Experiencing Technical Communication
Friday, July 23rd, 2004 by Keith InstoneYou have until August 12 to submit a proposal to STC’s 52nd Annual Conference (Seattle, May 8-11, 2005): see the call for proposals. The theme this year is very appropriate for UXnet fans: “Experiencing Technical Communication.” Part of STC’s vision is:
…an increasing focus on user experience as part of the design and development process. Communication is a critical element of this work, whether the focus is on technical documentation, Web sites, software interfaces, or wireless applications, to name just a few. As we look outwards, STC members have much to share with — and to learn from — those whose skills overlap with ours.
The stem for Usability and Information Design (UID) invites people to propose topics that intersect technical communication and information design, usability, accessibility, visual communication, information architecture and user-centered design.
The other stems might also build upon the user experience network theme by addressing topics such as:
- Management: How does managing a technical communication team/project differ from a user experience team/project? How are they similar?
- Professional development: What career options are there for technical communication professionals in other UX fields? What are the core technical communication skills that all UX professionals should have?
- Theory, research, education and training: What technical communication research methods can be applied to other UX fields? How do you adapt methods from other UX fields to technical communication?
- Tools and technology: What impact do technical communication tools have on the total user experience?
- Writing and editing: How do writing guidelines fit in with UX guidelines?
The focus on user experience may have made it into the official theme for STC 2005, but the topic is certainly not new to STC’s premier event. Usabillity at the STC annual conference lists UX-related sessions going back to 1998. For example, the list for 2004 includes sessions on brand experience, usability testing, information architecture, accessibility and visual design.
UXnet executive council members Beth Mazur and Whitney Quesenbery are both involved in STC 2005. Beth is the conference chair and Whitney is the UID stem manager.
