Argues that traditional methods of testing software products leave too little time for major modifications and that in-cycle usability testing is required. Reports a study of environmental factors that constrain such testing. Concludes that it is not yet routine because of budget and staff limitations, lack of performance standards, and untrained…

Discusses issues to consider in selecting a CD-ROM network solution, including throughput (speed of data delivery), security, access, servers, key features, training, jukebox support, documentation, and licenses. Reviews software products offered by Novell, Around Technology, Micro Design, Smart Storage, Microtest, Meridian, CD-Connection,…

Argues that the development of software documentation should be fully integrated with the overall development of new software products. Suggests that, when technical communicators become full members of the development team, they will not cease to communicate but will be able to add communications value to the product as well as to the…

Discussion of middleware focuses on the Internet 2 Middleware Initiative. Topics include a description of middleware as a layer of software in a distributed system; middleware characteristics, including transparency, portability, reliability, scalability, and interoperability; and the Internet 2 Middleware Initiative which is focused on research…

Provides an overview of developments in CD-ROM networking technology and describes products offered by Axis, Banyan (VINES--network operating environment), CD Connection, Celerity, Data/Ware, Document Imaging Systems Corporation (DISC), Imagery, Jodian, Meridian, Micro Design International, Microsoft, Microtest, Novell, OnLine Computer Systems,…

This paper looks at bugs and errors in the following commonly used statistical packages: SAS, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Biomedical Data Plan (BMDP), and Minitab. A section on using the Internet to keep up to date on these packages covers subscribing to statistical software lists, searching statistical software lists,…

Presents specifications for software that is designed to support manual development and maintenance of information retrieval thesauri. Evaluation of existing software and design of custom software is discussed, requirements for integration with larger systems and for the user interface are described, and relationships among terms are discussed.…

Discusses quality in end-user documentation for computer applications and explains four approaches to improving quality in end-user documents. Highlights include online help, usability testing, technical writing elements, statistical approaches, and concepts relating to software quality that are also applicable to user manuals. (LRW)

Outcomes of a project designed to develop the knowledge base necessary for creating an expert system that would help nonprofit organizations select fund-raising software are presented in this paper. When the system is completed, its components will ask the user for information that will assist in determining the organization's administrative needs…

This article describes a set of 11 menu-driven procedures written in BASICA for MS-DOS based microcomputers for constructing several types of rating scales, attitude scales, and checklists, and for scoring responses to the constructed instruments. The uses of the program are described in detail. (SLD)

Provides an overview of digital video and outlines hardware and software necessary for interactive training on the World Wide Web and for videoconferences via the Internet. Lists sites providing additional information on digital video, on CU-SeeMe software, and on MBONE (Multicast BackBONE), a technology that permits real-time transmission of…

Discusses how to choose the medium or media to communicate technical information, how to combine and integrate media, and what the user can use. (SR)

Notes that many companies want to reduce paper documentation necessary to support their products. Maintains that, if technical communicators are to avoid being downsized out of a job, they must build on their existing communication skills and move toward product design, helping to produce products so obvious that they need no manuals. (SR)

Reviews existing work on establishing value of technical documentation to determine its principles. States that value can be returned by reducing internal investment, increasing sales, and reducing after-sales costs. Argues that further research will improve the understanding of information as the product itself, rather than simply a supporting…

Describes digital video technology and new DVI multimedia products. Advantages of all-digital video are considered; industry standards for hardware, software, and video are discussed; data compression is explained; and software development is considered. Microcomputer standards, compressed digital video formats, and software applications supported…