maintainer-Intercom http://tc.eserver.org/publisher/Intercom A listing of works published by Intercom in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Intercom http://tc.eserver.org/31353.html http://tc.eserver.org/31353.html Explores the benefits of using Language QA Software to optimize documentation for organizations and companies. http://tc.eserver.org/31354.html http://tc.eserver.org/31354.html With China fast overtaking the United States as the world's largest online market, Rogers provides helpful information on how technical communicators can tailor their Web sites to appeal to Chinese visitors. http://tc.eserver.org/31355.html http://tc.eserver.org/31355.html Are you looking for ways to maximize your company's global Web presence? Look no further, as the authors have laid out a step-by-step plan for creating and designing a multilingual site. http://tc.eserver.org/31356.html http://tc.eserver.org/31356.html Raju demonstrates the importance of understanding cultural schemas—models providing patterns for understanding ideas or objects in a cultural context—when dealing with international technical communication. http://tc.eserver.org/31357.html http://tc.eserver.org/31357.html Is your company making the move from Information Mapping to DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture)? The author compares and contrasts the two methods and shares insight on how to ease the pain of switching from one to the other. http://tc.eserver.org/31358.html http://tc.eserver.org/31358.html Supplement your income and provide students with real-world knowledge and experience. Learn what kinds of online teaching opportunities are out there for technical communicators. http://tc.eserver.org/31359.html http://tc.eserver.org/31359.html For those who dream about gaining high-speed, efficient, and bug-free performance from their PCs, Archee discusses the option of Linux, the world's most developed computer operating system—and it's free. http://tc.eserver.org/31360.html http://tc.eserver.org/31360.html Find out what the Unspoken Rule of technical writers is and how to avoid violating it. http://tc.eserver.org/31361.html http://tc.eserver.org/31361.html Branding dates back to ancient times and can be an aspect of every field. Not only does branding provide clients with a sense of professionalism and reliability, it can also help define your company. http://tc.eserver.org/31362.html http://tc.eserver.org/31362.html In a continuation of his January column, Hart sheds some light on page layout and design—and gives color to a seemingly “black-and-white” concept. http://tc.eserver.org/31363.html http://tc.eserver.org/31363.html Expounds on the ins and outs of customer service, specifically with regard to effective communication practices. http://tc.eserver.org/31077.html http://tc.eserver.org/31077.html The key to efficient and effective user support is an intranet site that supports employees in performing their tasks. However, most intranet sites offer an overload of information that users often must interpret on their own. Van Mansom outlines a useful approach to creating corporate intranet sites. http://tc.eserver.org/31078.html http://tc.eserver.org/31078.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/31079.html http://tc.eserver.org/31079.html To gain a competitive edge--or even survive--in a world gone flat, a company must assert a level of uniqueness. Companies creating global Web sites can use competitive analysis and landscape analysis to analyze the market; Lee-Kim details how to add cultural analysis to this mix. http://tc.eserver.org/31080.html http://tc.eserver.org/31080.html Grant writing is a high-paying market for talented writers, and knowing the 'rules' for writing grants makes the task easier to manage. Discover ten strategies for winning the grant award. http://tc.eserver.org/31081.html http://tc.eserver.org/31081.html Humor in the classroom is about engagement and involvement. Learn some new techniques to use and when to tread carefully. http://tc.eserver.org/31082.html http://tc.eserver.org/31082.html Screencasting has numerous advantages for software training: the added realism of the screen versus paper-based or static online screens, ease of use, and low cost. Archee reviews two popular programs. http://tc.eserver.org/30778.html http://tc.eserver.org/30778.html Technical communicators must adapt to the changing dynamics presented by the addition of rich media in the technical documentation space. Discover some suggestions for how to do so. http://tc.eserver.org/30781.html http://tc.eserver.org/30781.html While the jobs of Mary Clouse and the rest of the Security and Documentation Unit of the New York State Senate Technology Services department aren't as glamorous as those of the senators themselves, they ensure that the Senate can use its automated systems to conduct its daily business smoothly, efficiently, and securely. http://tc.eserver.org/30779.html http://tc.eserver.org/30779.html Learn specific steps technical communicators can take to respond to the commoditization of technical tasks. http://tc.eserver.org/30780.html http://tc.eserver.org/30780.html The flat world has had a clear impact on information development and will continue to increase competitive pressure on the profession in the foreseeable future. By adapting to the realities of global organizations and global audiences and instituting a disciplined work environment that thrives on standards and best practices, technical communicators can remain competitive. http://tc.eserver.org/30782.html http://tc.eserver.org/30782.html White space is a paradox: by definition it contains no information, yet it clearly communicates despite lack of content. Hart describes how to incorporate white space into the information design process. http://tc.eserver.org/30784.html http://tc.eserver.org/30784.html How do you convert your application-neutral, vendor-neutral, unformatted XML content into paginated content (such as PDF) or HTML? O'Keefe introduces one solution: the Extensible Stylesheet Language, a programming language for processing XML. http://tc.eserver.org/30777.html http://tc.eserver.org/30777.html Today, Help authors take HTML for granted. But XML is starting to displace HTML, bringing with it new technologies like DITA and Web 2.0, as well as the potential for disruption. Perlin examines how to prepare for the change through adhering to standards. http://tc.eserver.org/30783.html http://tc.eserver.org/30783.html Looks at what it means to be professional as a technical writer, as a teacher, and as a student and explains how to teach professionalism in the classroom. http://tc.eserver.org/30776.html http://tc.eserver.org/30776.html You don't need to be a skilled illustrator to create effective 3-D graphics. Three-dimensional illustration allows the technical communicator to respond quickly to project changes and create imagery appropriate for most publications or multimedia. Burns' article shows the benefits of 3-D artwork and its potential for technical communicators. http://tc.eserver.org/30553.html http://tc.eserver.org/30553.html To remain competitive, companies must increase content reuse and multilingual usability while reducing volume and eliminating culturally sensitive language. Rushanan shows how editors can increase their value to their employers by functioning as leaders in the translation and localization process. http://tc.eserver.org/30556.html http://tc.eserver.org/30556.html Since most employees-turned-entrepreneurs have little formal training in finance, they may be less than confident about how to ensure that their finances are in order. Frick shares some of her experiences in learning how to manage her finances for her business. http://tc.eserver.org/30554.html http://tc.eserver.org/30554.html When concentrating on your daily tasks, you may lose track of your creative side. Discover four suggestions for how to stretch your creative muscles. http://tc.eserver.org/30551.html http://tc.eserver.org/30551.html Examines the phases of document development and describes how to incorporate them with usability techniques to ensure that your information products remain continually useful and valuable. http://tc.eserver.org/30555.html http://tc.eserver.org/30555.html A features-based approach to documentation is appropriate for reference manuals, where the goal is to provide information on something the reader already knows. This article explores how to meet the needs of the reader when providing documentation for user manuals. http://tc.eserver.org/30552.html http://tc.eserver.org/30552.html How do you get on a consulting agency's 'call-me-first' list? The tips provided in this article are a good place to start. http://tc.eserver.org/30117.html http://tc.eserver.org/30117.html For George Saunders, recipient of a MacArthur Grant and former technical writer, years working on reports and proposals proved to be excellent training for creative writing. http://tc.eserver.org/30123.html http://tc.eserver.org/30123.html Hart explains how understanding hierarchies--the order in which information is grouped--can help you choose an appropriate balance between the depth and breadth of your online information. http://tc.eserver.org/30116.html http://tc.eserver.org/30116.html While technical writers may interview subject matter experts on a daily basis to gather information for a project, very few training courses address how to conduct these interviews. Singer's article provides suggestions. http://tc.eserver.org/30118.html http://tc.eserver.org/30118.html Information clarity, ease of use, and modern computing speeds are reasons to consider animation in Help files. Sharp's article presents three common types of animation and how to make them work for you. http://tc.eserver.org/30124.html http://tc.eserver.org/30124.html A Web developer experiences uncertainty upon being asked to develop a site for a questionable start-up company. http://tc.eserver.org/30120.html http://tc.eserver.org/30120.html To streamline the product documentation process, many technical publication teams are moving to Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). Learn best practices for applying this information model, and hands-on techniques for improved content creation and publishing with JustSystems XMetaL. http://tc.eserver.org/30119.html http://tc.eserver.org/30119.html Shares tips with new telecommuters on setting up a home office, maintaining work discipline, staying connected with colleagues and clients, and easing a doubting manager's anxieties. http://tc.eserver.org/30121.html http://tc.eserver.org/30121.html The problem with many Web 2.0 applications is the assumption that the community's motives are good, or at least neutral. Perlin's column explores how one of the drawbacks of Web 2.0--potential loss of control over information--has manifested itself. http://tc.eserver.org/30122.html http://tc.eserver.org/30122.html XML-based publishing challenges authors to convert from the familiar desktop-publishing routine to new tools. This article explains what you should consider when deciding whether to implement XML. http://tc.eserver.org/29923.html http://tc.eserver.org/29923.html The movement toward a global standard definition for our profession will be a long process, but it is already underway. STC is playing an important role in ensuring that the process benefits its members and contributes to the competitiveness of the firms that employ them. http://tc.eserver.org/29463.html http://tc.eserver.org/29463.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/29466.html http://tc.eserver.org/29466.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/29464.html http://tc.eserver.org/29464.html More than most people, technical communicators are aware that if communication is not effective, conflicts can arise. Find out more about the Thomas-Kilmann conflict mode instrument (TKI) and how to identify your predominant conflict style. http://tc.eserver.org/29465.html http://tc.eserver.org/29465.html XML alone is not enough to effectively manage your organization's global content. Explore global XML and its benefits. http://tc.eserver.org/29467.html http://tc.eserver.org/29467.html Technical communication is often no more complicated than clearly describing the steps in a procedure, but sometimes we must create new models for each key part of a complex procedure. http://tc.eserver.org/29468.html http://tc.eserver.org/29468.html Wiley shares the components of a quality system in higher education and offers examples of quality-management efforts undertaken by institutions of higher education. http://tc.eserver.org/29461.html http://tc.eserver.org/29461.html Is DITA right for your organization? This article provides a starting point for your own research on DITA. http://tc.eserver.org/29460.html http://tc.eserver.org/29460.html New approaches in e-learning are stretching boundaries in exciting and game-changing ways. Find out about one of the newest ideas--work-embedded e-learning--that integrates learning materials directly into the work environment. http://tc.eserver.org/28801.html http://tc.eserver.org/28801.html As companies strive to improve themselves by rethinking their global content strategies and redesigning these for the new world of continuous and multilingual deployment, they must unify their authoring and translation processes--not an easy task. Fenstermacher explains why authors and translators should work to close the content gap that often exists. http://tc.eserver.org/28806.html http://tc.eserver.org/28806.html E-mail styles and preferences can vary from country to country, presenting a possible challenge to effective communication. Read on for how to add a personal touch to your messages so that e-mail becomes an asset to your business. http://tc.eserver.org/28804.html http://tc.eserver.org/28804.html China faces the enormous task of educating its 1.3 billion citizens, many of whom face extensive educational and social disparity, as well as extreme geographic isolation. Find out how e-learning--and technical communicators--can help solve this educational problem. http://tc.eserver.org/28802.html http://tc.eserver.org/28802.html The area of copyright can be confusing and presents numerous questions. Juillet provides answers to some common copyright questions, such as who holds the copyright in a work-for-hire situation and whether a copyright needs to be registered to have protection. http://tc.eserver.org/28807.html http://tc.eserver.org/28807.html Good writing is good writing in any language, and focusing on the quality of the writing in your own language is a great start to any communication with people from other cultures. http://tc.eserver.org/28803.html http://tc.eserver.org/28803.html Too often, in-country translation reviews are overlooked, even though they can document valuable feedback and save customers time and money on translation projects. The author provides several criteria for deciding whether such a review is right for your project. http://tc.eserver.org/28805.html http://tc.eserver.org/28805.html Virtual, global teams require us to use our communication skills in ways that were unimaginable twenty years ago. Learn about ways to build successful working relationships in virtual environments. http://tc.eserver.org/28563.html http://tc.eserver.org/28563.html Many technical communicators find it difficult to manage all of the corporate content that their organizations create. Learn how CM can work for you by providing value to your organization as well as your customers and shareholders. http://tc.eserver.org/28561.html http://tc.eserver.org/28561.html The success of a CM project depends not just on process management, but on change management as well. Discover the ways that an organization can help its staff overcome initial resistance to change. http://tc.eserver.org/28559.html http://tc.eserver.org/28559.html Before you begin a pilot project using a CMS, you must understand how it will work. Read on to learn how to define your information model, set up your folder structure, create a metadata scheme, assign roles and responsibilities, define your workflow, and measure results. http://tc.eserver.org/28558.html http://tc.eserver.org/28558.html Learn about what a content management system (CMS) does and the different types of systems available in order to better understand how to select a new system or replace an existing one with a CMS that will be more effective for your organization. http://tc.eserver.org/28562.html http://tc.eserver.org/28562.html As other areas within organizations begin to consider structured content for the same reasons as technical communication departments, technical communicators have a golden opportunity to assist others in their move toward structured CM. http://tc.eserver.org/28560.html http://tc.eserver.org/28560.html Implementing and working with a CMS can be a challenge. The author provides some common reasons why CM implementations fail so you can try to avoid such mistakes. http://tc.eserver.org/28557.html http://tc.eserver.org/28557.html As technical publications groups are finding themselves thrust upon the main stage of the global economy, they face new demands such as reconstituting themselves internally and resituating themselves in their wider organizations. Read on for ideas about how to incorporate content management (CM) into the process. http://tc.eserver.org/28369.html http://tc.eserver.org/28369.html It's not easy to find rewarding work. Hart describes three steps you can take to help the process go more smoothly when searching for that new job. http://tc.eserver.org/28368.html http://tc.eserver.org/28368.html This article takes a look at some of the most successful free and open-source products available for technical communicators and their clients. http://tc.eserver.org/28370.html http://tc.eserver.org/28370.html Interested in making the transition from software documentation to e-learning? Read about some steps that will help you ease the switch and make the most of your new opportunity. http://tc.eserver.org/28371.html http://tc.eserver.org/28371.html As much as you may try to avoid it, conflict among your employees is bound to rear its ugly head from time to time. While you may not be able to resolve all conflicts, with the right approach, you can manage many of them. http://tc.eserver.org/28372.html http://tc.eserver.org/28372.html Informing an organization's employees about key messages is essential to creating and maintaining an efficient and effective work force. To help your employees stay informed, consider broadcasting your organization’s news on plasma screens that are accessible to all employees. http://tc.eserver.org/28373.html http://tc.eserver.org/28373.html Writing for technology companies has its own unique set of challenges. Here's how to work around some of them. http://tc.eserver.org/28275.html http://tc.eserver.org/28275.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/28267.html http://tc.eserver.org/28267.html Learn practical ways to influence members of your company’s product engineering group with usability testing data. Putting the authors’ tips into practice will help you improve the design of your company’s products. http://tc.eserver.org/28271.html http://tc.eserver.org/28271.html Card sorting is often inexpensive, quick, and easy. Learn when to use this method and how to perform a card sort of your own within your company. http://tc.eserver.org/28276.html http://tc.eserver.org/28276.html What if a disclaimer seems to be more than just a disclaimer? Readers are invited to consider the fictitious case presented and to share their thoughts for publication in an upcoming issue of Intercom. http://tc.eserver.org/28274.html http://tc.eserver.org/28274.html What are some ways to effectively track and manage a group’s performance? Wiley examines a way to do so using specific requirements designed to measure the success of an STC SIG. http://tc.eserver.org/28273.html http://tc.eserver.org/28273.html The defining feature of XML is the ability to specify your own tags. Learn about what to look for in an XML information model and what a technical communicator can contribute to an XML documentation team. http://tc.eserver.org/28268.html http://tc.eserver.org/28268.html What's the best way to convince your supervisor to consider usability testing? Think about where your boss falls among the personality types described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). http://tc.eserver.org/28269.html http://tc.eserver.org/28269.html Tracks the importance of usability and market research by following a typical project through each stage of development. http://tc.eserver.org/28270.html http://tc.eserver.org/28270.html Read about techniques for successful search engine optimization (SEO) as well as examples of good and bad keywording methods. http://tc.eserver.org/28272.html http://tc.eserver.org/28272.html Wikipedia may be the biggest technical document ever created, but it and other Web 2.0 elements present challenges. Read about the popularity of Wikipedia, then let Intercom know about your professional experiences using wikis, blogs, and other Web 2.0 applications. http://tc.eserver.org/28109.html http://tc.eserver.org/28109.html The Hewlett-Packard CapShare 920 is designed to copy blocks of print and graphics as you pass it over the hardcopy document. If the size of the block to be scanned exceeds the 51/4-inch width of the scanner's surface, the HP Capshare 920 automatically pieces the output of successive swaths into one document. Stored documents can be transmitted to a computer as a graphics file, and text images can be converted to text files using ScanSoft's TextBridge optical character recognition (OCR) software included with the package. You can view demonstrations of the scanner at www. capshare.hp.com. in five to fifteen seconds to devices equipped with fast infrared (FIR) and in fifteen to thirty seconds to devices equipped with serial infrared (SIR). The scanner uses Scan Soft's Pagis Pro 2.0 software to organize files, clean up documents, and send both to other applications. http://tc.eserver.org/28090.html http://tc.eserver.org/28090.html Want tips for organizing your first class, handling small groups, and facilitating large group discussion? Campbell's column provides useful tips. http://tc.eserver.org/28081.html http://tc.eserver.org/28081.html Corporate blogging is rapidly becoming another way for companies to communicate with their customers and increase internal communication. Learn about the advantages and future of blogging and how to get started. http://tc.eserver.org/28085.html http://tc.eserver.org/28085.html Modular writing involves writing, labeling, storing, and assembling content modules. Read about how to design and plan a modular writing project and how this writing system affects traditional roles and responsibilities within a publications team. http://tc.eserver.org/28087.html http://tc.eserver.org/28087.html Coates's job as a senior writer and editor for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is full of variety and challenges. http://tc.eserver.org/28084.html http://tc.eserver.org/28084.html Save time and increase your credibility by creating an effective outline. Hart's article discusses three important steps in designing an outline. http://tc.eserver.org/28086.html http://tc.eserver.org/28086.html Makes the case for DITA and provides a compare-and-contrast of DITA and DocBook. http://tc.eserver.org/28082.html http://tc.eserver.org/28082.html What are the secrets of a stress-free and productive translation experience? Davis's article highlights some important tips to keep in mind as you work on your next translation project. http://tc.eserver.org/28088.html http://tc.eserver.org/28088.html Learn about different types of standards and STC's role in producing and promoting standards for technical communication. http://tc.eserver.org/28083.html http://tc.eserver.org/28083.html S1000D is a military standard for the creation and delivery of technical documentation. Many companies can benefit from its methodology. Review its history and principal concepts, and learn important information to keep in mind when applying the standard to your work. http://tc.eserver.org/28089.html http://tc.eserver.org/28089.html Bush's column sheds light on the history of serifs, the beginnings of sans serif fonts, and tests for legibility that aid in determining the effectiveness of serif versus sans serif type. http://tc.eserver.org/28080.html http://tc.eserver.org/28080.html Learn how your work as a technical communicator can impact the marketing communication and corporate communication departments of your company. This article provides ways to demonstrate the value that effective technical communication adds across the business. http://tc.eserver.org/28075.html http://tc.eserver.org/28075.html What are the best ways to measure customer satisfaction? Wiley shares some of her ideas. http://tc.eserver.org/28074.html http://tc.eserver.org/28074.html The little elements of writing can make a big difference. If you're looking for a way to refresh your writing, consider paying close attention to the aspects involved in microwriting. http://tc.eserver.org/28073.html http://tc.eserver.org/28073.html During a recent move, the author not only acquired and sold many items via Craigslist (www.craigslist.com), but gained insights about herself as well as running her business. http://tc.eserver.org/27982.html http://tc.eserver.org/27982.html Read about the Best of Show winners of the 2005•2006 competitions in international technical art, international online communication, and international technical publications. Also, meet the winner of the international student technical communication competition. http://tc.eserver.org/27985.html http://tc.eserver.org/27985.html Review processes can easily become frustrating and complicated. Hart shows how to create and revive a review process that can be tailored to the needs of your situation. http://tc.eserver.org/27983.html http://tc.eserver.org/27983.html Despite your best efforts, it is not uncommon for mishaps to occur when attempting to localize documentation. Learn how to align your technical writing and localization processes and how to optimize the solution you choose for this alignment. http://tc.eserver.org/27984.html http://tc.eserver.org/27984.html Surveys or questions posed to users may not be entirely useful when determining whether a user's experience with the help feature was successful or not. The author provides instructions on implementing a tool that will provide this kind of feedback. http://tc.eserver.org/27986.html http://tc.eserver.org/27986.html Proposes that STC become involved in brainstorming ideas about Simplified Technical English, thus leading the way for clear, correct documentation. http://tc.eserver.org/27870.html http://tc.eserver.org/27870.html The author discusses how managers can best prepare for an interview to ensure that the perfect candidate for the job is selected. The article also includes charts that can be used to assess a candidateï¿ï¿ï¿s performance in key areas such as tool skill level, knowledge of online help, and analytical ability. http://tc.eserver.org/27873.html http://tc.eserver.org/27873.html Kaizen is a Japanese phrase that means 'continuous improvement' and has long been used by Japanese managers. Find out how to apply this style to your work as a technical communicator and how kaizen can also be used effectively when working in a team. http://tc.eserver.org/27871.html http://tc.eserver.org/27871.html Managing a team of employees who are located around the world can be challenging. Discover how to efficiently and effectively work to create the highest level of output. http://tc.eserver.org/27872.html http://tc.eserver.org/27872.html The author discusses the importance of integrating translation early in the documentation process to avoid translation problems. Explore how multilingual documentation also has an impact on writing style, layout, review procedures, and a variety of other elements. http://tc.eserver.org/27874.html http://tc.eserver.org/27874.html Save team members time and conduct meetings and other steps in the project process effectively by integrating these tips for working with team members scattered in various locations. http://tc.eserver.org/27277.html http://tc.eserver.org/27277.html Martin shares the intercultural tips and tricks he has learned during his thirteen years of working in Italy, and discusses how they contrast with his business experiences in America. http://tc.eserver.org/27275.html http://tc.eserver.org/27275.html Ames shares anecdotes and impressions of the cultural and communication differences she observed while in Hyderabad, India, to speak at a conference for STC members. She outlines growing changes in India's IT and technical communication industries. http://tc.eserver.org/27272.html http://tc.eserver.org/27272.html Using multiple terms to refer to the same concepts can be a major cause of confusion. Ray explains how to implement a process to consolidate the terminology used by your organization. http://tc.eserver.org/27273.html http://tc.eserver.org/27273.html Online training is becoming increasingly popular; however, geographic and cultural distance can work to your disadvantage. St.Amant outlines how to set up a training program that both attracts and benefits communicators in locations around the globe. http://tc.eserver.org/27276.html http://tc.eserver.org/27276.html The author discusses considerations in deciding whether to work abroad or not. Outlines possible goals and objectives as well as contract and visa issues. http://tc.eserver.org/27271.html http://tc.eserver.org/27271.html Sheds light on the benefits of using a content management system (CMS) when publishing in multiple languages. Included are tips for shopping for a CMS, managing unique character sets, and managing the translation process. http://tc.eserver.org/27269.html http://tc.eserver.org/27269.html Shares experiences and observations collected from working with colleagues in Asian cultures. Discusses the importance of actively working to accommodate the needs of communicators from other cultures by beginning the dialogue in their language. http://tc.eserver.org/27270.html http://tc.eserver.org/27270.html Intercultural experts offer their insights about working with colleagues from specific cultures. Included is a table presenting various cultural differences that communicators may experience. http://tc.eserver.org/27274.html http://tc.eserver.org/27274.html Fenstermacher writes that while there are substantial benefits to globalized content, it is difficult to develop metrics to analyze this content. He discusses key terms and processes that can be used when considering cost-reduction strategies to get you on your way to developing your own content metrics. http://tc.eserver.org/24926.html http://tc.eserver.org/24926.html Intercom's 'friendly editor' discusses his extensive collection of dictionaries, grammars, and other books of interest. http://tc.eserver.org/24922.html http://tc.eserver.org/24922.html Considers the possible ramifications for technical communicators of device-independent publishing. http://tc.eserver.org/24923.html http://tc.eserver.org/24923.html Will the long-predicted demise of paper ever come true? Discusses the effects of the Web on documentation. http://tc.eserver.org/24925.html http://tc.eserver.org/24925.html Calls on technical communicators to suggest a new term for modular documentation accessible via a tri-pane interface. http://tc.eserver.org/24921.html http://tc.eserver.org/24921.html Few changes are as potentially uncomfortable for technical communicators than implementing a content management system. Freeman explains why, and offers advice to managers on how to address writers' concerns. http://tc.eserver.org/24918.html http://tc.eserver.org/24918.html Predicts that usability practitioners will need new skills to cope with changes in this field. http://tc.eserver.org/24920.html http://tc.eserver.org/24920.html Explains how the new name of the former STC Usability SIG better serves the growing number of technical communicators whose work encompasses the overall product--not just usability or documentation. http://tc.eserver.org/24924.html http://tc.eserver.org/24924.html Muses on the increasing importance of communities in the technical communication profession. http://tc.eserver.org/24919.html http://tc.eserver.org/24919.html Discusses a misunderstood demographic. http://tc.eserver.org/24875.html http://tc.eserver.org/24875.html Reviews Altova Authentic, a free, WYSIWYG, Windows-based, forms-based XML editor. http://tc.eserver.org/24879.html http://tc.eserver.org/24879.html Discusses the history, purpose, and limitations of Cascading Style Sheets. http://tc.eserver.org/24874.html http://tc.eserver.org/24874.html Improve your department's messy folder structure by following Kratts' advice on choosing meaningful folder names. http://tc.eserver.org/24882.html http://tc.eserver.org/24882.html Demonstrates how principles of print design and visual literacy can improve the usability of course handouts. http://tc.eserver.org/24876.html http://tc.eserver.org/24876.html Chaucer's A Treatise on the Astrolabe, published in 1391, may be the first technical manual in the English language.