Sarbanes-Oxley and New Opportunities  

Harkness explains how technical communicators living in the United States can benefit from the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires companies to strictly adhere to accepted accounting practices.

Harkness, Holly E. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC>Legal

Saving Paper: —It's Like Printing Money  

Wofford demonstrates several methods for saving paper that can help technical communicators cut the costs of paper usage.

Wofford, Tracey Norden. Intercom (2004). Design>Publishing>Online

Schemas in Intercultural Communication    

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.

Raju, Rita. Intercom (2008). Articles>TC>International>Cultural Theory

Scientific Documentation: Learning from Journal Articles  

Suggests that writers of technical manuals could learn a thing or two about usability from the consistent form of scientific journal articles.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2004). Articles>Document Design>Scientific Communication

The Scoop on Search Engines  

Leonard-Wilkinson describes how Web site designers can take advantage of the features of search engines to advertise their sites.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2001). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Screen Capture Software: Better than Print Screen  

Everyone knows that detailed pictures are a necessary supplement for technical documentation. For those who create software manuals, this means screen captures—images of what users see as they look at the monitor.

Wardin, Carla. Intercom (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Screen Captures

Screencasting: the Future of Technical Communication?    

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.

Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2008). Articles>TC>Video>Screencasting

Scriptwriting Software  

Compares and contrasts two popular scriptwriting programs: MovieMagic Screenwriter 2000 and Final Draft Audio Video.

Chu, Steve W. Intercom (2002). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Screenwriting

Search Engine Optimization: Designing a Search-Friendly Site  

In this article, the third in a series, Leonard-Wilkinson offers tips on how to make Web sites friendly to search engines.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search Engine Optimization: Keywords That Work  

Leonard-Wilkinson demonstrates search engine optimization, a process for making Web sites attractive to search engines.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search Engine Optimization: Making the Most of META Tags  

Leonard-Wilkinson offers advice on how to write effective TTLE- and META-tag descriptions.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Seek and Ye Shall Find--And Replace  

Offers tips on using search and replace commands in word processors.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2001). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Search

Selecting a Content Management System  

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.

Doyle, Bob. Intercom (2007). Articles>Content Management>Assessment

Selecting a Translation Agency  

The authors offer advice on choosing translation firms, with special emphasis on the interview process.

Potsus, Whitney Beth and Catherine Deschamps-Potter. Intercom (2002). Design>Language>Translation>Localization

Selecting Web-Based Training Technology  

Provides an overview of Web-based training (WBT) technology. Using a hypothetical training scenario, he suggests how WBT technology can improve training for several types of workers.

Magnan, Raymond. Intercom (2001). Articles>Education>Online

Self-Directed Work Teams  

Describes how a team of employees with broad control over the direction and outcome of a project can work more efficiently than a single individual assigned the same tasks.

McNeill, Angie D. Intercom (2000). Articles>Management>Collaboration

Sell Your Technical Writing Services  

Times are changing. Before 2001, when you went to sell your technical writing services, you might have checked a job board, read a newspaper, or called the manager of Human Resources and then referred to a written job description. In 2004, things are different.

Walsh, Tina K. Intercom (2004). Careers>Freelance>Writing>Technical Writing

"Sell" Your Survey With Direct Marketing Design  

We think about them every day. We try to anticipate their every need, predict their every question. They are our readers, our audience, the users and consumers of our documentation.

Stelmack, Rebecca L. Intercom (1999). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods>Surveys

Selling to the Hidden Job Market  

Describes ways that technical communicators looking for work can identify and pursue job leads before the openings are publicized.

O'Donnell, Pat. Intercom (2004). Careers>Interviewing>Marketing

Selling Usability to Your Supervisor  

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).

Travis, David. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Workplace

Selling Usability: Scope and Schedule Estimates  

Describes how to create an effective plan and estimate for usability activities. 'A plan and an estimate,' McDaniel writes, 'will go a long way toward persuading management that user-centered design is a desirable approach to building a user interface.'

McDaniel, Scott M. Intercom (2003). Articles>Usability>Planning>Estimating

Selling Yourself as an Interaction Designer  

Interaction design incorporates a lot of skills from other disciplines, such as technical writing and information architecture. This article discusses the unique areas of interaction design with which technical communicators may not be familiar. Expanding your skills in these areas will help you sell yourself as an interaction designer.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. and Jennifer B. Square. Intercom (2004). Careers>Freelance>Interaction Design

Sensitivity to Other Cultures  

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.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Articles>Collaboration>International

September 1, 1999, through November 30, 1999  

This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from September 1, 1999, through November 30, 1999. Special emphasis has been placed on documentation in the category Technical Manual Specification & Standards (TMSS); however, other documents with widespread appeal are also included.

Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2000). Articles>History>TC

September 1, 2000 through November 30, 2000  

This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from September 1, 2000, through November 30, 2000.

Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2001). Articles>History>TC