Developing Business Plans for High-tech Companies  

Illustrates how technical communicators can add value to business plan projects.

Petersen, Judy H. Intercom (2000). Articles>Business Communication>Reports

Developing Help for the Web: Designs, Trends, Strategies  

Zubak reviews the current state of Web-based help technology. Her article prepares technical communicators for upcoming challenges in this increasingly important field.

Zubak, Cheryl Lockett. Intercom (2001). Design>Documentation>Help

Device Indepenence: Single Sourcing's Other Side  

Considers the possible ramifications for technical communicators of device-independent publishing.

Perlin, Neil E. Intercom (2005). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Differentiating Online Help from Printed Documentation  

Hemmi discusses the differences between online help and printed documentation and suggests how technical communicators can make the most of both media.

Hemmi, Jane A. Intercom (2002). Design>Documentation

Digital Photoreproduction for Documents and Books  

Smith describes the process of digital photoreproduction--the use of digital technology to scan images and save them to a storage medium. The article includes a list of addresses and Web sites for several companies that produce digital photoreproduction machines.

Smith, Gary M. Intercom (2001). Design>Graphic Design>Photography

Digital Production of Corporate and Industrial Videos: A Primer  

Chu details the roles technical communicators will play in the production of corporate and industrial videos for training classes, employee communications, product manuals, user guides, and video press releases.

Chu, Steve W. Intercom (2002). Design>Multimedia>Interactive

Directives Do Right: Writing for the "Mounties"  

Coates's job as a senior writer and editor for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is full of variety and challenges.

Coates, Melanie. Intercom (2006). Careers>Business Communication>Case Studies

Distance Learning: One Student's Perspective  

A teacher of technical writing relates her experiences, both positive and negative, as a student in a virtual classroom. Deming's discussion is a helpful preview for anyone curious about online courses.

Deming, Lynn H. Intercom (2000). Articles>Education>Online

Diving into the Wonderful World of Web  

When asked for my opinion on how to break into the Web world, I usually tell people to volunteer. I was very lucky when beginning my Web career in the early days of the Internet—my Web sites received a lot of good exposure. But when I jumped into self-employment a few years ago, I had to start all over again: I needed to show potential clients what I could do, not what my Web team could do. So I found a poorly designed Web site and offered to redesign it for free (the Oklahoma Indian Times Web site at www.okit.com). OKIT jumped at the offer (to read more about this, see “The Need for Web Site Navigation” in the June 1999 issue of Intercom). A lot of my friends thought I was crazy doing all that work for free. But I needed to build a Web site from scratch so I could give prospective clients an example of my work. Nothing is more convincing than before and after pictures.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2001). Careers>Portfolios>Web Design>Volunteering

Do-It-Yourself Single-Sourcing  

In recent years, countless articles and conference workshops have touted single sourcing as the Holy Grail of technical writing. Countless articles and conference workshops have also told us that XML is our means to achieving the Grail. However, in the absence of any off-the-shelf products that facilitate XML and single sourcing in our current work environments, I suspect that most people, particularly in smaller companies, believe that implementing XML is too technically daunting, too expensive, or both.

Wersan, Fred. Intercom (2003). Design>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Documentation for a Technical Audience  

Liebhaber discusses the benefits of system documentation--documentation written for an audience of technical people who solve support problems or modify components to the software.

Liebhaber, Karen Powers. Intercom (2002). Articles>Documentation

Documentation Metrics: What Do You Really Want to Measure?  

Examines several metrics--systems for measuring production and production standards--to determine their value to technical communicators. He argues that qualitative metrics are more meaningful than quantitative ones.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Articles>Documentation>Assessment>Heuristic Evaluation

Documentation through the Discovery Process  

Kloss describes a process of composing documentation that requires the writer's involvement at every phase of product development.

Kloss, Marilyn B. Intercom (2002). Articles>Documentation>Style Guides

Documenting ISO 9001 Compliance  

Describes how technical writers can make their documentation comply with ISO 9001, the latest quality management system from the International Organization for Standardization. The article includes a list of suggested readings.

Parr, Kelly A. Intercom (2002). Articles>Documentation>Standards>ISO 9001

Documenting While on Patrol    

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.

Clouse, Mary. Intercom (2008). Articles>Documentation>Workflow

Domain Names, Cybersquatting, and Meta Tags  

Discusses Internet technology and intellectual property by delving into some of the legal issues regarding domain names and meta tags. She discusses trademark laws regarding 'cybersquatting' (when people register domain names for the purposes of sale), offers suggestions for protecting a company and using meta tags in Web sites appropriately.

Kagan, Elissa. Intercom (2000). Articles>Cyberculture

Don't Let Your Work Become a Commodity    

Learn specific steps technical communicators can take to respond to the commoditization of technical tasks.

Harvey, Michael. Intercom (2008). Careers>TC>Workplace

Double Your Fun  

Argues that using dual monitors can simplify technical writers' jobs and save time. The article includes directions for attaching a second monitor to a computer.

Blank, William. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology

Dynamic Content Management  

Introduces dynamic content, a method of single sourcing that 'meets individual users' needs by assembling a series of information objects in response to the userís requests or requirements.' She walks readers through a mock project involving the creation and delivery of dynamic content.

Rockley, Ann. Intercom (2001). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing

The Dynamic Duo: Motivation and Recognition  

Offers several tips for motivating workers and recognizing their successes.

Laurent, J. Suzanna. Intercom (2003). Careers>Management

E-Learning Trends in China  

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.

Johnston, James. Intercom (2007). Articles>Education>Online>China

E-Learning: When and Why  

Technical communicators have a responsibility to help companies determine when e-learning is an appropriate training solution. Smith offers criteria for making informed training choices.

Smith, Jane L. Intercom (1995). Articles>Education>Online

E-mail and Tattoos: A Primer on Netiquette  

Rogers and Perri discuss the hazards of e-mail and present five tips for using it properly in a professional environment.

Rogers, David J. and Monica C. Perri. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology>Software>Email

E-tiquette: Rules of the Road  

Hay-Roe presents nine rules for writing clear, concise e-mail messages.

Hay-Roe, Hugh. Intercom (2001). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence>Email

Earning a College Degree Online  

The number of multidisciplinary skills that technical communicators must possess increases with the rapid advance of technology. Today, a dusty college degree and vintage skills signal stagnation to employers and recruiters. Continuing education is essential to keeping your skill set competitive in today’s job market.

Korczyk, James S. Intercom (2003). Articles>Education>TC