Technical communication: Difference between revisions
Geoffsauer (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Technical communication''' is the process of conveying |
'''Technical communication''' is the process of conveying usable information about a specific [[technology]] to an intended audience. Information is usable if the intended audience is able to perform an action or make a decision based on its contents (Johnson-Sheehan 7). Technical communicators often work collaboratively to create products ([[deliverable]]s) for various media, including paper, video, and the Internet. [[Deliverable]]s include user [[manual]]s, technical manuals, [[product specification]]s, process and procedure manuals, training, business papers, reports, etc. |
||
The [[technology]] can be of any kind, including the soft and hard [[science]]s, [[high technology]] including [[computer]]s and [[software]], [[consumer electronics]], and business processes and practices. |
The [[technology]] can be of any kind, including the soft and hard [[science]]s, [[high technology]] including [[computer]]s and [[software]], [[consumer electronics]], and business processes and practices. |
||
Technical communication jobs include the following: |
Technical communication jobs include the following: |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
*[[Technical writer]] |
*[[Technical writer]] |
||
*Technical [[editing|editor]] |
*Technical [[editing|editor]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
*[[Information architect]] |
*[[Information architect]] |
||
*[[Usability]] expert |
*[[Usability]] expert |
||
*[[User interface]] designer |
*[[User interface]] designer |
||
| ⚫ | |||
*Technical [[trainer (business)|trainer]] |
*Technical [[trainer (business)|trainer]] |
||
==Content creation== |
==Content creation== |
||
The process of developing information products in technical communication begins |
The process of developing information products in technical communication begins by ensuring that the nature of the audience and their need for information is clearly identified. From there the technical communicator researches and structures the content into a framework that can guide the detailed development. As the information product is created, the paramount goal is ensuring that the content can be clearly understood by the intended audience and provides the information that the audience needs in the most appropriate format. |
||
Largely, technical communications is still a function within |
Largely, technical communications is still a function within organizations, for which employees are hired full-time. However, many organisations are comfortable outsourcing their technical communication needs to specialist firms such as [[Kudos]], [[Cherryleaf]], [[Gnosis Vector]] (Bangalore, India) and [http://www.marcusgomez.com Marcus Gomez & Partners] (Malaysia). |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==Associations== |
==Associations== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
*[[Association of Teachers of Technical Writing]] [http://www.attw.org/] |
|||
*[[Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication]] [http://www.cptsc.org/] |
|||
*[[IEEE PCS]] [http://www.ieeepcs.org] |
*[[IEEE PCS]] [http://www.ieeepcs.org] |
||
*[[INTECOM]] [http://www.intecom.org] |
*[[INTECOM]] [http://www.intecom.org] |
||
*[[KnowGenesis]] [http://www.knowgenesis.org] |
*[[KnowGenesis]] [http://www.knowgenesis.org] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
*[[Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand]] [http://www.tcanz.org.nz] |
*[[Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand]] [http://www.tcanz.org.nz] |
||
Revision as of 17:03, 9 December 2006
Technical communication is the process of conveying usable information about a specific technology to an intended audience. Information is usable if the intended audience is able to perform an action or make a decision based on its contents (Johnson-Sheehan 7). Technical communicators often work collaboratively to create products (deliverables) for various media, including paper, video, and the Internet. Deliverables include user manuals, technical manuals, product specifications, process and procedure manuals, training, business papers, reports, etc.
The technology can be of any kind, including the soft and hard sciences, high technology including computers and software, consumer electronics, and business processes and practices.
Technical communication jobs include the following:
- Technical communicator
- Technical writer
- Technical editor
- Technical Illustrator
- Information architect
- Usability expert
- User interface designer
- Technical trainer
Content creation
The process of developing information products in technical communication begins by ensuring that the nature of the audience and their need for information is clearly identified. From there the technical communicator researches and structures the content into a framework that can guide the detailed development. As the information product is created, the paramount goal is ensuring that the content can be clearly understood by the intended audience and provides the information that the audience needs in the most appropriate format.
Largely, technical communications is still a function within organizations, for which employees are hired full-time. However, many organisations are comfortable outsourcing their technical communication needs to specialist firms such as Kudos, Cherryleaf, Gnosis Vector (Bangalore, India) and Marcus Gomez & Partners (Malaysia).
References
Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. Technical Communication Today. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006.
Associations
- Society for Technical Communication [1]
- Association of Teachers of Technical Writing [2]
- Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication [3]
- IEEE PCS [4]
- INTECOM [5]
- KnowGenesis [6]
External links
- IEEE Professional Communication Society
- KnowGenesis Online Library for Technical Communication
- KnowGenesis - International Journal for Technical Communication
- - Organisational Strategy and Techniques for Communication
- Gnosis Vector - Technical Communication Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy in Bangalore
- Marcus Gomez & Partners: Technical Writing Outsourcing in Malaysia, Singapore and ASEAN
- The Association of Teachers of Technical Writing
- Docsymmetry
- EServer Technical Communication (and Technical Writing) Library
- KeyContent.org
- TECHWR-L, The Internet Forum for Technical Communication
- Webster TechWriters Inc.
- Technocrats Middle East, Organisation for Technical Communication
- Technocrats Knowledge Base.
- ASM Writing Group
- What is technical communication? An FAQ by Thomas Albert
- Writing and Publishing Program: online technical communication courses (from Simon Fraser University)
- TechCommPros (online resource and email list for Professional Technical Communicators)
- Wordz- Technical Communication Consultancy & Contract Technical Writing Services in Bangalore
- A theory of presentation and its implications for the design of online technical documentation Looks at technical communication and the role of off- as well as online documents in a problem-solving context (service engineering department)