Abstraction: Making the Complex Easier to Understand  

How can we make difficult concepts easier to grasp? Hart explores abstraction and how it can be used to clarify both simple and complex ideas.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Rhetoric

Adapting to Scrum: Challenges and Strategies  

Read about some of the challenges facing technical writers who create product documentation in a Scrum environment, as well as strategies for confronting these challenges.

Sigman, Christine Marini. Intercom (2007). Articles>Project Management>Agile>Scrum

Add Zip to Your Site without Coding  

Wilkinson offers tips on adding free JavaScript subroutines to Web sites. She lists several Web sites that give away free scripts.

Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2000). Design>Web Design>DHTML

Adding Life to Your Documentation  

Suggests several techniques technical writers can use to enliven their writing and improve their documentation.

Potsus, Whitney Beth. Intercom (2003). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing

Adjusting to Changing Times in Technical Communication  

Without the usual abundance of jobs, I was forced to re-evaluate my skills, my place in our profession, and, ultimately, myself. Slowly but surely I realized that I could find work if I was willing to let go of the past, re-assess the current playing field, and act accordingly.

Hall, Ceil W. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC

Adobe GoLive 5.0  

Wallia reviews the latest Adobe Web-authoring software.

Wallia, C.J.S. Intercom (2001). Design>Web Design>Software>Adobe GoLive

Adventures in Collaboration: The Story of an STC Faculty Internship  

Rentz relates the lessons she learned as an academic who contributed to a writing project for a private company.

Rentz, Kathryn. Intercom (2003). Articles>Collaboration>Industry and Academy

Adventures in Screencasting    

How do you best assist users whose learning styles are more visual than verbal? Tietjen discusses the benefits and the how-to of screencasting, a mixture of visuals, audio, and complementary text.

Tietjen, Phil. Intercom (2008). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Screen Captures

Aggregated Article Databases: Research Beyond the Internet  

Introduces aggregated article databases—searchable collections of magazines, newspapers, and journals—and explains their relevance to the research work of technical communicators.

Sheffield Hulick, Jennifer L. Intercom (2003). Articles>Research>Online

Alienation  

A hypothetical example to help technical communicators think through ethical issues in the workplace (before they occur in real life).

Bryan, John G. Intercom (2003). Articles>Workplace>Ethics>Security

Altova Authentic: Tip of the Iceberg  

Reviews Altova Authentic, a free, WYSIWYG, Windows-based, forms-based XML editor.

Wersan, Fred. Intercom (2004). Design>Information Design>Software>XML

And They Said Computers Were Just a Fad  

Maslowski documents the rapidly changing technologies used by the technical communication profession.

Maslowski, David S. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology>History

Animation: Technical Documents on the Move  

Coleman presents a four-step process to develop an animation project while insuring consistency and quality.

Coleman, Mary Ellen. Intercom (2000). Design>Multimedia>Interactive

Annual Reports That Work  

Offers suggestions for creating excellent annual reports.

Worth, Carol. Intercom (2000). Articles>Writing>Reports

Another Career for Editors?  

Talented people with the editorial skills of condensing and organizing copy can often position themselves for jobs that don’t bear the title 'Editor.'

Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2001). Careers>Editing

Anything Worth Writing Is Worth Writing in XML  

Tyson supports the claim of his title with a detailed discussion of three important benefits of XML.

Tyson, Paul H. Intercom (2002). Articles>Writing>Information Design>XML

April 15, 2002, through August 15, 2002  

This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from April 15, 2002, through August 15, 2002.

Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2002). Articles>History>TC

Are You a Craftsperson or an Entrepreneur?  

Discusses Michael E. Gerber's The E-Myth Revisited, a book that has led her to rethink her business and her approach to some key tasks.

Frick, Elizabeth G. 'Bette'. Intercom (2007). Careers>TC

The Art of the E-Zine  

Walinskas provides several tips for creating readable and informative e-zines.

Walinskas, Karl. Intercom (2000). Design>Publishing>Online

Arthur Levitt and the SEC: Promoting Plain English  

Intercom's assistant editor profiles a recent recipient of STC's President's Award. The Securities and Exchange Commission was honored for requiring plain English in all disclosure statements filed with the SEC.

Nielan, Cate. Intercom (2000). Articles>TC>History>Minimalism

Ask Your Phone  

Grattan introduces Intercom readers to voice portals, an emergent technology that allows phone access to Internet-based information.

Grattan, Naomi. Intercom (2001). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>User Interface>Voice

Asking Questions  

Students learn by actively interacting with the material, and by interacting with each other along the way.

Doumont, Jean-luc. Intercom (2004). Articles>Education>Instructional Design

Assessing Web Site Quality  

Lists several questions to pose when evaluating a Web site's form and content.

Smart, Karl L. Intercom (2000). Design>Web Design>Assessment

Audience Matters    

By incorporating usability techniques--more commonly used in product design--writers can better understand their audiences and the ways they use (or have problems using) the content. Read on for tips on how to incorporate usability techniques into your work.

Stott, Susan. Intercom (2008). Articles>Writing>Usability>Audience Analysis