3D: A Better Way to Produce High Quality? 

Going three-dimensional in graphics has many advantages – at least in theory. Everyone knows how tired you will become of the same graphic element, however nicely drawn, when used over and over. Someone at the department has taken the time to get good reference-material and draws an airplane, a train or something else rather complicated, and of course the drawing gets stored for further use. The next time you need such an illustration you simply copy-paste the element into the new graphic.

VisualJournalism (2002). Design>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration

이종택교수의 사이버공간입니다. (Technical Communication) 

This course is designed to introduce students to writing skills for a practical purpose by helping them learn the conventions and common expressions of technical writing and practice sample writings through online exercises and project-based writing tasks.

Taik, Lee Jong. Pukyong National University. (Korean) Resources>Directories>TC

임재춘의 과학기술자 글쓰기 (Tec-writing.com) 

A collection of news and links about technical communication.

Chongro Overseas Educational Institute. (Korean) Resources>Directories>TC

※ 회원님께서는 과정을 검색하셨습니다. 

A list of graduate programs in technical communication.

Chongro Overseas Educational Institute. (Korean) Academic>Education>Graduate

Επικοινωνία Ανθρώπου - Μηχανής  

Η Επικοινωνία Ανθρώπου-Μηχανής είναι ο διεπιστημονικός κλάδος που ασχολείται με την ανάλυση, σχεδίαση, υλοποίηση και αξιολόγηση της Διεπιφάνειας Χρήσης, εφαρμογών υπολογιστικών συστημάτων με τα οποία ο χρήστης έχει τη δυνατότητα αλληλεπίδρασης, καθώς και των θεμάτων που διέπουν αυτή την αλληλεπίδραση.

University of Crete. (Greek) Academic>Courses>Usability

ABC Intercultural Committee 

The Intercultural Committee of the Association for Business Communication is a resource for the members of the organization: to promote awareness of intercultural and international differences and similarities; to foster excellence in intercultural business communication research; to honor and celebrate cultural diversity in classrooms, in businesses, and in corporations; and to allow for different culture-driven communication styles.

Association for Business Communication. Organizations>Business Communication>International

Absolute PowerPoint 

Before there were presentations, there were conversations, which were a little like presentations but used fewer bullet points, and no one had to dim the lights. A woman we can call Sarah Wyndham, a defense-industry consultant living in Alexandria, Virginia, recently began to feel that her two daughters weren't listening when she asked them to clean their bedrooms and do their chores. So, one morning, she sat down at her computer, opened Microsoft's PowerPoint program, and used it.

Parker, Ian. Ohio State University, The. Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint

Abundance and Joy through Job Enrichment 

With the economic crunch affecting the workplace, many of us are being asked to perform additional tasks while facing the same tight deadlines. Dealing with this stress sometimes makes me feel bogged down and stuck in a cycle of drudgery.

Azis, Denise. MetroVoice (2002). Careers>TC

Accessibility   

Web sites should be designed to ensure that everyone, including users who have difficulty seeing, hearing, and making precise movements, can use them. Generally, this means ensuring that Web sites facilitate the use of common assistive technologies. All United States Federal Government Web sites must comply with the Section 508 Federal Accessibility Standards.

Usability.gov (2006). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Section 508

Accessibility Tutorial 

Developers put a lot of effort into ensuring their sites can be viewed in outdated browsers, but all too often ignore newer browsers, or worse still, a whole range of visitors. Accessibility means access to information for all. Information to all, regardless of the device used to view the document, or abilities of the visitor. You're extremely proud of your latest masterpiece. The choice of colours is striking, the layout fits perfectly on your screen, but how does it look on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)? How does it look to a colour-blind visitor? Does it read correctly using assistive technologies, such as screen reading software? Can a visitor navigate the site without the use of a mouse? Is the site usable when JavaScript and images are switched off in the browser?

Lemon, Gez. Juicy Studio. Design>Web Design>Accessibility>JavaScript

Accessible Information Architecture: Participatory Curricular Design 

This presentation describes the process of engaged negotiation that re-engineered an inappropriate course design to one that met student needs.

Salvo, Michael J. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Information Design>Participatory Design

Accessible Web Pages: Advice for Educators 

While educators have embraced the responsibility of providing equal access to educational resources to all students, Internet technology presents new challenges in this area. Students who have vision or hearing problems, who have difficulties with motor control, or who face other challenges, such as learning disabilities or language barriers, may find the Web difficult or impossible to explore.

Thombs, Margaret M. Syllabus (2002). Articles>Education>Accessibility>Online

Accessible Web Text - Sizing Up the Issues 

Explores the issues surrounding text size; explain what all the fuss is about; and suggest some useful approaches you can adopt to ensure the text on your web pages will be readable to your visitors.

Byrne, Jim. MCU (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility

Accurate Image Manipulation for Desktop Publishing 

Devoted to the best possible quality in the desktop publishing workflow. This calls for accurate calibration and correct choice for the working space.

AIM for DTP. Articles>Graphic Design>Document Design>Color

Review: ACES Book Reviews 

A collection of reviews of recent books in editing (particularly for journalism).

ACES. Articles>Reviews>Editing

Achieving International Communication Success 

The world is getting smaller in terms of how fast information gets passed around and, at the same time, larger. Larger in the sense that there are new markets, new languages, and new cultures to understand, as we market and sell around the world.

Winters, Elaine. bena.com (1999). Articles>Business Communication>International

Achieving Success with Intranet-Based Online Documentation   

To key to achieving a successful online documentation implementation on the intranet is to understand that the resulting system is indeed a 'system.' The need for well-written, formatted and structured documents is necessary but the interactive framework in which those documents exist is equally important. It is crucial to understand the role of each individual involved in the system from Reader to Author and I.T. provider.

Frost, Edward D.J. STC Proceedings (2001). Design>Documentation>Intranets>Web Design

Achieving Usability Beyond ISO 9001 

In the January issue, David Dick described how ISO standards 9241-11 and 13407 could be used to create standards and strategies for usability in the product life cycle. Another ISO standard that is an integral part of the product life cycle is called ISO 9001. ISO 9001:1994, 'Model for Quality Assurance in Design, Development, Production, Installation and Serving', specifies (quality system) requirements for achieving customer satisfaction by preventing non-conformity at all stages from design through servicing.

Dick, David J. Usability Interface (1998). Articles>Usability>Standards>ISO 9001

Acrobats Are Free 

Now that everybody's got the Acrobat reader we can talk about why so few are able to create Acrobat files, also called PDF files.

Quillio, Lou. Quillio.com (2003). Articles>Document Design>Standards>Adobe Acrobat

Add A Stroke Layer Style 

Shows how to create a stroke layer style in Photoshop CS2 to quickly add a custom border to your photos.

Kloskowski, Matt. Planet Photoshop (2006). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Video Workshop 

You can use the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Video Workshop to start learning about any application you're interested in, whether you own it or not. The Video Workshop shares expertise from across Adobe and the Adobe community--you'll learn tasks, tips, and tricks from leading designers, developers, and Adobe experts. There are introductory videos for new users, and more experienced users can find videos on new features and key techniques.

Adobe (2007). Resources>Documentation>Multimedia>Video

Adobe FrameMaker Autonumbering Examples 

Autonumbering had changed as new versions of FrameMaker have arrived. What worked in FrameMaker 5 might have broken in 5.5. This is due to changes Adobe made in the restart building blocks (request presentation). While our examples below use the maximum building blocks (meaning a little extra work), the result is numbering schemes that are more flexible for multiple versions of FrameMaker.

Bright Path Solutions (2004). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Adobe PageMaker 7.0   

Wallia reviews the latest version of Adobe's desktop publishing software.

Wallia, C.J.S. Intercom (2001). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe PageMaker

Adobe PageMaker Tutorials 

Links to numerous tutorials in Adobe PageMaker desktop publishing.

Adobe. Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe PageMaker

Adobe Photoshop Power Shortcuts   

In Photoshop CS2, many of the shortcuts for the application menus, palette menus and tools can be customized using the Keyboard Shortcuts editor. Although this document mentions some of the more common editable shortcuts, it also provides additional functionality only accessible through using keyboard modifiers which can't be changed through the Keyboard Shortcut editor. Although this is not a completely comprehensive list of all of the keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop CS2, it is my goal to present the shortcuts and additional functionality that enable me to use Photoshop CS2 both more freely and efficiently.

Kost, Julieanne and Daniel Brown. Adobe Evangelists (2006). (Italian) Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Systems Speaks Out on DITA: Internal Use of FrameMaker, CMS, and DITA 

Asks Puny Sen, Project Lead, Instructional Communications at Adobe Systems to talk about the software giant's foray into the world of the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). Sen shares details about Adobe's recent DITA documentation project, the pro's and con's of using DITA with FrameMaker, as well as lessons learned of importance to anyone interested in adopting the DITA standard.

Ethier, Kay and Scott Abel. Bright Path Solutions (2005). Articles>Documentation>XML>DITA

Adopting Minimalism in a Corporate Environment   

Minimalism is more a methodology or set of principles than a set of measurable qualities. In order for your writers to move to a minimalist approach to documentation, you must be able to explain what you mean by the term and what you expect from your writers.

Swallow, Lisa and Matt Laney. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2002). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Minimalism

Advanced Professional and Technical Communication 

This is the first course you need to receive a Masters in Professional Technical Communication at New Jersey Institute of Technology. It provides the foundation and direction for all MSPTC coursework and includes modules on bibliographic research; usability analysis; working in teams; report writing; visual thinking; communicating with new technologies; and technical writing style.

Johnson, Carol Siri. New Jersey Institute of Technology. Academic>Courses>Graduate

Advanced Professional Writing 

English 515 is designed for undergraduates and graduates interested in professional writing for both print and electronic publication. Students learn to produce documents and coordinate writing projects, study and apply principles of document design and electronic publication using appropriate application software, and work in teams in computer-networked environments. Students will work both individually and collaboratively as they document, utilize and analyze writing practices, literacy tools, and research methodologies.

Salvo, Michael J. Purdue University (2004). Academic>Courses>Writing>Business Communication

Advanced Technical Writing 

Technical writing is a growing and dynamic field. Technical writers work in scientific, medical, and technological contexts, and because of that, need to be both good writers and active learners: they need to learn how to understand technologies and scientific concepts; they need to learn how to analyze and understand work and workplaces; they need to learn to write for and with audiences; and they need to learn how to conduct research.

Grabill, Jeffrey T. Michigan State University (2003). Academic>Courses>Writing>Technical Writing

Advanced Technical Writing   

There are several facts of contemporary business or technical communication that are now nearly universal: the acts of writing or managing any project occur in group settings; directions from employers are goal-oriented and the responsibility for development is left to a team (usually either external or internal to the assigning agency); organizations possess and frequently reassess corporate personae; and communication occurs with multiple audiences, with varying levels of knowledge. The purpose of this course is to give you practice in all of these skills. In addition, I intend to explore at length an issue far too rarely considered today: the ethical considerations of business and technical communication. For all these reasons, the design and specific requirements of the course are unusually (and, you should note, very intentionally) ambiguous. Given some goal, and composition into small teams of four to five people each, you will design and implement your own instruction in technical writing. Operating under certain requirements, constraints, and limitations, groups will propose, design, test, and recommend a specific solution to a particular need. I will base evaluation upon a percentage that reflects how well the groups (and individuals in them) achieve set criteria.

Maddux, Clark. Michigan State University (2001). Academic>Courses>Writing>Technical Writing

The Advantages of Using Web Technology for Intranets 

Thanks to web technologies, the intranet allows us to access and share information easier than ever before.

Lightheart, David. David Lightheart Web Communications (2005). Articles>Web Design>Intranets

Advice for Beginning Science Writers 

This document is the record of a discussion that took place on the nasw-talk mailing list from May 10th through May 14th, 1997. It deals with several issues at the core of the science writing profession.

NASW (2006). Careers>Scientific Communication

Advocating Plain Language: Thom Haller Discusses The Need For Clarity 

Plain language is clear, concise, and straightforward presentation of information. It is professional content structured to eliminate ambiguity and confusion in technical, government, and legal documents. Plain language allows readers to fully comprehend complex regulations, practices and instructions by requiring the language of bureaucracy to reflect the language of everyday speech.

Haller, Thom. Rockley Bulletin (2007). Articles>Writing>Rhetoric>Minimalism

Affinity Diagrams 

Affinity diagramming is a categorization method where users sort various concepts into several categories. This method is used by a team to organize a large amount of data according to the natural relationships between the items.

IAwiki. Articles>Information Design>Charts and Graphs>Card Sorting

Affordances 

An action possibility available in the environment to an individual, independent of the individual's ability to perceive this possibility.

Soegaard, Mads. Interaction-Design.org. Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Interaction Design

Afraid of Freezing During a Presentation? Some Thoughts on Why We  

In a memorable scene from the movie “8 Mile” the character played by rapper Eminem enters a competition and gets on stage to prove his prowess in front of a rowdy crowd. Using rhyme and rap, he must show his skill at cleverly putting down the reigning champion. Winning the contest could mean fame, fortune and a way out of his grimy, dead-end life. We know he’s up to it. In the preceding scenes he’s brilliant in front of his friends and the bathroom mirror. But when he faces the jeering crowd on the big night he freezes and is unable to speak. As the crowd chants “Choke! Choke!” he leaves the stage in shame. Freezing in front of an audience is every speaker’s worst nightmare. Eminem was clearly facing a hostile crowd. But why do some speakers freeze even when they are in front of an audience that is friendly and receptive?

Berkley, Susan. Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric

Review: Agile Documentation: A Pattern Guide to Producing Lightweight Documents for Software Projects 

In Agile Documentation, Rüping gets to the heart of the documentation dilemma, offering a two-word solution: minimum necessary.

Davis, Donna L. developer.star (2003). Articles>Reviews>Agile>Documentation

Ajax 

Asynchronous JavaScript And XML, or its acronym, Ajax (Pronounced A-jacks), is a Web development technique for creating interactive web applications. The intent is to make web pages feel more responsive by exchanging small amounts of data with the server behind the scenes, so that the entire Web page does not have to be reloaded each time the user makes a change. This is meant to increase the Web page's interactivity, speed, and usability.

Wikipedia. Articles>Web Design>DHTML>Ajax

Ajax Mistakes 

Ajax is an awesome technology that is driving a new generation of web apps, from maps.google.com to colr.org to backpackit.com. But Ajax is also a dangerous technology for web developers, its power introduces a huge amount of UI problems as well as server side state problems and server load problems.

Bosworth, Alex. Sourcelabs.com (2005). Articles>Web Design>DHTML>Ajax

Alphabetizing Menu Commands   

Ever forget the exact location of a menu command in InDesign? You can use this tip to make your menu commands easier to locate.

Cole, Tim. Adobe Evangelists (2006). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

The Alternative Guide to Technical Communication 

This guide summarizes alternative resources relevant to people in Technical Communication. 'Alternative' refers to the unconventional types of resources on this list as well the diversity of topics that are covered -- none of these resources talk about 'technical communication.'

Wei, Carolyn. University of Washington-Seattle. Resources>TC>User Centered Design

Alternatives To User Requirement Gathering 

Of all the disciplines that go together to create a 'usability strategy', user requirement gathering is undoubtedly the most frequently misunderstood. Many product managers or webmasters will believe that they already know their users, perhaps because they have conducted some form of market research, or have a formal complaints and customer feedback programme in place. However, these techniques, discussed below, although similar in aspiration, should not be relied upon as a replacement for a full user-requirement gathering programme. That isn't to say that they do not have their uses of course, but rather that in terms of assisting in application or site design they can be unhelpful or even misleading.

Farrell, Tom. Frontend Infocentre (2001). Articles>Usability>User Centered Design

Amara's RSI Page 

I will examine this unfortunate side effect, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), of the Digital Age in this essay. It has probably affected someone you know. I hope this information will cause you to pause, look at your computer setup and initiate changes that make your computing safer and more comfortable. And if you've already experienced some of RSI's disabling and career-threatening effects, I hope that this article eases some of your anxieties by describing methods, approaches and treatments that have helped others.

Amara.com. Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Ergonomics>RSI

The American Heritage Book of English Usage 

This book is designed to inform you about current problems in English usage so you can make intelligent decisions when communicating. When confronted with a choice about a usage, you may ask yourself a number of questions: Has this usage been criticized for some reason in the past? If so, are these criticisms substantial? What are the linguistic and social issues involved? Have people frequently applied this usage in the past, and for how long? What do well-respected writers think of the usage today? You will find answers to these and many other questions in this book.

Bartleby.com (1996). Reference>Style Guides>Diction>Grammar

Amusing Blunders 

For fun, Asterisks.com shares some amusing blunders collected by editors.

Asterisks.com (1999). Humor>Language>Writing>Localization

Analyzing an Organizational Web Site   

The Web is still so new that there is very little consensus about what an organizational Web page should be and what purpose(s) it should serve. You will start this exercise by examining some organizational Web sites (preferably organizations in your field). You will develop criteria by which to judge organizational sites, and then use those criteria to evaluate a single Web site, with the site’s creator as your audience. Your criteria will doubtless include elements like the elegance of the design and should certainly include the navigational system and other Web page practicalities. They should also include the fundamentals that are important in all technical documents: suitability to purpose(s) and audience(s), content, organization, and tone.

Burnett, Rebecca E. Thomson (2001). Academic>Course Materials>Web Design>Assessment

Ankush Avhad's Technical Writing Links 

A collection of categorized links to online technical writing resources.

Avhad, Ankush. DocumentorG. Resources>Directories>Writing>Technical Writing

Annotated Cover Letter: Using Block Style Format 

An annotated sample cover letter for applying for a tech comm position.

Ray, Deborah S. TECHWR-L (2000). Careers>Resumes>Cover Letters

Anthropology and International Education via the Internet 

Tomoko Hamada and Kathleen Scott describe a collaborative classroom experience between students at the College of William and Mary and at Keio University, looking at the pros and cons of this international experiment. Their research helps to assess that collaboration, and draw conclusions that can be useful in understanding how people use technology to communicate, and how cultural differences affect that communication.

Hamada, Tomoko and Kathleen Scott. Journal of Electronic Publishing (2000). Articles>Education>Online>International

Antialiasing Examples from Real Applications 

Different graphical software applications have different abilities at antialiasing: some software is very good at it, while other software is not. Here are some examples for comparison.

IsoCalc. Design>Graphic Design>Typography>Technical Illustration

Anxiety In Action: Sullivan's Interpersonal Psychiatry as a Supplement to Vygotskian Psychology 

Is there a way to deal with such psychiatric issues in a way that is consistent with the psychological theory of Vygotsky and his followers? Or do these issues represent a totally different subject matter belonging to the distinctive disciplines of psychiatry and clinical psychology, which use entirely different intellectual, investigative, and practical tools? Are Vygotskian approaches to being human in fact blind to major processes of human interpersonal development and to the consequences of that development for the social participation that Vygotsky identifies as the source of higher mental processes?

Bazerman, Charles. UCSB (1994). Articles>Rhetoric>Theory

Apple Help and John Carroll's Minimalism   

This report gives a brief overview of minimalism, a description of an Apple Computer documentation project, and a summary of my findings. It also provides some of my and my Apple colleagues' recommendations to improve both the user's experience and that of the instructional designers working to write Apple Help content. Through the course of this report, I will provide support for my hypotheses that (1) the current Apple Help model is not a minimalist help system, but that (2) users of most Apple software would not be well served by such a system anyway.

Tevenan, Matthew P. University of Washington-Seattle (2002). Books>Documentation>Help>Minimalism

The Application of Evolutionary Learning Theory in the Transition from Training to Performance Support 

A brief overview of evolutionary theory and its application to knowledge and learning in the theory of memetics is presented. The knowledge and learning structures that exist within a modern company are examined and significant failures within them are identified. It is concluded that harnessing and exploiting evolutionary learning can resolve many of these failures. Evolutionary learning is a natural precursor for the transition from training to performance support. For this transition to happen successfully it is necessary that the right corporate culture and knowledge infrastructure are present.

O'Gorman, Adam. EPSS (2001). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online

An Application of the Principles of Minimalism to the Design of Human-Computer Interfaces   

Minimalism in information design, specifically as applied to user tutorials and manuals, was introduced in the early 1980s through the work of Dr. John M. Carroll, then a cognitive psychologist at the IBM Watson Research Center. Since that time, theorists and practitioners have further elucidated the principles of minimalism and have attempted to apply it to a variety of situations in which people attempt to learn how to use a software application. Most recently, a new exposition of minimalist principles and practices was published by MIT Press. This work, Minimalism Beyond the Nurnberg Funnel, represents the work of leading theorists and practitioners in the field.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (1999). Design>User Interface>Human Computer Interaction>Minimalism

Applying the Elaboration Likelihood Model to Technical Recommendation Reports   

Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) can help proposal writers identify effective document design techniques and parts of arguments that are critical to persuasion. In addition, ELM has implications for other types of technical communication, including recommendation or feasibility reports. While one would anticipate that decision-makers would be willing and able to evaluate critically all arguments presented in a recommendation report, ELM explains why this is rarely so. Therefore, technical communicators can profit by understanding and using the two routes to persuasion or attitude shift, the central and peripheral routes, explained by ELM.

Engle, Carol. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Business Communication>Reports>Rhetoric

Architects of Knowledge: An Emerging Hybrid Profession for Educational Communications   

Knowledge architecture is a nascent, hybrid field with significant potential as an innovative, cross-disciplinary design profession for 'value-added' technical communications and instructional technology. However, the emergence of a comprehensive, coherent, grounded theory and a corresponding problem-oriented, practice-based curriculum is progressing slowly. By contrast, other professional specialties for information architects, multi-media designers and software interface designers are better established. Scholars and practioners interested in fostering the development of knowledge architecture as a legitimate and evolving profession are at the forefront in defining the essential performance skills and academic training needed in the core subfields of information design, interactivity design, media design, and instructional design.

Lasnik, Vincent E. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management

Architecture and Communication Among Product Development Engineers   

This paper summarizes some quantitative measures and qualitative observations that we have made regarding the effects of architecture on technical communication. We begin with some early results, showing how the probability that two organizations’ members will communicate regularly declines rapidly with the distance between their work locations. . Following this, we assess several objections to these observations and deal with each. We look briefly at the relationships among different media, (i.e., face-to-face, telephone, electronic mail) and how each is affected by separation. Finally, we discuss some examples of architectural strategies for managing communication.

Allen, Thomas J. MIT (1997). Articles>Communication>Engineering

Are You a Copyright Criminal? 

It's getting more tempting to infringe on copyright when creating presentations, thanks to many new scanning and duplicating technologies as well as proliferating Web content. But writers, designers, artists and copyright owners are becoming more aggressive, using new tactics and technologies to enforce their rights. If you don't know the rules, you could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit.

Zielinski, Dave. 3M (2002). Presentations>Intellectual Property>Copyright

Are You A Presentation Master Chef Or A Short Order Cook? 

Have you ever attended a successful dinner party? Do you remember what it was that made it so enjoyable? Was it the great food, the company, the entertainment? Chances are it was all these things. You can use these same ingredients to create and deliver an unforgettable presentation.

Shaw, Glenna Raye. Presenters University. Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric>Microsoft PowerPoint

Are You Attractive? 

An interactive tutorial about usable website design.

Schutz, Bart. Interview NSS. Resources>Multimedia>Usability>Web Design

Are You Drowning in E-Mail? 

We can't halt the flow of incoming email messages, but we can give you some suggestions that will help you become a better email communicator.

Blicq, Ronald S. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence>Email

The Art and Science of Policy and Procedure Writing and Publishing 

This is an informational site dedicated to topics relevant to writing and publishing business process knowledge, especially policies and procedures. The objective of this site is to openly share information about writing and publishing policies and procedures and other forms of business knowledge.

Kopp, Gary. Policy Procedure Manual (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Policies and Procedures>Technical Writing

The Art of Indexing and Some Fallacies of its Automation 

The phrase 'information storage and retrieval,' coined in the fifties - when computers were first harnessed to the twin tasks of recording verbal communication and finding it again on demand - is somewhat misleading and it is also missing a vital element. The misleading part is that many people seem to believe that these tasks can only be performed by machines. Yet information has been stored on stone tablets, papyrus rolls and in books for thousands of years and it has also been found when needed. The missing part is that, in order for stored information to be retrievable - whether manually or by machine - an intermediate operation is of crucial importance: the stored information must be indexed.

Wellisch, Hans H. CPD (1992). Articles>Indexing>Information Design

Ask Tony: Future of Microsoft CMS 

Microsoft has in no way abandoned the web content management market.

Byrne, Tony. CMSwatch (2005). Articles>Content Management>Software

ASP, PHP, Java, JavaScript, XML, ActiveX, SQL... Mais de Quoi Parle T-on Vraiment?   

Ces termes affreux sont très à la mode dans le milieu du développement de solutions/sites Internet ou Intranet. On ne peut pas discuter 2 minutes avec un développeur sans qu'il en prononce un ou deux (voire tous si il est dans la catégorie 'Développeur souffrant de gros problèmes de communication avec les non-développeurs' !). Pour dire la vérité, il est même parfois difficile de s'y retrouver quand on est de la partie... C'est pour cela que nous allons essayer ici de définir simplement ces termes et de les regrouper par grandes familles. Ces termes caractérisent les différents langages que l'on peut utiliser pour le développement d'applications web. Ils se séparent en deux grandes familles selon que les scripts (programmes) s'exécutent sur le serveur ou sur le client.

Redtech (2002). (French) Design>Web Design>Server Side Includes>PHP

The Assault on Arafat's Compound 

An illustrative diagram to complement a news story from April 2002.

Gabel, Ed. VisualJournalism (2002). Design>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration>Isometric

Assembly Instructions for a Correct Sentence: The Sentence Diagram    

This workshop explores the whys and hows of sentence diagramming. Knowledge of the time-honored technique can aid editors, writers, and instructors in preventing and correcting pesky errors in sentence structure, including dangling modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and faulty parallelism. Diagramming offers the familiar look of technical drawings, the comforting feel of pencil on paper, and unmatched analytical potential.

Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Writing>Grammar

Assistive Device Behaviour Chart 

These charts have been produced to help developers understand how assistive devices work. We're in the early days of collating the data, and would appreciate feedback from users of assistive devices to ensure our results are accurate. This page contains many features that are advocated for accessibility, allowing you to send feedback on how your particular assistive device behaves. If we don't have a category for your assistive device, please send your results and we will add a category for the device. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, and should make this an invaluable resource for developers.

Juicy Studio (2003). Design>Accessibility

Assurance of Learning: Implementing a Uniform Assessment Process Across Multiple Sections of a Managerial Communication Course   

This case study documents how two business school professors worked together to design and implement a process for uniformly assessing learning outcomes across all sections of a managerial communication course. The study demonstrates and provides examples of the answers to the five questions in the school’s assurance of learning process model. The study also provides prescriptive tips for administrators and instructors on how to avoid the typical pitfalls of implementing an assurance of learning process.

May, Gary L. and Michael Tidwell. Association for Business Communication (2008). Articles>Education>Business Communication

Attack of the Blog 

Although blogs are generally linked with business, personal, and entertainment sites, Eugene Volokh, a professor of law at the University of California at Los Angeles, thinks that blogs are evolving into a major academic tool for universities. Members of the academic community have discovered that blogs offer the classroom a cheap, sociable, and fast way for everyone in the class to actively participate in discussion.

Lisson, Kristin. Techniques (2003). Articles>Web Design>Writing>Blogging

Attributing Meaning to Corporate Logos: A Cross Cultural Comparison   

Visual symbols are an essential part of corporate communication. The development of an appropriate corporate logo is an expensive and a time-intensive process. This study examines the meaning of visual form as perceived via corporate identity. Global economies demand that such symbols carry consistent meaning across cultures. 170 subjects from the U.S. and Hong Kong participated in a survey that identified positive business attributes associated with six logos. Another 60 subjects (30 from the U.S., 30 from Hong Kong) participated in focus groups and collectively discussed and collectively identified attributes as related to certain logos. Results indicate that there was agreement between and within groups on the perception of attributes with specific shapes. There were no significant differences between cultural groups.

Martinson, Barbara and Sauman Chu. University of Alberta (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Visual Rhetoric>International

ATTW Research Repository 

Technical communication has experienced an explosion in theory and research. This site has been established as a central site to connect those who want to do research, those who want to fund research, and those who have the need for research results. It could pave the way for more and better research in our profession.

ATTW. Resources>Collaboration>Research

Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers 

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZI) aims to represent the interests of indexers and to provide training and other resources to all Australians and New Zealanders involved in indexing, whether they are freelancers or employees, full-time, part-time or casual.

ANZSI. Organizations>Editing>Indexing>Australia

The Author's Voice and the Reader's Role: An Analysis of Rhetorical Issues in How-to Texts 

In mainstream computer applications such as Microsoft Word for Windows version 6.0, one will find a User's Guide included with the product. This User's Guide is a primary manual. It is included with the software application. A visit to any large bookstore will also reveal a large number of manuals about Word. Called secondary manuals, these manuals are not written by the same software development company that produced Word, nor are they included with Word. Both types of manuals are produced by technical writers and in many ways are similar in scope, content and cognitive strategies. However, in other respects some primary and secondary manuals are quite different, and that difference is the focus of this thesis.

Chatfield, Carl S. Wisechat.com (1995). Books>Rhetoric>Theory

Authoring Content for Multi-Purpose Publishing   

This presentation reviews the process used to develop documentation for a new software product.

Dumba, Cheryl, Fedeliza Espiritu-Lopez and Pam Barg. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2002). Presentations>Content Management>Single Sourcing

AuthorIT: Creating Newspaper-Style Columns in Word   

How to modify AuthorIT objects to get newspaper-style columns in the Word output.

Bracey, Rhonda. CyberText Consulting (2004). Resources>Software>Style Sheets

Authority in Hypertext 

This is an alternative/modified title page for a web of documents focused on the issue of authority and exists as the result of my decision to include this site on authority in hypertext as part of another project. This page exists for several reasons: the passage of time, the nature of the WWW, and the fact that the authority web exists. I will briefly discuss each of these reasons.

Clark, Dave, Roxanne Clemens, Christianna I. White and Mark Zachry. Iowa State University. Articles>Rhetoric>Theory

Automating Photoshop CS2   

Automating repetitive tasks in Photoshop can increase productivity as well as save time and money. Almost any command (or set of commands) in Photoshop can be recorded into an action to be applied repetitively to a single file or across multiple file. The most basic action will execute one command such as resizing an image or displaying a dialog box. More complex actions can execute multiple commands automating more elaborate tasks. When used with the Batch command and/or Droplets, these actions can be applied to multiple files at once, enabling Photoshop to do repetitive tasks more quickly than even the best-trained Photoshop user! When repetitive tasks in a more involved workflow need to be carried out between applications, then AppleScript, Visual Basic, or JavaScript can be used to create scripts which work with Photoshop. In the case of conditional logic (a fancy way of saying 'Make a decision!') when an action needs to be applied to some files but not others, JavaScript files can be written to fulfill this need. One word of caution when first trying to conquer actions - run them on duplicate files, leaving your pre- cious originals unaltered. As you become more Action savvy, you can kick off those training wheels, and batch away!

Kost, Julieanne and Daniel Brown. Adobe Evangelists (2006). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

Avoid the Mouse Trap 

Keyboard shortcut commands not only save time; they help save joint strain and brain power.

Dallabrida, Dale. Delaware Online (2002). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Usability

Avoiding Insensitive and Offensive Language 

Suggestions for avoiding language that reinforces stereotypes or excludes certain groups of people. Includes examples of sentences and words to avoid, and replacements for them. Includes the following topics: Sexism, Race and Ethnicity, Age, Sexual Orientation, Depersonalization of Persons with Disabilities or Illnesses, Patronizing or Demeaning Expressions, and Language That Excludes or Emphasizes Differences.

Nichols, Wendalyn. Random House. Reference>Style Guides>Discrimination>Ethnicity

Banner Blindness, Human Cognition and Web Design 

Benway and Lane have studied 'Banner Blindness' – the fact that people tend to ignore those big, flashy, colorful banners at the top of web pages. This is pretty interesting stuff, for the entire reason they are so big and obnoxious is to attract attention, yet they fail. Evidently nobody ever studied real users before -- they simply assumed that big, colorful items were visible. This paper, shows once again the importance of observations over logic when it comes to predicting human behavior. People behave the way they behave, not the way our logical analyses and wishes would have them behave. People follow their interests, their needs, their customs. They are driven by curiosity, boredom, emotion. And the 'they' refers to 'we': us.

Norman, Donald A. JND.org (1999). Design>Web Design>Usability>User Experience

Basic Character Animation   

Have a character you want to animate? Let Jose show you how to use your Illustrator art to create SWF animations.

Gonzalez, Jose Luis. Illustrator World (2005). Design>Multimedia>Software>Adobe Illustrator

Basic Prose Style and Mechanics 

This pamphlet is designed to introduce you to, or remind you of, the basic principles of prose style and mechanics. The Prose Style Section describes twelve basic principles of good prose style and illustrates most of these principles with examples. Since most writers and editors agree about the importance of these twelve basic principles, I have drawn from a wide variety of sources. However, I would especially recommend two texts: The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White and Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity & Grace by Joseph Williams.

Waddell, Craig. Michigan Tech University. Reference>Style Guides

Basic WinHelp for Beginners   

The first time you create a Windows Help file can be very confusing. This paper should help reduce confusion by explaining the basic WinHelp concepts and components, and then walking you through the procedure.

Van Sant, Carol J. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Documentation>Online>Help

The Basics of Plain Language    

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the basic concepts of plain language.

Impact Information (2006). Presentations>Writing>Minimalism

The Basics of U.S. Copyright Law 

Copyright law is one of the most important legal issues for any entrepreneur or successful business to understand. It provides authors, programmers artists and others with vital intellectual property protection for their creations. This article explains exactly what U.S. copyright law is and how it works.

GigaLaw.com (2000). Resources>Intellectual Property

Be an Author, Not a Writer: Breaking into Retail Computer Book Publishing 

Miscellaneous documents to assist authors as they consider writing/publishing a book.

Corbin Nichols, Michelle and Christopher J. Benz. STC Orange County (1998). Presentations>Publishing>Technology

Becoming a Technical Writer in Three Easy Steps 

If you are considering a career change, you should become familiar with the potential requirements and compensation. Knowing as much as you can about a profession can help you decide if it is appropriate for you. This book is intended for beginning and would-be technical writers.

Kolunovsky, Nina. STC Toronto (1996). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing

Becoming an Information Architect 

The birth, development and launch of an engaging, well-designed Web site starts with an idea and a vision. Beyond that, detailed planning and organization, open communication among team members and a common goal bring the idea to fruition. And information architects play a key role in that process.

Cohen, Sacha. Monster.com (2004). Careers>Information Design

Begrippenlijst 

Uitleg van relevante termen over het communicatiebeleid rondom webprojecten, het ontwikkelen van een functioneel ontwerp en het inrichten van het content management.

Hartman Communicatie (2001). (Dutch) Reference>Dictionaries>Web Design

Behavioral Concepts: Effectiveness and User Response   

What are hazards and why do we need them? Best practices for key elements of hazards.

Guren, Leah. In Other Words (2006). Presentations>Usability>User Centered Design

A Behavioral Framework for Assessing Graduate Technical Communication Programs 

Behavioral science, with its emphasis on association, reliability, and validity provides a promising set of models upon which to enhance further work in scientific and technical communication. Our proposed model is based on the five independent variables that, when constructed validly and measured reliably, may be associated with effective programs in technical and scientific communication.

Coppola, Nancy W. and Norbert Elliott. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Assessment

The Benefits of a Job Well Done   

A parable about the lives of a high-tech technical writing team. Ken puts his twenty-five years as a technical writer to good use in this fictional work about four people hired to write manuals for Xoom-tek. In the chapter excerpted, Ken takes a humorous look at RIFs and downsizings.

Wisman, Ken. TECHWR-L (2003). Humor>Documentation>Software

Best Practices and Future Visions for Search User Interfaces: Position Paper   

The author argues that progress in search requires vigorous inquiry into how search can be embedded into application environments such as those for decision-making, personal information collecting, and designing.

Hendry, David G. Earthlink (2003). Design>Web Design>User Interface>Search

The Best Word Processor for Mac OS X 

I would like input on the best WP for X, the best for the buck. I don't need a whole office package, just WP.

MacWorld (2003). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Macintosh

Betriebswirtschaftliche Lüsungen zur Kostensenkung Technischer Dokumentation 

Die meisten TD-Verantwortlichen besitzen einen technischen Hintergrund. Daher verwundert es nicht, dass sie Lösungen für Kostenprobleme ebenfalls in der Technik suchen: Datenbanken, Content Management oder Translation Memory. Doch die Investitionskosten sind hoch. Und oft dauert es Jahre, bis sich entsprechende Systeme amortisieren – wenn überhaupt. Ein Betriebswirtschaftler würde das Problem anders lösen: ohne Technik und ohne Investition, durch gezieltes Setzen von Prioritäten und mit optimierten Prozessen. Bewährte Ansätze aus der Betriebswirtschaft gibt es viele, denn andere Unternehmensbereiche leiden unter genau denselben Kostenproblemen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt die wichtigsten Methoden und gibt Beispiele für deren Anwendung in der Technischen Dokumentation.

Achtelig, Marc. indoition engineering (2006). (German) Articles>Management>Project Management>Workflow

Better Screenshots 

Most tech writers have their favorite software for capturing and processing static screen shots. I won’t compare these applications or try to tell you how to use them. Instead, I’ll give you techniques that help you produce the best possible screen shots, no matter what application you choose. This article assumes that you’ve taken screen shots before. It uses terms like “hot keys” and “time delay” and “capture cursor.” If you don’t know what these terms mean, look them up in the help for your screen capture software. They represent standard features that are found in most screen capture applications.

Rice, William H. IV. Williamrice.com. Design>Graphic Design>Online>Screen Captures

Beyond Gutenberg 

Editing must change for the Web, but perhaps not so much as you think. In paper publishing, different documents require different rules and procedures: An annual report requires more editing and more attention to detail than an office memo. Similarly, not all Web documents are equal.

Ivey, Keith C. Editorial Eye, The (1996). Articles>Web Design>Editing>Writing

Beyond Help: Making Help a Core Component of a Performance Support System   

With the advent of HTML Help and the ability to embed Help directly inside an application, there's been an increased interest in creating Help systems that are seamlessly integrated with their host applications. By blurring the line between the application and the Help that supports it, and by developing Help that automatically responds to user actions, application developers and Help authors now have the ability to develop true electronic performance support systems.

Wexler, Steven S. ComponentOne (1998). Articles>Documentation>Online>Help

Beyond Text and Graphics: XML Makes Web Pages Function Like Applications 

XML is displacing the traditional 'web page'--generally a static document, created with HTML. Most traditional web pages offer only slim interactivity and rely on an overworked server and CGI script. XML is promoting the concept of a 'weblication' (web application) that can work wonders on the web client without generating so much Internet traffic.

Freter, Todd. Sun Microsystems (1998). Design>Web Design>Metadata>XML

Beyond the Basics: Project Management Essentials for Technical Communicators 

Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of a particular project.

Currie, Cynthia C. STC Proceedings (2007). Presentations>Project Management

Beyond the Borders of  

The field of technical communication is in many ways inscribed by technology. As a result, technical communication programs not only must provide students with a foundation in the theory and practice of the field, but also must give students some level of proficiency in the technology tools they will need to put that knowledge into service in the workplace.

Brumberger, Eva R. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Software

Beyond the Five-User Assumption: Benefits of Increased Sample Sizes in Usability Testing   

It is widely assumed that 5 participants suffice for usability testing. In this study, 60 users were tested and random sets of 5 or more were sampled from the whole, to demonstrate the risks of using only 5 participants and the benefits of using more. Some of the randomly selected sets of 5 participants found 99% of the problems; other sets found only 55%. With 10 users, the lowest percentage of problems revealed by any one set was increased to 80%, and with 20 users, to 95%.

Faulkner, Laura. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments and Computers (2003). Articles>Usability>Testing

Beyond the Masculine Web: Considering Sex and Gender Differences in Arrangement and Delivery on the Web   

Men and women don't browse the Web the same way; one should design for both feminine and masculine webs.

Bowie, Jennifer L. Texas Tech University (2003). Presentations>Web Design>Information Design>Gender

Beyond Web Usability: Web Credibility 

If you've been developing websites on Mars for the past few years then you'll be forgiven for not knowing about web usability. You'll still be creating splash intro pages, having pages with massive download times and using more images than you can shake a stick at. Well, back in Earth these days have long gone and today web usability rules the web development world.

Moss, Trenton. Webcredible (2004). Design>Web Design>Usability

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy: An Analysis 

Around 1 a.m. on Monday, the 3rd of December, 1984, in a densely populated region in the city of Bhopal, Central India, a poisonous vapor burst from the tall stacks of the Union Carbide pesticide plant. This vapor was a highly toxic cloud of methyl isocyanate. Of the 800,000 people living in Bhopal at the time, 2,000 died immediately, and as many as 300,000 were injured. In addition, about 7,000 animals were injured, of which about one thousand were killed. After the incident, over the next few years, numerous studies were conducted, many theories were explored, and the involved parties accused each other. In this paper, I will try to explore the various causes offered for the tragedy. In the course of my research for this case study, I came across many articles that put blame on various people and groups involved in the tragedy. I found one document particularly interesting from a rhetorical standpoint. This document, titled Union Carbide: Disaster at Bhopal , was authored by the retired Vice President of Health, Safety and Environmental Programs in Union Carbide Corporation. So for this paper, I would also like to rhetorically analyze this document and also, try to explore the various image restoration strategies that Union Carbide Corporation used through the course of the crisis.

Ungarala, Pratima. Michigan Tech University (1998). Articles>TC>Risk Communication>Crisis Communication

Bias in Usability Testing 

What does 'bias' mean in usability testing? Is it bad? good? in between? What are sources of bias in usability testing? Which one(s) should we worry about most? How do we know our methods are any good? Especially when we all do things differently?

Snyder, Carolyn. STC Proceedings (2007). Articles>Usability>Testing

Bias-Free Language 

Insensitive use of language can send discriminatory or negative messages to other people and has been demonstrated to affect learning, self-esteem, and career choices. In a business environment, our interactions with co-workers and our relationship with clients also can be affected. This page provides some general guidelines for using written and spoken language that are diversity-sensitive.

Author's Guide (2000). Reference>Writing>Discrimination

Bibliography for Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication 

This bibliography contains citations for over 7,600 articles and books dealing with issues related to rhetoric, composition, professional communication, and associated topics, such as linguistics, psychology, and philosophy.

Thune, W. Scott. Iowa State University. Resources>Bibliographies>Rhetoric

The Big Huff 

An hypothetical example of interpersonal communication issues which may arise in the workplace. Tad had sketched a layout to the wrong scale, so you called him in for what you thought would be a straightforward conversation. But instead of agreeing to make the changes, he stiffened a bit, then said, 'I've been working on this account for three years, and I know how these people work. They're going to futz around with this for a few days, and then tell you they want it the way I've done it. Believe me, it'll save a lot of time and money if we just go with it as is.' What can you do to get Tad's co-operation now, and to keep it in the future? And what might you have done differently to prevent this conflict?

Hard at Work. Careers>Workplace>Collaboration

The Biggest Lies Heard by Technical Writers   

This list is the result of a thread started on the Techwr-l listserver group about the biggest lies we, as technical writers, hear on an almost weekly basis.

Documentia (2003). Humor>Writing>Technical Writing

Black Eyes 

Humorous malapropisms taken from various popular locales.

Editorial Eye, The (1997). Humor>Writing

Blogging Pro Survey 

Behind the scenes, in the limelight, ahead of the curve...'blogphets' have plenty to say to us mere mortals on what makes a blog 'tick.'

Streight, Steven. Blogger.com (2005). Articles>Web Design>Writing>Blogging

Blogi: Ujęcie Psychologiczne 

W znaczeniu społecznym blog jest czymś więcej niż tylko narzędziem: jest wirtualnym miejscem skupiającym ludzi, gdzie można przebywać i realizować się społecznie, nawiązując relacje z innymi ludźmi. Blog jest tzw. Trzecim Miejscem zgodnie z teorią Oldenburga, który uznaje, że dopiero w trzecim najważniejszym miejscu (po Domu i Pracy/Szkole), człowiek może tworzyć "prawdziwe" relacje społeczne, które nie są zbudowane na hierarchii emocjonalnej lub strukturalnej (jak w przypadku rodziny i firmy) lecz powstają dzięki posiadanym cechom charakteru, zainteresowaniom czy stylowi życia w grupie.

Cywinska-Milonas, Maria. Onet (2004). (Polish) Articles>Web Design>Writing>Blogging

Blogs and One-Step CMSes are the Future of Web 2.0 

Last year before I discovered Drupal and a host of other Content management systems I was building websites from scratch. I spent hours in PHP and Active Server Pages coding and designing. I was quite happy doing so. But then I came upon a flaw in the business plan of the company where I worked. It seemed we were doing the same thing over and over again only with slight differences in the end result. These differences were the reason I was busy all the time but could never catch up to the work load. What we needed was a finished product that allowed us to produce addons to satisfy the individual needs of each client.

Hiveminds (2006). Articles>Content Management>Software

Blogs as Virtual Communities: Identifying a Sense of Community in the Julie/Julia Project 

We must understand, first, why virtual communities are considered important, and, second, what the characteristics of a virtual community are. Then, we must determine if at least some blogs have these characteristics.

Blanchard, Anita. Into the Blogosphere (2004). Articles>Communication>Community Building>Blogging

Bloom's Taxonomy in Technical Content Development 

Technical writers provide information enabling users to learn and apply various technologies. In the endeavor to enable users, technical writers often need to use different strategies of classification, presentation, and structuring for the different types of information. However, in most cases such classifications or decisions about the best method of presentation and optimum structure are guided by instinct and are rarely heuristic. In this article, we present an established classification of information called Bloom’s taxonomy (of educational objectives), which can help technical writers make decisions about content classification.

Robbani, Wasique. KeyContent.org (2006). Articles>Document Design>Academic>Contextual Inquiry

Bobby: the World Wide Web Accessibility Tool and Your Web Site 

Bobby tools can help you know some real touches you can give to your web site to enrich its accessibility. Since the Bobby document is the generalization of strategies and techniques to further web site usability concern, you can selectively and optimally adopt them to serve your purpose the best way.

Azam, Rahbre. Amateur Writerz (2007). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Assessment

A Book of Your Own 

I was a tech writer long before I wrote my first book, although I had to jump through some difficult hoops to land my first tech writing job (a series of six tests on technology); however, a great deal of my work later, especially my consulting jobs, came about as a result of my books and the reputation they bestowed on me. Being published between covers brings you respect almost as quickly and surely as becoming known as a millionaire business owner does. Even now, it happens. A reader who owns a small business in Baltimore hired me recently to do some consulting with him, after reading one of my books published a few years ago. The gentleman had read several books on the subject of proposal writing and contracting, and he decided that my book reflected the kind of thinking he needed, although it was one of my most slender volumes.

Holtz, Herman. TECHWR-L (2001). Articles>Writing>Publishing

Boredom: The Secret of Tech Writing 

Of course, it's not 100% all of the time boring. Just some of it, on a fairly regular but not intolerable basis. But boring all the same.

Higgins, Lisa. TECHWR-L (2000). Humor>Writing>Technical Writing

Breaking into Technical Writing 

I'm not ashamed to admit it: the reason I became a technical writer is because 'Technical' comes after 'Teacher' in the help-wanted ads.

Johnson, Carol Siri. MetroVoice (2002). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing

Breaking the Web 

One of the lessons I learned at my mother’s knee was that you have to know the rules in order to break them properly. (Mother was a graphic designer.) The rules that are worth breaking are the ones you understand the purpose of – maybe you even agree with that purpose in general. There are plenty of stupid rules for the Web, rules that were put there by people who extrapolated too soon from too small a set of data. Those rules are no fun to break, kind of like removing a tag that says 'Do not remove under penalty of law' from a sofa cushion. We won’t bother with those rules today. Let’s go after the rules worth our time and effort. Given that, here’s my list of Web rules I’d most like to see broken, but only if they’re broken well.

Gunn, Eileen. Upper and lowercase Magazine (1998). Design>Typography>Web Design

A Brief History of Technical Communication   

Civilization is a cumulative enterprise, and communication has always been a vital component of that cumulation process. From the fourteenth century on, the social system of science has depended on technical communication to describe, disseminate, criticize, use, and improve innovations and advances in science, medicine, and technology. Rapid change in technical communication has been obvious during the past few decades with the advent of computers, laser printers, the Internet, and other developments. Viewed from a historical perspective, those changes can be seen as but a portion of the evolution that technical communication has undergone. It has undergone vast changes in the means and methods that it employs and in the audience to which it is addressed, the purposes to which it is put, the roles it fulfills, and the social forces that drive and support it.

O'Hara, Frederick M., Jr. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>History>TC

A Brief Overview of Rhetoric 

Rhetoric is arguably one of the oldest disciplines in the world. Its earliest antecedent can be found in the sophist tradition of Classical Greece. Two of the earliest sophists, Tisias and Corax, made a comfortable living traveling around Hellenic Europe teaching people the finer points of oratory. The sophistic tradition was harshly criticized by major philosophers of the time (most notably, Socrates and Plato) as an unintellectual and immoral profession. In Plato's view, rhetoricians (i.e., sophists) were more concerned with appearances rather than substance--in Plato's play Gorgias, he has the character of Socrates accuse the rhetorician/sophist Gorgias of specializing in making the bad case seem best and the best case seem bad.

Petraglia-Bahri, Joseph. Georgia Institute of Technology (1996). Resources>Directories>Rhetoric

Bright Words, Dull Words, and Snags: A Theory of Technical Writing   

While all words on the page should be necessary, not every word carries the same importance. Yet words compete for attention, and depending on what they mean to readers, one word may make a greater impression than another. As writers, we must express what’s important with bright words. We must tone down what’s not important and express them with dull words. We must avoid snags, words that distract, confuse, or interfere in any way with the smooth transfer of information.

Palkovic, Lawrence A. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Writing>Rhetoric

Brokedown Palace, Part 1: Why User Guides Don't Work 

Software user guides use up an awful lot of space with screen shots. But I know what the screen looks like -- it's right in front of me. Any decent GUI design is self-documenting to some extent, at least. No matter how much we complain about them, GUIs have gotten pretty good. Children have them figured out in minutes. And then they start asking questions like, 'How do I make my stick man move around?' Computers are toasters or drawing pads to them. That's another reason user guides don't work: the average user doesn't need one anymore.

Knowles, Michael. Write Thinking (2002). Articles>Writing>Documentation>Screen Captures

Build a Business Case for Online Learning Projects 

Upper-level decision makers seem to thrive on 'what if?' Here's how it works: Line workers, managers, and independent consultants enthusiastically propose a project, and executives shred it apart with 'what ifs?' and 'have you considereds?' In reality, such questions indicate that a project proposal is incomplete. The people who prepared it may have assumed an overly optimistic or pessimistic result, overlooked relevant alternatives, or may not have considered relevant component costs. And when it comes to technology projects--such as online learning development -- executives may kick 'what if' into high gear. Though the benefits of such projects seem self-evident to the converted, the possibility of a high price tag and organizational disruption sobers many executives considering the online plunge.

Carliner, Saul. ASTD (2000). Articles>Management>Proposals

Building Bridges Between Marketing and Technical Publications Teams   

One common myth in the corporate world is that technical publications and marketing departments are fundamentally at odds with each other. Some technical writers believe marketing publications are too adjective-laden and prone to hyperbole, while some marketing writers think tech publications are too dry and factual. Who's right? It's all a matter of perspective. Technical writers and marketing writers typically have different audiences and purposes for their publications. But once you get beyond the superficial differences, you'll see that both writing groups have more in common than is immediately apparent. Perhaps more important, both groups have a lot to offer each other.

Peruzzi, Brett. Society for Technical Communication (2002). Careers>Collaboration>Marketing

Building Consortia in Scientific and Technical Communication 

When many of us began to establish our programs in Scientific and Technical Communication our main concerns were establishing a balance between technology and communication, establishing internships, and getting acceptance in whatever department in the university we happened to be part of. While those concerns still remain, we are faced with new, additional issues, as well as new problems associated with the older, but still present issues, in establishing and maintaining programs. This paper will note some of those issues and will make some suggestions for helping to approach them. I will not presume to have solutions, just ideas about which we can talk to perhaps help focus some discussion leading to some solutions. Rather than focus on each specific problem, I want to focus on a specific approach to new programs which, I think, might be a way to approach many of the problems and challenges we face in a global, electronic environment. The approach to a solution, which I'm proposing is developing 'joint ventures' or 'Consortia.' I'll herein explain my definition of joint venture or consortia programs.

Coggin, William O. CPTSC Proceedings (2000). Academic>Education>WPA>Collaboration

Business Communication Resources 

Institutional and private research on the rhetorical norms and communication practices of business.

American Communication Association (2001). Resources>Business Communication>Online

Business Communication: Managing Information and Relationships 

In many ways, the history of human civilization chronicles the increasing centrality of communication. Communication establishes relationships and makes human organization and cooperation possible. Whether you recognize it or not, you have no choice but to communicate. If you try to avoid communicating by not replying to messages, you are nevertheless sending a message, but it may not be the one you want or intend. When you don’t say yes, you may be saying no by default—and vice versa. The only choice you can make about communication is whether you are going to attempt to communicate effectively.

Bowman, Joel P. Western Michigan University (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Collaboration

The Business Landscape Analysis: Where We Are Today 

STC's best opportunity for growth is to lead its members and the industry into the future by focusing on emerging disciplines and growing opportunities within technical communication. STC must ensure that the needs of its core writer/editor base are met at the same time.

STC Transformation (2004). Articles>TC>Planning

The Business of Writing: How Do I Set My Rates? 

Do you know how much what you do is worth? Very likely a lot more than you think. But how do you figure out how much to charge for a given job?

Knowles, Michael. Write Thinking (2001). Careers>Consulting>Pricing

But I Don't Know Anyone: Networking 101 for Introverts 

'But I don't know anyone is a common response when I give people the advice to build their professional networks. What they really mean is 'I don't know anyone who can give me a job.' This protest and response is missing the point. Networking is not justabout finding work. It's about building a professional network of peers who keep in touch on a professional level, who can help each other out from time to time, share pertinent information, and keeping your mind in shape.

Hamer, Emma C. Hamer Associates. Careers>Collaboration>Community Building

CALT Encyclopedia: Knowledge Management and Workflow 

A collection of annotated resources that features links to conferences, research organizations, software providers, and consulting firms, as well as educational sites.

CALT Encyclopedia. Resources>Knowledge Management

Can You See What I'm Saying? 

Watch your nonverbal communication and vaccinate against 'um' disease by submitting to videotaped coaching before media contact.

Yewman, Dave. Presenters University (2004). Articles>Presentations>Interviewing

Capital Punishment 

Many documents suffer from over-capitalisation. The writer sprinkles capitals everywhere in an attempt to make words stand out - with the result that nothing stands out. Here are some simple rules to help you avoid this capital offence.

Right Words. Articles>Writing>Style Guides

Card Sorting: An Inexpensive and Practical Usability Technique   

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.

Kaufman, Joshua. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Methods>Card Sorting

Card-Based Classification Evaluation 

We hear and talk a lot about card sorting in various forms, and how it can be used as input on a hierarchy or classification system (or a taxonomy, if you like more technical words). We hear that we should test our hierarchies, but we don’t talk about how.

Maurer, Donna. Boxes and Arrows (2003). Articles>Usability>Methods>Card Sorting

Careers in Technical Communication: Usability   

This paper informs students, parents, and professionals within technical communication about the profession of usability. It starts with various research methods and sources of more information. Then the focus shifts to the profession of usability, discussing topics such as: user-centered design, the definition of usability, possible career tracks, educational opportunities, educational requirements, future trends in the profession of usability, and trends within the field of usability. The paper provides an overview of the profession and relevant issues surrounding it, as well as providing sources of additional information.

Berni, Kevin. Mercer University (2002). Careers>TC>Usability

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Tutorial 

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) were introduced by the World Wide Web Consortium to help determine the layout of an HTML document. Removing the formatting from the HTML document allows you to quickly apply a style to a whole site, rather than going through each document and changing the tags that represent the style. It also means that the content of the HTML document isn't bloated by extra information about how data is to be presented. The current specification for using style sheets, Cascading Style Sheets, level 2, may be found at the World Wide Web Consortium's site. Cascading Style Sheets, level 3 is currently available in its draft version.

Lemon, Gez. Juicy Studio. Design>Web Design>CSS

A Case for Adopting an Integrated Approach to Program Development 

In the last few years, both scholars and practitioners have considered the place of technical communications in relation to new information technologies. Most in the field agree that technical communicators bring a broad base of expertise, along with the ability to make a wide range of contributions to this realm. However, technical communicators still question the impact they might have and the roles and functions they might adopt in this area. In addition, they are still often plagued by an identity crisis brought on by a lack of recognition from other fields.

Blakeslee, Ann M. CPTSC Proceedings (2000). Academic>Education>TC>Crisis Communication

The Case of Project    

Cloning? Abortion? Social responsibility? Honesty? Legality? Loyalty? Trust? Privacy? You name it. 'The Case of Project Good-Bye, Dolly' immerses workshop participants in a maelstrom of value conflicts that swirl from bioethics to personal values. The presenters identify ten core values that un&rlie technical communication and show how these values can be used to support objective analysis and resolve ethical conflicts. Participants then explore ethical dilemmas 'hands-on' through small-group discussion and subsequent role-playing vignettes. This session is sure to spark lively debate.

Allen, Lori A. and Daniel W. Voss. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Ethics

Case Study: Business Improvement Network Redesign 

The Business Improvement Network is a highly successful free club for quality improvement professionals who meet together to share their knowledge and experience. A busy website serves the network's needs well, attracts new members every week, and gives members access to lots of free information.

Hunt, Ben. Web Design From Scratch (2006). Design>Web Design>Redesign>Case Studies

Caught in the Active 

Have you been told, perhaps by your computerised grammar checker, that too many of your sentences are passive? Have you heard the rule of thumb that at least 80 percent of the sentences in any passage should be active? If you've had the problem or heard the rule, and wonder what the terms active and passive mean, and why one is good and the other frowned on, this article is for you.

Right Words. Articles>Writing>Style Guides>Grammar

Caution: Stereotypes Under Construction 

Words of warning about the creation of personas and the practice of user profiling. Even if one calls it the development of an archetype or ideal type, it is still a stereotype.

Triplett, Janea. Journal of HCI Vistas (2007). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods>Personas

Centering in on Professional Choices   

I examine my involvement with writing centers as an example of how we can look at the choices we’ve made within our areas of expertise to see why they attract us. In my case, the flexible, collaborative, individualized, non-evaluative, experimental, non-hierarchical, student-centered nature of writing centers is an excellent fit.

Harris, Muriel. CCC (2001). Articles>Writing>Workplace

A Central Bank’s “Communications Strategy”: The Interplay of Activity, Discourse Genres, and Technology in a Time of Organizational Change 

This chapter reports on an ethnographic study of the technology-mediated discourse practices of a professional organization in a period of major transition. Employing theories of genre and activity along with other theoretical constructs, the study examined how the Bank of Canada, the country’s central bank, employs a “Communications Strategy” to orchestrate the organization’s communicative interactions with other social groups in the Canadian public-policy sphere. After identifying a set of written and spoken genres associated with the Communications Strategy, the chapter suggests that the genre set and various mediating technologies can be usefully viewed as parts of a local sphere of organizational activity. The chapter then describes two features of the genre set: the genre knowledge within the community-of-practice associated with it and the relationship of the genre set to processes of organizational change. Next, the chapter discusses the role that the genre set plays in the activity of the Communications Strategy, focusing on three primary functions: cocoordinating the intellectual and discursive work of a large number of individuals performing a variety of professional roles; generating, shaping, and communicating the “public information” that constitutes the Bank’s official public position on its monetary policy; and acting as a site for organizational learning. The chapter concludes with five theoretical claims regarding the way in which the genre set, mediated by technology, operates within the Bank, suggesting that these theoretical claims might serve as a heuristic for other researchers.

Smart, Graham. WAC Clearinghouse (2002). Articles>Business Communication>Rhetoric

Certification of Usability/User Centered Design Professionals: Proposed Competencies 

The proposed competencies for a Usability Professional have been derived from ISO 13407, ISO TR 18529 and the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).

Bevan, Nigel. Usability Certification Working Group (2002). Careers>Certification>Usability

The Challenges of Managing Print Operations 

As organizations seek to outsource non-core functions and reduce costs through improved efficiency, in-house print operations face a number of challenges. They must meet customer need for high throughput and consistent quality; deliver the same degree of variety, personalization, and flexibility available in the commercial print market; maintain visibility over print operations; more efficiently allocate resources; and maintain high service levels. Health Care Services Corporation turned to Infoprint Workflow for a solution.

On Demand Journal (2004). Articles>Publishing>Prepress>Case Studies

Change Management For Content Management Projects 

A content management initiative is a lot about change--changing the way people think and work. Ensure that you have a change management plan in place. If you have change management personnel in-house, get them involved in your project as soon as you make the decision to adopt a content management initiative. If you don't have change management personnel, consider hiring consultants who specialize in change management.

Rockley, Ann. STC Hoosier (2004). Articles>Content Management>Project Management

Changing Link Formatting   

The 'blue underline' has nothing to do with a link (or vice versa). Coloring links blue and underlining them has been some kind of convention in Web environments, but that has not even been standardized. Actually, if you have a useful browser, you can change default settings that your links will be displayed green and italicized.

Wyss, Max. PDFzone (2003). Design>Publishing>Software>Adobe Acrobat

Checklist for Effective E-Mail 

Use this checklist to ensure that your e-mail reflects a high level of professionalism and increases your credibility within your company.

ULiveandLearn.com (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence>Email

Checklist for Publishing Customer-Facing Documents   

An example checklist for the process of developing documents.

InfoTechWriter. Resources>Publishing>User Centered Design

Choose Your Employer Wisely  

For years, would-be employees have undergone scrutiny by employers during the interview process. In addition to our resume, we have to provide personal and professional references. We have to pass drug tests and personality tests. We have to prove our education and in many cases, whether or not we actually served in the military. It's all for a good cause of course, but rarely is the topic of employer suitability mentioned in the Job Hunting context. These last few years have been unprecedented in regards to company ethics and business practices. One doesn't have to look far to hear a sad tale of over-promised benefits, stock, and promotions from companies who are now nothing more than memories. The ongoing telecom scandals have even further rocked our beliefs in the stability and ethics of Corporate America. With all the recent layoffs and 'restructuring' now is a great chance for employees to take time out to evaluate their next employer. employee happiness is possibly the most important area of a person's overall professional satisfaction. Thus, it is not to be taken lightly. Nothing else matters if you go to work for the wrong company - not even if you've been out of work for a year and you simply need the money. Sooner or later, you'll be back in the same jam.

Souther, Christopher. GaryConroy.com (2002). Careers>Interviewing>TC

Choosing the Best Graphics Sources   

A guide to using different types of graphic file formats.

Dawson, Colin. Info Action (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Standards

Classroom Discourse and Writing Across the Curriculum   

A table that displays aspects of developing knowledge that is personally and professionally useful.

Young, Art. Wordsworth (2001). Presentations>Education>Writing Across the Curriculum

Cleaning up the Mesh! 

It's the subtle transitions in color that give the illusion of three dimensions in two-dimensional artwork. Gradients are used to simulate light hitting a curved or angular surface. The gradual blending from one color to another is the key. Linear and radial gradients can be used effectively to show flat and rounded shapes, but Illustrator's gradient meshes are best for creating complex shapes.

Bauer, Peter. Illustrator World (2005). Design>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration>Adobe Illustrator

Client Questionnaire   

Following are questions and issues that should be covered during early meetings with a client, including general project questions, questions specific to documentation, and questions regarding scheduling, reviews and administrative issues. Thanks to TECHWR-Ler Judy Fraser for providing this awesome summary.

Fraser, Judy. TECHWR-L. Resources>Workplace>Workflow

Coach Your Staff to Better Performance 

Use coaching techniques to help employees reach more ambitious goals, faster and easier, or overcome performance problems. The coaching model is both an attitude and a way of communicating. Use coaching techniques to inspire and motivate people to accomplish more, with less stress and greater satisfaction. A coaching relationship supports the self-worth of each individual and provides a range of benefits to an organization. Coaching empowers others to seek and deliver their best.

Agnew, Beth. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Management>TC

Color Management and Windows: An Introduction 

An overview of Microsoft image color management technology.

Microsoft. Design>Document Design>Prepress>Color

The Columbia Guide to Online Style 

A guide to locating, translating, and using the elements of citation for both a humanities style (i.e., MLA and Chicago) and a scientific style (APA and CBE) for electronically-accessed sources. Part I is divided into two chapters. Chapter I examines, in broad and theoretical terms, the logic of citation; it answers the questions, 'Why cite?' and 'Why use a citation style?' Chapter 2 answers the question, 'How should we cite online material?' It first provides a guide to citation for authors working with humanities-oriented texts and then discusses an author-date citation system typically used in the sciences. Part 2 includes four chapters. Chapter 3 discusses the logic–the why–of document style. Chapters 4 and 5 describe standards for how to produce print and online documents. Chapter 6 discusses some more advanced considerations related to online style (3-4).

Walker, Janice R. and Todd Taylor. Columbia University (1998). Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Combining Multiple PDF Files 

In Acrobat 4, you open one PDF file. Then in the 'document' menu, choose 'insert file.' You’ll have to do this four times to bring your five documents together.

Harris, Steve. PDFzone (2004). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe Acrobat

Common Proofreading Symbols 

A list of symbols, their meaning, and an example of usage.

Capital Community College. Reference>Editing

Communicating with Upper Management 

What is your greatest challenge in communicating with your upper management?

Murr, De. STC Proceedings (2007). Presentations>Collaboration>Management

Communication as Participation   

A discussion of the relationship between visual language and participation is important in light of globalization and the homogenization of the visual landscape, forces that breed marginalization and diminish invention.

Bowers, John. University of Alberta (2000). Design>Graphic Design>Community Building>Visual Rhetoric

The Communication Quality of Kuriiri Project   

The aim of this research is to investigate the communication quality of employees working in Keski-Suomen Yhteisöjen Tuki (KYT), the Supporting Association for Third Sector Organisations in Central Finland, which were involved in the national project Kuriiri and in the transnational project 4Work. Specifically it will be considered communication quality as indicator of functionality and efficiency of such group. The reasons of this investigation are related to the future developments of this project and its need for a better communication and functionality. Essential basis for this analysis comes from my questionnaire which were sent in summer 2004 to those people who were in 2002-2004 collaborating at the 4Work Transnational Partnership.

Valentini, Chiara. Chiara Valentini Communication Management (2005). Articles>Communication>Assessment>Scandinavia

Communication Studies Center 

ACA's Communication Studies Center is an annotated collection of communication-related hyperlinks organized by subfields within the commmunication discipline. Its goal is to provide a centralized index of web resources on Communication research and practice.

American Communication Association. Resources>Directories>Communication

Communication Videotape Strengthens ISO 9001 Employee Awareness   

Employee awareness training communication for a new company Quality System is enhanced through an internally produced videotape in interview format showing real people doing real jobs. The videotape introduces guiding principles, shows both company executives and employee co-workers, and places responsibility for successful operation of the Quality System on employees. Audits are pictured to reinforce the requirement for timely and accurate records. The videotape may be used in groups or individually in any location. Success of the communication program is in the continuous improvement of quality, and the auditor’s recommendation for ISO 9001 registration.

Keller, Leland C. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Multimedia>Education>ISO 9001

Company E-mail and Internet Policies 

More and more companies are monitoring e-mail and Internet use by employees. How do they do it, why do they do it, and is it really legal? This article explores the privacy, harassment and criminal concerns raised by employees' use of the Internet and e-mail.  Plus, two forms: E-mail/Internet Usage Policy and Software Policy.

Weil, Barbara Gall. GigaLaw.com (2000). Careers>Workplace>Privacy>Email

Comparing Indexing Approaches: Diversity in Style and Content 

Indexers, like other freelancers, often work alone. Although they have unlimited access to indexes prepared by others via the bookstore or public library, they rarely have the opportunity to meet with other indexers to talk about indexing, indexing techniques, or a project they may be struggling with. This can be frustrating for both beginning and advanced indexers, especially those who receive little feedback from clients about the quality of their work.

Rowland, Marilyn. Editorial Freelancers Association (1995). Careers>Freelance>Indexing

An Competencies and Skills for Instructional Designers 

An outline of various needs assessment/analysis plans and instruments for instructional designers.

University of South Florida (1995). Articles>Education>Instructional Design

The Complexity of Online Groups: A Case Study of Asynchronous Collaboration   

Work preparing documents is increasingly being done by diverse, geographically separated project teams. This essay describes some of the characteristics of such collaboration and applies them to a case study involving a team composing a mission statement. The group succeeded in their task, even though shortcomings inherent in asynchronous, distributed collaboration did lead to some problems.

Chandler, Hope E. Journal of Computer Documentation (2001). Articles>Collaboration>Telecommuting

Composing New Media in the Humanities: A Disciplinary Study of Design Heuristics 

Because computers and writing as well as other related areas, like professional writing and increasingly even first-year composition are interested in new ways of composing, more and more heuristics are being brought in from other fields.

Agena, Kate. Purdue University (2003). Articles>Writing>Computers and Writing

Compound Paths for Text Holes   

You can use InDesign's compound paths and transparency features to create a recessed text compartment in an image.

Cole, Tim. Adobe Evangelists (2006). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

Computer to Plate Basics Explained 

In Europe and the US, Computer to Plate (CtP) seems to be a fast growing market. In some areas of the print market the majority of printers have already made the transition from traditional plate techniques to CtP. The reason why is easy to see: CtP gives almost instant colour register on the press, and there is no need to worry about stopping the press for removal of dust marks and scratches that sometimes would plague traditional film.

IT Enquirer (2009). Design>Project Management>Prepress>Printing

Computerjobs: Technical Writing 

Offers a large database of jobs for IT professionals, including technical writing positions. Allows job seekers to post their resumes and bookmark jobs. Allows employers to post new jobs and search resumes.

ComputerJobs.com. Careers>Job Listings>Writing>Technical Writing

Computing Is About People, Not Machines 

An IBM Ease of Use poster with the message Computing is about People, Not Machines.

IBM (1999). Design>Presentations>Posters>Usability

Comunicazione Verbale e Scritta: Technical Writing 

La produzione di testi in un settore tecnico o scientifico ben determinato richiede il rispetto delle regole e delle abitudini proprie di quel settore. Indicativamente si possono tuttavia suggerire le seguenti fasi.

Universite di Torino. Resources>Writing>Regional>Italy

A Concise Guide to Technical Communication Online: Instructor Resources 

Instructor's resources for A Concise Guide to Technical Communication, by Laura J. Gurak and John M. Lannon. Among your choices are links to Web sites focusing on a range of topics related to writing and technical communication, including audience analysis, ethical issues in technical communication, layout and document design, web-site development, and research. Each chapter's resources also includes teaching tips and notes you can use to supplement your teaching materials.

Gurak, Laura J. and John M. Lannon. Pearson Education (1998). Academic>Course Materials>Undergraduate

Concrete Methods that Promote Active Learning in Software Manuals   

To learn software, passive users prefer to have concepts and procedures clearly spelled out for them, while active learners prefer experimenting with the program. When designing a manual, writers should keep both types of users in mind. Writers at WordPerfect are currently experimenting with minimalist design models that encourage active learning. One such model is an “On Your Own” section which guides users through creating a document. Another model is a visually oriented “Applications” section which provides tips on how to create a document.

Bringhurst, Robert G. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Writing>Documentation

Conducting a (User-Centered) Expert Review 

How do you review a product for usability, but make that review user-centered?

Quesenbery, Whitney and Caroline Jarrett. STC Proceedings (2007). Presentations>Usability>Testing>User Centered Design

Connecting Surveys to the Bottom Line 

Most communication surveys pose questions about how well messages have been understood and how effective different communication channels are. What surveys usually lack are questions that link the communications you manage to the effect they have on employee behaviors, which result in improvements in the bottom line. Here are two examples of communicators who used surveys to analyze behavior and build a business case for their budgets.

Sinickas, Angela D. Sinickas Communications (2002). Articles>Business Communication>Assessment>Surveys

Conseils de Rédaction pour les Rapports Techniques 

Ce document est une compilation de remarques et de conseils divers applicables à la rédaction de rapports, mémoires, thèses... et plus généralement de tout document technique. Il ne s'agit pas d'un traité exhaustif de la question, mais plutôt d'un corpus minimal de règles qu'il est indispensable de respecter.

Torzynski, Marc. Université Louis Pasteur Strasbourg (1997). (French) Articles>Writing>Technical Writing

Considering Open Source Content Management Systems 

Open source software content management systems (CMS) offer affordability, flexibility, and in many cases outstanding performance.

Still, Brian. IEEE PCS (2005). Articles>Content Management>Open Source

Review: Content Management for Dynamic Web Delivery 

Content Management for Dynamic Web Delivery provides background and process for implementing content management in an organization. You don't have to spend a lot of time researching the topic on the Web, because all the necessary information you need, from introduction to the subject, to a blueprint to implement your solution is provided here.

Frick, Geri. TECHWR-L (2004). Articles>Reviews>Content Management

Content Management in Overheidsorganisaties 

Een content management systeem kan een prima middel zijn om informatie aan te bieden op een website of intranet. Het helpt namelijk bij het beheren van de inhoud, vormgeving en structuur van informatie. Advies Overheid.nl biedt ten behoeve van Nederlandse overheden hulpmiddelen aan om een geschikt content management systeem te selecteren. U vindt hier een onderzoeksverslag, een overzicht van systemen, een stappenplan en een aantal tools.

Advies Overheid.nl. (Dutch) Resources>Content Management>TC

Content Management Problems and Open Source Solutions 

With hundreds of applications to choose from, content management is one of the most active sectors of open source software. While these options present a great opportunity to leverage open source software, I.T. decision makers often find themselves disoriented by the number of choices, the lack of information, and the ineffectualness of their traditional software selection processes. This Optaros white paper 'Content Management Problems and Open Source Solutions' discusses strategies for understanding and selecting an open source content management system and describes fifteen of the more prominent options in the context of the business problems they are effective in solving.

Gottlieb, Seth. Hiveminds (2006). Articles>Content Management>Case Studies

Content Management Systems 

In this White Paper, we examine the benefits of automated content management, and demonstrate where efficiencies can be gained within your organization. Web sites with more than a few information pages may benefit from content management systems (CMS). Content management systems are automated tools that allow for web site content to be created and administered on a recurring basis. The result puts the responsibility for content development into the hands of the authors (where it belongs) and out of the hands of the programmers.

Sloan, Brian and Scott Duffy. XGuru (2002). Articles>Content Management>Web Design

Content Management Tools 

Dit overzicht wil een neutraal overzicht geven van content management systemen. Er zijn geen commerciële belangen aan verbonden. De betreffende leveranciers dragen zelf zorg voor het actueel houden van hun productspecificaties. Hartman Communicatie BV is een onafhankelijk adviesbureau en heeft geen relaties met cms-leveranciers en/of implementatiepartijen

Hartman Communicatie (2002). Resources>Content Management>Software

Content Repurposing with FrameMaker+SGML and XML   

We see content repurposing as taking marked-up content and automatically transforming it for presentation in multiple applications. For example, one of our clients asked us to help them convert existing Word documentation into structured FrameMaker+SGML files, and then export it to a well-formed and valid XML instance. The structured FrameMaker+SGML documents would be used to create user manuals (both print and PDF), and the XML instance would be used for online documentation on PDAs or cell phones. Portions of the content would be applicable for only the printed documents, while other potions of the content would be used only for online display.

Idea Store, The (2001). Design>Content Management>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Context-Sensitive Disaster: Designing the Difference Between Help and Print 

My first epiphany about online help struck while I was browsing through the latest release of a popular Windows program. After exploring for a few minutes, I stumbled across an interesting option that hadn't appeared in the previous version (let's call this 'option X'), and my curiosity was piqued. With the confidence of every naive Windows user, I hit the F1 key, certain that enlightenment was only a few words away. My optimism dwindled when I read the corresponding instructions in the online help.

MacDonald, Matthew P. TECHWR-L. Design>Documentation

Contexts and Criteria for Evaluating Student Writing 

Of all responsibilities you have as a composition instructor, evaluating student writing occupies most of your time and has furthest reaching material effects. Though you may spend lots of hours preparing for class, conferencing with your students, and actually teaching, chances are you'll spend many more grading. Though we instructors often place the highest value on the content and methods of our classrooms--be they critical pedagogy and Marxist interpretations of Clinton's impeachment trials or traditional grammar drills and a New Critical reading of Paradise Lost, the grades that we assign our students are the only concrete, as well as the most valuable, cultural capital that our teaching creates.

Hindman, Jane. Lore (2001). Articles>Education>Writing>Rhetoric

Controlled Vocabularies: A Glosso-Thesaurus 

'There is a singular lack of vocabulary control in the field of controlled vocabularies,' Bella Hass Weinberg, professor of library science at St. John's University in New York, is fond of saying. To help you cut through the maze of verbiage often found in this field, we have created a glossary of terms.

Fast, Karl, Fred Leise and Mike Steckel. Boxes and Arrows (2003). Articles>Information Design>Metadata>Controlled Vocabulary

Controlling Line Breaks with the Hyphenation Penalty Slider 

Adobe InDesign 2.0 introduced a new feature that you can use to fine tune the way lines break in any given paragraph. You'll find the hyphenation penalty slider in InDesign's hyphenation dialog box. This document is meant to serve as an introduction to this feature so that you'll understand exactly how it works and how you can use it to control the way your lines break within paragraphs.

Cole, Tim. Creative Pro (2003). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

Converting FrameMaker to HTML   

Many FrameMaker users need to publish their documents on the World Wide Web. The best approach is to use a converter, which preserves the format and organization of the original FrameMaker document. Good converters can handle long, complex documents that contain elements such as table of contents, index, line drawings, bitmap graphics, tables, footnotes, and equations. We discuss the benefits of having a single source document for paper and Web, the techniques for creating documents that can be converted easily, and the powerful conversion tools available today.

Jackson, Ken and Sonya E. Keene. STC Proceedings (1998). Presentations>Web Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Converting HTML to PDF 

In December 1999, I asked: 'Is there any tool that currently exists to convert a bunch of html pages to pdf?' Thanks to all for the replies I received. There are two main solutions. (1) Print directly from the browser, and choose either Distiller or PDFWriter as the printer to turn the file into a pdf. For those of you who warned me that I might have to edit out the footer and header (typically the address of the page, the time etc), these can be edited out, in IE 5 at least, by selecting Page Setup from the File menu, and editing the Headers and Footers section. (2) Use Acrobat's web capture feature (accessed for example, by selecting Open Web Page from the File menu). There is one major caution with this approach: it does not open local web pages using the formats 'file:///' or 'c:\' It turns out that the syntax is the all important thing; I've used '|' (pipe) where ':' (colon) would normally be used after the C drive reference.

McCarthy, Christopher. TECHWR-L. Design>Web Design>HTML>Adobe Acrobat

Copy Editor Job Board 

Jobs for Copy Editors is a free service provided to the publishing community. If you have an opening and would like to advertise it here, just complete the job form. Ads are only accepted for positions containing the words copy editor or proofreader and from organizations that identify themselves. To view current job openings visit our job board.

Copy Editor. Careers>Editing

Copy Editors and Technical Editors: We are Family     

The authors of this paper have the unusual background of having worked in both the newspaper (copy editors) and business (technical editors) fields, which are not as diverse as people might think.

Huth, Elizabeth Ann and Kevin J. Schmidt. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Editing>Technical Editing

Core Principles of Information Architecture 

Technical editing is like information architecture. As technical editors, we complete development edits and usability edits to ensure organization, labeling, navigation and search meet the users' needs. As information architects, we are involved with "the design of organization, labeling, navigation, and searching systems to help people find and manage information more successfully."

Corbin Nichols, Michelle. STC Proceedings (2007). Presentations>Information Design>Technical Editing

Corporate Communication Boring? Jazz It Up With Case Studies! 

Employer handbooks, product specifications, employer policies, administrative procedures, data base usage: are your eyes glazed over yet? Let’s face it. Few of us enjoy reading these bits of corporate communication and we all pity the poor souls who have to write them. What if you are one of those poor souls? Companies do have a responsibility to communicate effectively with their employees, managers, and customers. Readers need to get the message, because missing it can lead to falling profits, lower morale, or worse. So what do you do? One way to spice up corporate communication is by using case studies. While helping the reader understand and comply with company policy, practice, and product use, you get to have some fun, too.

McMorrow, Virginia G. TECHWR-L (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Case Studies

The Corporate Web 

This document discusses the significant opportunities available for business to use websites to interact directly with their various audiences. Web services technology has enabled the Corporate Web to evolve from static 'brochureware' into a 'behavior-shaping' communications and relationship-building tool.

Colebeck, Andrew. XGuru (2002). Articles>Web Design>Intranets

The Cost of Poor Writing 

Research on the state of corporate writing and its impact on organisational health has revealed that the quality of writing is in bad shape, and that this matters a lot.

Clear Writing Services. Articles>Writing>Quality

The Cost of Reading 

On average two thirds of employees spend approximately 80% of their time writing emails and other documents at work.

Clear Writing Services. Articles>Writing>Quality

CPTSC Job Postings 

The following positions are open for application. If you have a position that you would like posted to the CPTSC web pages, please contact Bill Williamson at wj.williamson@uni.edu.

CPTSC. Careers>Job Listings>Academic

Create a Twisting, Twirling 3D Title 

Now that Adobe® Premiere® 6.0 includes many Adobe After Effects® special effects, you can expand your creativity exponentially. In this tip, we'll show you how to apply the After Effects Basic 3D effect to a Premiere title and make it twist and twirl into view using keyframes.

Adobe (2003). Design>Multimedia>Video>Adobe After Effects

Create a Voice Presentation With Impress and Audacity 

Building a basic presentation that records and uses voice may be an important tool for communicating information. This project is based on employing two programs, Impress, which is the presentation program with OpenOffice, and Audacity, an easy to use sound editor, for building a voice presentation.

SpiderTools (2004). Articles>Presentations>Software>OpenOffice

Create XML Structure in an InCopy Document 

Use XML in Adobe® InCopy 2.0, to apply tags to parts of a document, and then export the document as an XML file.

Adobe (2003). Articles>Content Management>Software>XML

Creating a Backlit Sign 

This video will show you how to make an eyecatching backlit display.

Hewlett-Packard. Presentations>Document Design>Streaming>Video

Creating a Video From Still Images 

In the following steps, Engine Three explains how to capture and export frames from Premiere, clean them up in Photoshop, and finally assemble them in LiveMotion.

Adobe (2003). Design>Multimedia>Video>Flash

Creating a Winning Portfolio: Tips for Technical Communicators   

A competitive market demands job seekers do more than just send out resumes. Portfolios showcasing your work can help sell you to potential employers before, during and after interviews. How many people here have a paper portfolio? How many have an online portfolio?

Janczy, Amy. STC Four Lakes (2003). Careers>Portfolios>TC

Creating an Instructor Kit 

After you've tested the in-class exercises, polished the presentation materials, printed the handouts and workbooks, and created the data files for class, are you ready to hand over the course to an instructor? Not yet. You have one more thing to do before calling your course finished: Create the instructor kit. An instructor kit often differentiates a good course from an exceptional course. It is more than a pretty package or a finishing touch. It is an integral part of any training course that you must hand off to an instructor. The instructor kit's ultimate goal is to increase the quality of the students' experience, by helping the instructor to assimilate, set up, and deliver your course.

Rice, William H. IV. WilliamRice.com (2000). Academic>Course Materials

Creating Appropriate Graphics for Business Situations   

Charts and graphs are ubiquitous in business documents, and most students in my business communication courses are well aware that they need to be able to create many different types of data representation. Most of them have had a great deal of experience working with spreadsheet applications, and they know how to manipulate data and present it in the various forms permitted by their software.

Katz, Susan M. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Graphic Design>Visual Rhetoric>Charts and Graphs

Creating Coloured Hyperlinks in an Index in a PDF File 

This article explains how to create coloured hyperlinks in an index in a PDF file, using Microsoft Word as the source document for the PDF file. Many authors create PDF files using Word as the source document. Most Word-to-PDF converters create a hyperlink in the PDF file if a hyperlink exists in the Word document. Unfortunately, Word does not create hyperlinked cross-references in an index, so no PDF creation tool can directly generate a hyperlinked index. The Sonar Bookends Activate plug-in for Acrobat creates hyperlinks for page numbers in indexes in PDF files. The plug-in does not change the colour of new hyperlinks, and it does not create visible rectangles for the hyperlinks. This article explains how to colour the hyperlinks in the Word source document using macro.

Unwalla, Mike. TechScribe (2006). Articles>Indexing>User Interface>Adobe Acrobat

Creating ERP Documentation for End Users   

How do you create ERP documentation for your end users? One key is to map the five phases of the ERP documentation creation process to the phases of an ERP system implementation. Phase 1 is primarily for analysis, phase 2 is for the design process, and phase 3 consists of the actual building of the documentation. During phase 4, you should finalize all building and testing of the system. During phase 5, you should research end user trouble spots and continually improve the documentation in those areas.

Canobbio, Donna K., Jennifer A. Durbin and Lori K. Spahr. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Documentation

Creating Forms From Scratch   

Starting with a scan is honestly not the very best. The new forms designer from Amgraf is a power tool and gives you many good features. If you have to edit the base scan, your best bet is indeed to recreate it. You might try Adobe Illustrator, or Deneba's Canvas 8 helping you. Another possibility might be OmniForm by ScanSoft. You also might look at the new tool from Adobe's Capture suite, also known as Tea Party, which might help a bit as well.

PDFzone (2000). Design>Web Design>Software>Adobe Acrobat

Creating Online Training: Dos and Don'ts 

As a technical communicator, you may be asked to create online training for your organization. Your first attempt at online courseware development may seem a bit daunting, but take heart. Here are a few online training DOs and DON'Ts that can help you avoid some common development pitfalls.

Miller, Karen Massetti. STC Central Iowa (2002). Presentations>Education>Marketing>Organizational Communication

Creating Optimized Cross-Platform, Cross-Browser HTML Help Using Doc-To-Help 

Microsoft’s HTML Help presents a dilemma to Help authors who wish to deploy it on web sites: Should they use the ActiveX control to provide faster, more robust functionality, or should they use the Java applet to provide wider compatibility? This article shows how you can have the best of both worlds and create one HTML Help system that will be optimized for viewers regardless of whether their browser supports ActiveX or Java.

ComponentOne (2002). Articles>Documentation>Online>Help

Creating Tables in FrameMaker 

Tables make information easy to find and understand and are often used for illustrating comparisons among similar data. A table usually consists of a heading row and one or more body rows and may also contain a title.

McMurrey, David A., Jana Owens, Jacqueline J. Pulido and Thomas A. Moore. Illuminati Online (2004). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Creating User-Friendly Links 

Google returns well over 15 million search results to the technical question of how to code hyperlinks in HTML. However, a question on how link texts should be formulated, so that the reader can understand them clearly, fetches only a handful of usable tips. Even most style guides and authoring guidelines are reticent on this topic. In this article you will find tips on this rarely dealt with, though important subject for Technical Communicators.

Achtelig, Marc. indoition engineering (2005). Articles>Writing>Document Design>Hypertext

Creating Your First CBT (Computer Based Training) Program   

There are a series of questions that should be answered when you start the process of creating either a Computer Based Training program or a Web Based Training program. In this presentation I’ll go over the questions I asked while making my first CBT, the reason why I asked the question and then the answer I received to each question.

Wokosin, Linda. STC Proceedings (2002). Articles>Education>Online

Creating, Implementing, and Maintaining Corporate Style Guides in an Age of Technology   

This article details a step-by-step process for creating, implementing, and maintaining a corporate style guide to ensure consistency in organizational communication. Through literature research, analysis of sample style guides, and practitioner interviews, this article provides recommendations for gaining management support, building a process to develop a style guide, determining content, encouraging employee buy-in, and maintaining a corporate style guide.

Bright, Mark R. Technical Communication Online (2005). Articles>Editing>Style Guides>Collaboration

Creative Problem Solving: Getting the Best from Yourself 

You might think that as a technical writer, you don't have much room for creativity in your job. Not true. Although you may be writing about the intricacies of a network system rather than creating poetry about the summer sun, technical writers have as much room--and need--for creativity as any other kind of writer. Taking a creative approach to your work doesn't mean just thinking up fourteen synonyms for 'display.' It means using different ways of thinking and interacting to solve on-the-job problems, from personnel concerns to how to fit all those graphics on the same page.

Chroust Ehmann, Lain. TECHWR-L (2000). Articles>Writing

Critical Thinking in Design Part 3: Project Management 

Designs must be realized to change the world. How does project management intersect with the challenges of design? How can a manager enable great designs to reach the customer?

Berkun, Scott. UIWeb (2001). Design>Project Management

Critical Thinking, Community Service, and Participatory Research: Restructuring the American University for a Framework of Learning 

If a university follows the learning paradigm, critical thinking is not offered as 'a course' or a selection of courses in the core curriculum, but is incorporated into every college course. If this paradigm were to assume dominance at universities, as I believe it should, not only would the work of university faculty be significantly different, but this shift would also affect the responsibilities of university administrators and students, as well as local community members.

Sapp, David Alan. Inventio (2002). Articles>Education>Rhetoric

Cross Cultural Training Bibliography 

A bibliography of works from instructional design and educational theory for cross-cultural and multicultural students.

Weech, Bill. TCM.com (1998). Resources>Bibliographies>Instructional Design>Education

A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Visual Literacy Challenges for Technical Communicators   

Many emerging nations have pre-technological cultures. These nations are striving to develop a new technological literacy that is heavily dependent on visual literacy, or the ability to 'read' images. This paper discusses some challenges for technical communicators in presenting technical graphics to users who are not fully functional in learned Western conventions and skills of pictorial representation, pictorial literacy, and pictorial perception aspects such as conceptualization, perspective and depth, scale, and analysis of component details.

Ausburn, Floyd B. and Lynna J. Ausburn. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Communication>Visual Rhetoric

Crossing a Bridge of Shyness: Public Speaking for Communicators 

Americans in general are more afraid of speaking in front of others than they are of snakes, heights, or death itself. That's the finding of one widely cited survey and, asked to step outside the written word, many writers, editors, and publications managers certainly would say they share that fear. Communication expert Nusa Maal Gelb says there is 'a culture of fear' surrounding public speaking. It's almost as if we believe we're supposed to be afraid. Yet it's clear that effective interpersonal communication -- and that mostly means speaking -- correlates highly with personal and professional success.

Ullius, Diane. Editorial Eye, The (2003). Articles>Rhetoric>Presentations

Cultural Issues in Business Communication 

Practical tips and ideas for those who develop material, services or products for translation and/or export.

Sellin, Rob and Elaine Winters. bena.com (1996). Books>Writing>Business Communication>Localization

Custom Stamps in Acrobat 

While Acrobat comes pre-loaded with a selection of stamps, including 'Approved', 'Declined' and 'Accepted', users can also create custom stamps of such things as company logos for use on their PDF documents. Complex or graphically rich stamps can be created or prepared in imaging applications before being added to Acrobat's selection. This tip explains how to create a custom stamp using an existing file.

Shea, Dan. PlanetPDF (2007). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe Acrobat

Customizing Clipart 

Like many of you, I come from a training background. Like many of you, we’re experts in group facilitation, engaging our learners, and creating instructionally sound materials. Yet, many trainers are not graphic artists nor do we have a score of graphic artists helping us create our training presentations. As a result, our training presentations often may not adequately represent the professionalism and quality that we’ve built into our training.

Traut, Terence R. Presenters University (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Image Editing>Technical Illustration

Data Center Mailing List 

The digital technology today allows you to manipulate or construct content in different ways not possible before. The same technology allows content to be carried across different platforms.We are providind informations in six major sectors http://www.hunt99.com

George, Ginu. Technocrats (2004). Resources>Mailing Lists>Knowledge Management

Data Recovery Book 1.0 

This book introduces the construction of hard disk, the theory of data saving, construction of file system, the reasons of data lost and the examples of data recovery in detail. This book is easy to understand with a lot of graphs and pictures in it. With the help of it, the general user will never be upset of data lost. It also enable you to become a data recovery expert quickly.

Chengdu Yiwo (2006). Books>Documentation>Technology>Microsoft Windows

David C. Leonard Scholarship for Technical Communication   

The Society for Technical Communication is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication--it is the largest organization of its type in the world with over 25,000 members. The STC Atlanta chapter consists of 590+ members from the Atlanta metro area. Our members work in various industries, including software development, medical, insurance, engineering, telephony, and scientific research. Although we work in different technical areas, our common cause is making technical information accessible for those who need it. Whether we are writing user manuals, designing Web sites, developing online help, or editing a scientific article, we try to use the basic tools of communication--language, design, and technology--to help the audience use the information in the most advantageous way. The David C. Leonard Scholarship for Technical Communication was created to honor Dr. David C. Leonard, a long-time member of the STC Atlanta chapter. Dr. Leonard was instrumental in revitalizing the Atlanta chapter in the early 1980’s. He was chapter president in 1992-93. His innovative approach to technical communication kept him on the cutting-edge of technology. His belief that technical communication was an important field of study lead to a life of teaching and championing technical communication as a profession worthy to be pursued by students in colleges and universities.

STC Washington D.C.. Academic>Scholarships

A Day in the Life of a Technical Writer 

This TECHWR-L Magazine section features a selection of quotations from active technical writers about what a day at work looks like.

TECHWR-L. Articles>TC>Writing

Deadwood Phrases 

Lists common phrases that make wordy documents and makes suggestions for replacing them.

Author's Guide (2000). Reference>Style Guides

Definción y Uso de Clases en PHP 

PHP no es un lenguaje explícitamente orientado a objetos, si bien es cierto que está preparado para aprovechar una serie de aspectos de las clases que son interesantes y recomendables en el desarrollo de aplicaciones. En este artículo se verá cómo hacer uso de clases en PHP de una forma cómoda y sin lugar a errores.

Garcia, Joaquin Marti. 7bytes (2003). (Spanish) Design>Web Design>Server Side Includes>PHP

Defining a User-Centered Design Process   

User-centered design includes a focus on user characteristics and their environment, on user tasks, on measurable user goals, on prototyping alternative designs, and on testing, improving, and retesting the winning design. Insights are shared from UCD projects associated with the BookManager and VisualAge products.

Rauch, Thyra L., Candace Soderston and Greg W. Hill. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>User Centered Design>Methods

Defining Moment for the Eastern Iowa Chapter 

The Define-a-Thon is a new word game from the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary. The idea is that you can spell a word without knowing its meaning. So why not develop a competition where the contestant has to pick the right word after its definition has been given?

Crawley, Charles R. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC

Defining the Damn Thing 

Defining information architecture is a reccuring theme in all IA forums, and frequently leads to re-naming efforts as well, from information therapist to experience designer. This page is dedicated to that ongoing struggle.

Lombardi, Victor, Tal Herman, Eric Scheid, Sunir Shah, Christina Wodtke, John Paul Fullerton, Keith Tatum, Karyn Young and Rob Manso. IAwiki (2004). Articles>Information Design>Professionalism

Definitions of Technical Writing and Technical Writers 

Technical Communicators: People who create, locate, analyze, and distribute information. Whenever you prepare a document that will serve as a basis for action, you work as a technical communicator.

Georgia State University. Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Glossary

Déjà Vu?—Translation Memories and Localization Tools   

Translation memory systems and software localization tools are designed to increase translation productivity by automating the linguistic transfer from source to target text. Unlike machine translation systems (see chapter 10), they do not process a source text as a whole but work instead on segments. This chapter will explain the basic concepts behind these language technologies. We will show the operating procedures of two of the market-leading products, the translation memory system Translator’s Workbench by Trados, and the localization tool Catalyst by Corel.

Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Articles>Language>Localization>Software

Demystifying Software Globalization 

Representing a growing segment of the translation industry, software globalization (G11N) remains shrouded in mystery to many. What is Globalization? G11N ensures availability of a software product in languages besides the language of origin, traditionally US English. It is driven by huge revenue opportunities outside the Anglophone world for software companies and translators alike. This presentation will introduce both the basic concept of globalization and how it involves the translator, in particular. In this paper we will describe the process from early design and coding to release in the global marketplace.

McKethan, Kenneth A. (Sandy), Jr. and Graciela White. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Software

Description-Writing Exercises 

Linked to this page are 6 high-school-level exercises that teach (through worked and scaffolded examples) how to write good technical descriptions. Also included is a set of description-writing guidelines on which these exercises depend. The summary table below links to two versions of each exercise: * A plain version suitable for classroom use as is, and * An annotated version that: * spells out the goal of each exercise and the writing issues that it addresses, * compares the exercise with others in this set, * suggests effective, relevant teaching strategies, as well as extended activities, and * notes the specific 1998 California English-Language Arts content standard(s) that the exercise most strongly supports.

Girill, T.R. STC East Bay (1999). Academic>Course Materials>Writing

Design for an Aging Society   

Drawing from user observation methodologies, design thinking and synthesis we observed and filmed old people in their homes in UK, US, Denmark, India, Taiwan, Italy, Israel, South Africa and Columbia.

People and Product (2008). Design>User Centered Design>Accessibility>Elderly

Design Principles for Multi-Window Online Information Systems: Conclusions from Research, Applications, and Experience   

This article discusses how the use of multiple windows affects online information design by examining key concepts and presenting a set of design principles based on research and the authors' experience designing online information.

Corbin Nichols, Michelle and Robert R. Berry. Technical Communication Online (1996). Design>Information Design>Rhetoric>Visual Rhetoric

Designing a Style Guide 

For this project, you'll create a style guide for at least two markedly different technical publications. Your style guide will be used by technical writers on your documentation team to get these publications in conformance with each other, as well as other publication.

Rogers, Will. Illuminati Online (2002). Academic>Course Materials>Style Guides

Designing For Touch-Screen Kiosks 

As with other interactive media, touch-screen kiosks are designed for many different types of uses - from art piece installations to bus timetables and just about everything in between. But the practice of design for such kiosks demonstrates the importance of understanding hardware considerations and restraints before embarking on interface development. There are aspects to touch-screen technology that make their design fundamentally different to that of desktop applications. Most of these differences revolve around the nature of the input or controlling device. Touch screen kiosks are controlled directly by the user's finger whereas desktop applications are controlled remotely by devices like a mouse or keyboard. Users' fingers and hands vary in size and shape unlike a mouse cursor that stays more or less the same size from machine to machine. This is the primary consideration for design. For the purposes of this article we will concentrate on the touch-screen and the users' interaction with the content of the kiosk. Issues as to the design and usability of the kiosk's hardware or casing (such as height and location) will not be addressed. Before the designer can begin to think what the user might want in terms of content there are more basic concerns.

Coveney, Rory. Frontend Infocentre (2001). Design>User Interface

Designing FrameMaker Templates for Use with WebWorks Publisher Professional   

Plan your FrameMaker templates' look for both print and online.

Gallagher, Linda. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2003). Design>Document Design>Single Sourcing>Adobe FrameMaker

Designing Information That Meets Users' Needs 

Understanding users' needs is a systematic approach that draws on techniques used in software design and ethnographic-style research. These techniques include user personas, tasks analyses, and scenarios. Taken together they provide the basis of an information design that works for users.

Lasalle, Joan. Content Management Professionals (2007). Articles>Information Design>User Centered Design

Designing Manuals and Handbooks 

This course is designed to complete a trilogy of courses that explore challenges and issues relevant to information design. In this case, the course focuses on the design of instructional documents.

Williamson, William J. University of Northern Iowa (2003). Academic>Courses>Documentation

Designing Visual Aids for a Presentation   

In addition to preparing and reading documents, professionals spend much of their time communicating their ideas orally. These oral exchanges take many forms—from informal telephone conversations to speeches in front of large audiences. During their careers, most professionals are required to give formal presentations—often they must give presentations on a regular basis.

Burnett, Rebecca E. Thomson (2001). Academic>Course Materials>Presentations>Visual Rhetoric

Designorati: Strategy 

Designorati:Strategy covers the strategic as well as the tactical technology influences and decision-making found throughout the creative and production workflows, from content conception through to content distribution. Who is the customer? What is the message? How do they want to receive the message? What methodology will you use to deliver it? Was it successfully received? Did the customer act on it? Strategy will encompass infrastructure, workflow, services, production, mangement, new technologies, and some “how to.” Strategy will focus on industry trends that will impact the growth of your company and how you integrate with your strategic partners. Stories will include everything from strategic technology planning, to creative/production workflows, how “best in class” products affect disciplines of all size and manner, lean principles, performance improvement and much more. Who is the Strategy audience? Everyone that makes a technology decision or influences a technology decision will find something worthwhile here to consider. The technology, workflow, and services of the creative and production environments of content publishing affect all of you.

Indiano, Cate. Designorati (2005). Resources>Project Management

Develop Wireless Applications with XHTML Mobile Profile 

The focus of most mobile technology applications developers is to build new wireless technologies that conform to varying bandwidth and memory limitations. With XHTML Mobile Profile, you can build apps that adhere to hardware requirements for users on different devices and render on multiple handheld devices.

Saleeb, Hany. IBM (2006). Articles>