Let's Tech Communicate

December 2015

In this issue – we explore what is happening in outer space, we look at live XML content and find out about learning videos for mobile devices. We also look at some technical communication predictions for 2016. This and a whole lot more from around the Net!

Out of this world

Imagine if you were working on a 40-year-old computer at your office. Your IT department wouldn't even know what to do with it. And what if that computer runs the little spaceship that could – Voyager, no less – and they've also lost the manual? David Goldman explains the unique challenge they're facing now that NASA’s last original Voyager engineer is retiring.

In this out of this world article Faster than agile – live xml documents, writer Jang F.M. Graat explores the new content era, and technology which optimises how technical communicators can create and maintain live, published content.

Insights

In Establishing a business-oriented documentation workflow, Christopher Ward guides us through a four-stage plan for aligning to an organisation’s business strategy, and using data to demonstrate the value we're adding.

Also, in Resources for Researching, Arroxane Eber provides some very useful tips on research techniques, including fact checking, histories, theories, and opposing viewpoints.

Latest trends

Video-based documentation of processes and instructions has been well established in the technical communication industry for many years. The next step is preparing videos as mobile documentation and implementing them as web apps. Walter Landgraf and Nicole Armbruster find out how the Bühler group uses video-based instructions to support its employees worldwide in Learning with mobile videos.

And lastly...

Let’s take a look at five predictions for technical communication in 2016 and beyond.

Watch here for more fun tips and tricks in the world of technical communication. Season’s greetings and happy new year from everyone at TechCommNZ.

Until next time!

Luke Pivac