive Genre Within the University Textbook: The Preface

This article examines the communicative categories and linguistic features of university textbook prefaces. The textbook preface is a highly interactive genre, with a double purpose: informative and promotional. The analysis of the genre moves and of their realization reveals that the preface is used by the author both to help the audience use the book and to convince them of the value of the book. This twofold purpose accounts for the most relevant features of prefaces: the frequent use of textual metadiscourse and the pervasive presence of evaluation. The criteria used in the preface to evaluate the textbook are related to the audience s expectations about introductory textbooks: novelty, usefulness, accessibility, comprehensiveness, importance, and interest.
Luzón, María José. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (1999). Articles>TC>Publishing>Genre
Intercom's Annual Humor Contest 
The editor of Intercom introduces the magazine's annual humor contest. This year, readers are asked to submit made-up words that relate to some aspect of technical communication.
Martin, Maurice. Intercom (2000). Humor>TC
An Interdisciplinary Course in Technical Communication

Adresses engineering students' complaints that technical communication courses are not relevant to their major area of study. Describes a joint course in metallurgical engineering and English taught in the same classroom, with credit given in both subjects.
Andrews, Deborah C. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Education>TC>Engineering
Interesting Times, Interesting Measures
We've been living in 'interesting' times, as the saying goes, and many of us feel that we've had about as much interest as we can tolerate, thank you very much. Chapter meeting attendance has been down and the popularity of technical presentations has decreased, while the popularity of career cafes and career management days has increased. In any conversation between three technical communicators, at least one is unemployed, about to be unemployed, or thinking about a career change.
Bailie, Rahel Anne. MetroVoice (2003). Careers>TC>Planning
An International Internet Collaboration

Describes a year-long collaboration over the Internet between a systems analyst from Sweden and a technical communicator from the United States. Describes the progress of the project, the major difficulties encountered, and the authors' conclusions about its success. In addition, suggestions on how to improve on the process are provided.
Tumminello, Joanna L. and Par Carlshamre. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>TC>Regional>Scandinavia
International Scholarship Program
To assist students who are pursuing established degree programs in some area of technical communication. Applicants must have completed at least one year of post-secondary education. Applicants must be full-time students. They may be either graduate students working toward a Master's or Doctor's degree, or undergraduate students working toward a Bachelor's degree. Students should have at least one full year of academic work remaining to complete their degree programs, although under exceptional circumstances an award may be granted to a student for the final half-year. They should be studying communication of information about technical subjects. Other majors, such as general journalism, electronic communication engineering, computer programming, creative writing, or entertainment, are not eligible.
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