#23485
Internationalising Documentation
The translation market is growing with tremendous speed. Pressure comes from various angles: volume, time, quality and price. Hence the challenge can be stated thus: Translate more better and in less time at a lower cost! There is no way this can be done without the use of translation tools.
Stücker, Harald. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Documentation>Localization
#23386
Interview Any User About Any Subject
To invite users to provide knowledge that informs your readers, you can try different approaches. In a small company, meeting with users is more informal: you can stop by and casually ask a few questions, rather than hold a more extended interview. When you’re speaking with an expert, tailor your conversation to that person. To establish rapport with a reluctant or skeptical source, try asking a specific question about a certain computer function. Or ask a general question on a broad function. Once the expert is talking, then you can pose more specific questions.
Strickland, Charlene J. TC-FORUM (1997). Articles>Interviewing
#23484
Introducing "King Memo" (David vs. the Goliaths?)
I work as a freelance translator, mostly with Word and html files. I also regularly organize localization projects involving translations into the main European languages. When I looked around at the translation memory systems on the market today, I found them not only seriously overpriced but also laden down with so many features that I'd never expect to use in a month of Sundays.
Abele, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Software
#23443
Karlstad, Sweden - a Centre of Excellence in Technical Communication
How did Karlstad, a medium-sized town in central Sweden, come to be a 'centre of excellence' in Technical Communication? Well, a lot of it has to do with Ericsson.
Lewis-Sturmhoefel, Jeanne. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>TC>Regional>Scandinavia
#23453
Knowledge Management - Challenge for Technical Editors
Knowledge management - is it a challenge for technical editors? Shouldn't knowledge management be more than just taken for granted in technical editing? And isn't the technical editor also the knowledge manager, per se?
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Technical Editing
#23454
Knowledge Management Is Critical for Us!
We haven't just been doing this since the term 'knowledge management' has been floating around. We’ve been at it for a long time now.
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2001). Articles>Knowledge Management
#23391
With his back towards the reader, a bucket over his head, hands and feet tied up by SGML, CALS and company standards, and half choked by all the possibilities of the latest computer system the writer tries to produce manuals and instruction books for unsuspecting readers!
Forsslund, Lars. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#23478
Localisation: Trendy Term or Legitimate Need?
Again and again we have seen how modern language use suddenly gives rise to new concepts or terms behind which, as closer observation shows, are simply the same old meanings. Whether it's the 'administrative assistant' who used to be the 'secretary', or the 'human resources manager' who has replaced the 'personnel manager' (or even ridiculous examples like 'domestic engineer' for 'housewife'!), such neologisms often generate little more than a smirk. Is there a similar situation when it comes to 'localization'?
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization
#23490
Machine Translation - 2001 Has Already Arrived
The easiest way to cope with existing language barriers undoubtedly is the use of translation programs, electronic helpers that translate texts automatically. However, with high expectations meeting poor quality translation results in the past, press media regularly concluded that users had better learn the language themselves or employ at least a human translator. Yet a closer look at modern machine translation (MT) programs allows a more subtle view.
Bauer, Elisabeth. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#23477
Machine Translation - A New Dimension and What You Can Expect
Instead of 'translation', AltaVista offered me unbelievable junk, evidently, an unedited MT version of American promotional material. The text was unreal, the result of a myth: You click a button and the translation is staring at you. You are in the middle of a jungle.
Klein, Fred. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#23473
Machine Translation - Mystery, Misery or Miracle 
As one of the first users of commercial MT in the United States, and as a senior professional translator, I see MT as one of many 'tools.' As an independent expert without connections to the industry I can be objective. Since 1980 I have used one system for years and have worked on and tested others. Few translators have years of experience in both the conventional and the MT fields.
Klein, Fred. TC-FORUM (1997). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#23444
In 1991 the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) in Hanover was the first German academic institution to teach technical writing. Since then our curriculum has been subject to changes and it still is: Developing a curriculum is an ongoing process.
Baumert, Andreas. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Education>Management>Germany
#23472
The Making of Technical Translations - The Personal Angle
My English at its best is only average. In fact: my English was much better when I was a student of chemistry. Since the time I have started working as a technical translator I have forgotten a lot of it. Nevertheless, my clients like my manuals very much. How does this happen?
Fuckner, Ingrid. TC-FORUM (1997). Articles>Language>Localization
#23426
The Making of www.tc-forum.org
There have been tries to put modern software technology to work for our profession. True, we use tools that were created using object-oriented (OO) technology and we even document such programs. But you know the problem: The programmers change 'a single bit' of the program and you chase down all those 39 instances of that change. This paper will give you insights into possible ways to use object-oriented technology by yourself.
von Obert, Alexander. TC-FORUM (2000). Design>Web Design>Information Design
#23437
Managing Content for the Intranet
Communication over the Intranet can change how a company's employees and departments work as a team. This is especially important for companies with branches or subsidiaries overseas.
Sacharen, Chani H. TC-FORUM (2001). Design>Web Design>Intranets
#23421
As a technical communicator you know that the work you do adds value to the final product, but how do you demonstrate this to management? Research that I have undertaken recently focused on how technical communicators add value to the development of software, particularly information systems. What is presented here are some examples of how I found technical communicators added value and how I measured the value.
Fisher, Julie L. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>TC>Assessment
#23398
A problem that sometimes occurs, when authors ask my advice about the method of presenting an instruction, is that they use words that I think will not necessarily be understood by people whose mother-tongue is not English.
Farrington, Gordon. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#23445
More on Education for Technical Communicators
For most readers of TC-Forum, technical communication is an activity undertaken by dedicated technical communicators, for whom writing, editing, illustrating, or page-making is their chosen vocation. Yet there is also a much larger community for whom technical communication is only a secondary activity, although it remains an essential part of their work.
Blicq, Ronald S. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#23433
Not a Bad Life: Notes from Under the Desert
What's it like being a technical writer on a kibbutz? One obvious difference is the money. I do manage the business, but I don't own it - The Text Store is part of the kibbutz and, as such, is owned jointly by the kibbutz's 125 members. As a member of the kibbutz, I get a monthly allowance instead of a salary, so the money I earn from technical writing goes straight into the kibbutz's bank account. My only reward for landing a big contract is my co-workers' congratulations (we usually celebrate with ice cream).
Goldstein, Dan. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Israel
#23394
Obey Standards or Follow Customer Needs?
What is more important in technical writing: obeying the standards and regulations or following the customer's needs?
Thiele, Ulrich. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Writing>Standards>Technical Writing
#23417
All over the world professional organizations advertise the technical communication profession. My personal impression is this: Many of these activities address students of higher schools (which is basically fine), while others address professionals already working in the field (which only makes sense if the objective is to sell memberships or training). What I have not seen up to now are activities to address young people in the early process of planning their higher education and professional careers. The following thoughts contain some ideas for those trying to make our profession known to young people and to encourage them to consider a career in technical communication.
Schilliger, Reto. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>TC>Professionalism
#23430
Nobody reads user manuals for pleasure. And yet we all make our living from them, and hope that what we produce is at least useful, if not actually enjoyable
Bardez, Jean-Paul. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Documentation>User Centered Design
#23469
PDF in Practice: Simple Creation of Electronic Publications, Catalogues and Archives
In electronic media we come across the two 'competing' formats, PDF and HTML. A closer look reveals, however, that the two formats are used with a different aim in mind and therefore cannot be considered as competitors.
Boegler, Peter. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Information Design>Online
#23427
Pollie Want a Portal: Communicating Specialist Information to the Australian Parliament
To keep abreast of current issues, Australia's federal parliamentarians need timely information, analysis and advice. This is used not only within the Parliament itself, but also by Members and Senators when undertaking their electorate duties. A large and vital part of this service is provided by the Parliamentary Library. The particular characteristics of clients and their diverse needs means the Library’s communication issues differ from those faced by other libraries. From a myriad of manual techniques the Library has increasingly moved into using electronic sources and dissemination methods, which are being enhanced and expanded regularly and will soon include a comprehensive intranet portal to Library services.
Mitchell, Margaret. TC-FORUM (2000). Design>Web Design>Intranets>Government
#23447
Postgraduate Program in Technical Communication at the Danube University Krems
Multilingual aspects play a major role in Technical Communication. This involves translating and editing texts, developing multilingual terminology and generally coping with the challenges posed by intercultural communication.
Risku, Hanna. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Education>Localization
