Outlines the internal usability review, a systematic examination of documentation to identify basic usability issues and solve problems. Discusses typical user problems and explains the review steps that eliminate documentation problems before they become problems for the customer. (SR)

The belief in the unambiguity of specialist texts relies upon a conception of translation limited to purely linguistic levels and a central concept of "stable meanings." From the recognition that specialist texts are, to a great degree, linked to cultural and situational contexts, criteria important for the realization and evaluation of…

Examines the visual manual genre, discussing main forms and functions of step-by-step and guided tour manuals in detail. Examines whether a visual manual helps computer users realize tasks faster and more accurately than a non-visual manual. Finds no effects on accuracy, but speedier task execution by 35% for visual manuals. Concludes there is no…

Describes efforts to convert technical writing paper course material to an online advisory system, "Ganesh Helper." Assesses aspects of use of the new media, logging students' actions and observations while writing a report. Finds that a majority of students surveyed felt the helpviewer easy to use and useful, but most still preferred…

Discusses the adequacy of two modes of presenting information on a computer screen, the "alternating" (screen by screen) presentation and the "simultaneous" screen presentation (different information on one screen at the same time). Tests subjects performing writing tasks using one online document or two documents, using either…

Profiles two women from student engineering teams who participated in a study on collaboration and the role of gender. Shows that men and women alike displayed both gender-linked and non-gender-linked behavior, and that successful collaboration was influenced less by gender and more by such factors as a strong work ethic, team commitment, and…

Summarizes recent literature about the importance of paying attention to intercultural communication. Analyzes the productive approaches in popular business and technical communication textbooks. Presents five challenges for business and technical communication teachers to consider. Includes teaching modules that address these challenges. Notes…

Focuses on the development of a community computing network in an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood. Aims to help a community use information technologies to enhance more effectively the life of the community. Focuses on the necessity of designing community networks that both recognize the productive power and expertise of community residents as well…

Discusses the cultural elements in developing a technical manual. Shows, through a comparison of two mythical cultures, how the manual will differ when organized for those two cultures. Considers the influences of culture on developing technical documents, specifically manuals. Concludes that the attitudes of a culture are significant factors in…

Claims that two social values in science--falsifiability of scientific theories and cooperation among scientists--determine use of passives in scientific communication. Concludes that educators must help science students understand how the social values in science are embodied in scientific passives and help them gain insights into how scientists…

Reviews ancient theory and modern research regarding the effect of imagery on memory. Suggests present-day technical communicators use, where possible, a particular kind of image to illustrate proceduralized instructions. Provides examples and illustrations that create special images. (KEH)

Examines the writings of an engineer employed by a large manufacturing firm. Argues that the engineer's writing, although not the final product, is the essential means by which the product is created. Suggests that, because a report reflects final, agreed-upon knowledge about a product, the product and the document become one in the engineer's…

Calls for changes in the teaching of technical communication. Proposes including in instruction political discourse which analyzes the values of the military-industrial complex that technical writing now serves. Suggests that an apprenticeship model would be better suited to such instruction than the model now offered by the market. (SG)

Suggests that the rapidly increasing capability of computer-based writing systems will force communication researchers to (1) broaden their basic conception of studying "author" to include authoring teams; (2) broaden the type of material studied from that which is largely textual; and (3) track changes in "genre conventions."…

An approach to teaching legislative drafting uses limited traditional classroom instruction and intensive exposure to the process of legislative drafting through a classroom simulation in which students revise the Massachusetts criminal code. (MSE)