Comments on: Wikis and the Holy Grail of Content Independence http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Technical writers, web writers, jobs, and employers | just write click http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-146614 Technical writers, web writers, jobs, and employers | just write click Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:16:02 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-146614 [...] I think we’re inventing it in the jobs we hold today. Tom Johnson is doing so in the posts he’s writing now, in 2009. Rahel Bailie started the STC Content Strategy special interest group this [...] [...] I think we’re inventing it in the jobs we hold today. Tom Johnson is doing so in the posts he’s writing now, in 2009. Rahel Bailie started the STC Content Strategy special interest group this [...]

]]> By: Jackson http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-146115 Jackson Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:26:04 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-146115 The discussion here reminds me of two fairly recent pieces: on Saul Carliner establishing the importance of a department and another in a recent Infocom on paying for the manual. Does Fitbit charge extra for one, or is there none at all? The discussion here reminds me of two fairly recent pieces: on Saul Carliner establishing the importance of a department and another in a recent Infocom on paying for the manual. Does Fitbit charge extra for one, or is there none at all?

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-146003 Tom Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:21:01 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-146003 Jeff, thanks for the comment. It always amazes me to see products without documentation. If they had coded their help link to point to an independent site, they could correct their oversight and add help content based on user needs. With web apps, that's usually not so hard. But with local apps that users download, it's not an easy fix. Jeff, thanks for the comment. It always amazes me to see products without documentation. If they had coded their help link to point to an independent site, they could correct their oversight and add help content based on user needs. With web apps, that’s usually not so hard. But with local apps that users download, it’s not an easy fix.

]]> By: Jeff http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145957 Jeff Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:38:13 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145957 I just read about a product that shipped without documentation - it's called Fitbit, and in multiple reviews the reviewers complained that they couldn't figure out how to use it and that there was no documentation. See http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/fitbit-review/ for example. Excerpt: "...shame that wasn't in the manual. That's because no manual comes with the thing, the implication being you just throw it on and go to town. Again that's not quite the reality, especially when it comes to sleep." I just read about a product that shipped without documentation – it’s called Fitbit, and in multiple reviews the reviewers complained that they couldn’t figure out how to use it and that there was no documentation.

See http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/fitbit-review/ for example.

Excerpt: “…shame that wasn’t in the manual. That’s because no manual comes with the thing, the implication being you just throw it on and go to town. Again that’s not quite the reality, especially when it comes to sleep.”

]]> By: Scott Nesbitt (scottnesbitt) 's status on Tuesday, 03-Nov-09 13:04:01 UTC - Identi.ca http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145843 Scott Nesbitt (scottnesbitt) 's status on Tuesday, 03-Nov-09 13:04:01 UTC - Identi.ca Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:04:07 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145843 [...] http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/ a few seconds ago from web [...] [...] http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/ a few seconds ago from web [...]

]]> By: Rengaraman http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145835 Rengaraman Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:35:01 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145835 Good post Tom. Documentation is the least cared area for any project managers I believe. I may be wrong. I am really curious to know what will happen if at least one time, some product gets shipped without any help content or documentation. What will be the customers' reaction..? :) Good post Tom. Documentation is the least cared area for any project managers I believe. I may be wrong.

I am really curious to know what will happen if at least one time, some product gets shipped without any help content or documentation. What will be the customers’ reaction..? :)

]]> By: Ellis Pratt http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145830 Ellis Pratt Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:13:32 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145830 Must engage brain before typing - Floss Manuals is wiki based. Must engage brain before typing – Floss Manuals is wiki based.

]]> By: Ellis Pratt http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145828 Ellis Pratt Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:10:29 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145828 Perhaps you're talking about publishing independence. If so, it's worth bearing in mind you could also use Floss Manuals to publish content or even Microsoft Office Live, if you wanted to publish maintainable printable manuals. Perhaps you’re talking about publishing independence. If so, it’s worth bearing in mind you could also use Floss Manuals to publish content or even Microsoft Office Live, if you wanted to publish maintainable printable manuals.

]]> By: Pancho http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/11/02/wikis-and-the-holy-grail-of-content-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-145807 Pancho Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:38:41 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=4956#comment-145807 Good post. Your comments apply to any documentation project. Good post. Your comments apply to any documentation project.

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