Let's Tech Communicate!
September 2014
Latest trends in technical communication from around the world
Luke Pivac talks about story boarding for technical communicators, Google’s improving translator feature, and six ways to boost your tech communication career. This and a whole lot more from around the Net!
Out of this world
Who knew artist and film-making techniques could be applied to technical communication? In this article Greg Larson explores Story boarding for technical communicators.
Also, this is an interesting article where Val Swisher talks about Google’s innovative Machine Translation: How Google Translate is Getting Better.
Lastly for this section, Liane Cassavoy from PC World looks at the 5 apps that make writing easier. Cassavoy finds out about Quip, an app for editing plain text. There is also Penultimate, an app for jotting down notes; plus other tools that help gather user feedback etc. There is a wealth of effective apps for the tech communicator!
Benefits of tech communication
Here's some sage advice for employers of technical communicators from Jacquie Samuels, who addresses when you should employ a contract writer.
And if you're thinking about hiring a tech communicator, Will Kelly finds 10 things you should know when working with technical communicators. In it he highlights the value that a good technical communicator can bring to your team. Kelly also provides some tips on how to best optimise their skills and insights for business.
The newbie tech communicator's toolbox
We have seen those amazing “How to” guides, so here is one for How to master technical writing.
If you are new to the scene, but still unsure of what to expect or if you made the right move, here is an article to assure you that you have. Check out the Advantages of being a technical writer.
Edward J. Joyce discovers that good documentation can often make good software great; all through good habits and paying attention to the right details. You can read it here: Top 10 things developers want to know.
Dan Goldstein finds some useful points about technical communication and graphic design in where does technical communication end and graphic design begin?
Dr. Markus Nickl highlights some very useful tips in Learning without an agenda. Nickl explores how technical communicators can benefit from an interactive environment. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn anywhere and anytime!
Leah Guren discusses six ways to improve your TC career: How technical communicators can give their career a quick, easy boost.
Methods
Technical communications blogger Tom Johnson explores the need for a good Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) reference guide in My DITA quick reference guide (QRG).
For more views on a hot topic, Doug Talbot asks what is Information Design?Talbot discovers the vast range of methods that Information Design provides for delivering information in today’s business environment, including writing and design skills, single source technology, and interface design skills.
Latest trends
In What is Minimalism? Mark Baker goes into the four basic principles of the minimalism method and delves into its effectiveness.
Bit of fun
Who knew that technical communication could have jokes and merchandising in one place! Technical Writer Jokes Gifts, T-Shirts, and more .
Look out for more fun, tips and tricks in the world of technical communication in next month’s edition.
Luke Pivac
TechCommNZ Committee member