Listen here: Ann Rockley shares information about an upcoming report on component content management systems her group will be releasing this summer. She also says the Rockley Group is launching a blog to provide quicker information to users in a more interactive way. She talks about the growing presence companies have in the blogosphere, and why they chose WordPress as their blogging tool.
Listen here: Chris talks about his search for the right content management system. He talks about the importance of content reuse across an entire system and having a workflow for editing, reviews, and translation. He discusses AuthorIT as a possible CMS solution. He also gives tips for talking with CMS vendors without being suckered in.
Listen here: Caroline is one of the authors of User Interface Design and Evaluation, a beginning text for technical communicators moving into user interface design. Caroline says this book is a perfect start for users looking to add usability basics to their toolbox. Caroline also talks about forms, and how the best forms are ones you barely notice. Read more about Caroline's usability works at www.effortmark.co.uk and w...
{: .note} Unfortunately, I lost this audio file during a site migration. Whitney is one of the authors of Content and Complexity: Information Design in Technical Communication. Whitney explains the five E's — a simple way to talk about product usability. The five E's are efficient, effective, engaging, error-tolerant, and easy to learn. She elaborates on what it means for a product to be engaging/satisfying. Whitney also explains the imp...
Listen here: Harry, a technical editor at Microsoft interested in multimedia documentation, talks about why multimedia documentation is a growing trend and how writers can get started. He discusses Microsoft's Channel 9 and the human element with instructional screen demos. You can visit Harry's blog at www.blogs.msdn.com/harrymiller. Harry is also a podcaster.
Listen here: Stephanie talks about videoblogging as a tool for promoting yourself or for communicating with others. She explains the equipment she uses and the process for producing videoblogs. Her book, Videoblogging for Dummies, is available from her website: www.mortaine.com. Stephanie also discusses interesting ways lawyers can use videoblogging to educate their clients.
Listen here: Mike gives tips for writers who document APIs or write other information for developers. He says that because developers are busy and want to get started, you have to write less and provide more examples. Developers are more goal-oriented than task oriented. He also explains the different levels of API writing.
Listen here: John, an Adobe community expert for RoboHelp, shares his reaction to the RoboHelp 7 sneak peak, and also explains the main features RoboHelp 7 will have: drag-and-drop functionality across the topics, double-byte language support for translation, the ability to have multiple topics open at the same time, snippets with graphics, removal of kadov tags, automatic breadcrumbs, and tighter integration with other ...
Listen here: Debbie's presentation on modular writing and reusability was attended by about 200 people. In her presentation, Debbie explained how to chunk content by first looking at different content types: procedures, processes, facts, principles, and so forth. She also mentions a tool called Content Mapper that writers can use to chunk and reuse information through Microsoft Word. A trial version of the DITA version o...
Listen here: Joan, from Lasselle-Ramsay, gives tips for adopting content management, and explains one of the biggest mistakes people make: choosing the tool first and then trying to make it fit their organization's needs. Joan also talks about how to measure success with CMS projects, and how to determine whether your organization needs a CMS.
Listen here: Cindy explains how technical communicators can draw upon visual process flows called UML artifacts to create their documentation. These process flows, also called activity diagrams, visually represent the use cases for software. Based on uniform modeling language, these artifacts/diagrams can also be deliverables that technical communicators create to expand their role beyond mere writers.
Listen here: Adrienne talks about essential characteristics that recruiters must have to attract writers. Recruiters must have good ethics, energy, listening and communication skills.
Listen here: Teresa shares her reaction to the new definition of technical communication, and reflects on Saul Carliner's panel question, “What are we?” She talks about the problems associated with defining such a diverse group of communicators, and also gives tips for editing with tact.
Listen here: Deanne, host chapter president of the Twin Cities chapter, talks about the emerging trend of Web 2.0. She also comments on the need to change our image from writer to communicator. John, a consultant from Vermont, also explains how writers must go beyond just writing and instead branch into other areas, such as information architecture and usability. Both Deanne and John, former teachers of technical communi...
Listen here: Laurel talks about Web 2.0 and the evolving, changing Web. She explains how Web 2.0 technologies, particularly interactive social sites, can benefit the federal government by helping gather information from the public in interactive ways.
