| Future
Meetings |
Wednesday,
August 20, 2008 |
| Archive |
| The Archive also links to the program handouts, when provided. |
Becoming
the Compelling Candidate
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 |
What
color is your book?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 |
The
Power of Personas:
A 360° Approach to Understanding Users
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 |
Radical IA: Pushing the Envelope to Move Beyond Tactics to Strategic Information Architecture
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
The
Pulse of Today's Job Market: 3 Inside Perspectives
Wednesday, February
20, 2008 |
An
Overview of Trends, Tools, and Technologies in Software
User Assistance
Wednesday, January
16, 2008 |
Automating
API Documentation
Wednesday, October 17,
2007 |
What
does Web 2.0 Mean for Technical Communication?
Wednesday, September 19,
2007 |
What
Technical Communicators Need to Know to Succeed in
the Real World
Wednesday, August 15,
2007 |
YouTube,
Lifecasting, and You: How video affects online communication
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 |
Structured
Wikis for Collaboration and Content Management
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 |
Introduction
to the Translation of Technical Documents
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
From World-Weary to World-Ready: Meeting Today's Content Globalization
Challenges
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 |
The
Future of Technical Communication: A San Francisco Perspective
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 |
Zero-Search-Time
Documentation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Wednesday,
July 20, 2005 |
How to Use a Portfolio to Ace a Job Interview
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 |
Network
Security: Issues, Technology, and Management by Mark
Kadrich
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 |
Writing
Content for the International Audience
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 |
From Tutorials to Programmer's
Guides
Wednesday, March 15, 2005 |
ISO
Auditing for Technical Communicators: An Introduction in Software User
Assistance
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 |
An
Overview of Trends, Tools, and Technologies in Software
User Assistance
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 |
Holiday Party.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004 |
Information Architecture for Technical Communicators
Wednesday, November 17 |
Fitting WebWorks Publisher Into a Publications Workflow
Wednesday, October, 20 |
Structured Authoring, XML and Single Sourcing: An Update
Wednesday, September, 15 |
Developing a Healthy Response to Stress
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 |
Your Writing Samples Portfolio: A Personal Sales Kit & Career History
Wednesday, July 21, 2004 |
Increase Your Job Satisfaction and Your Value to Your Company by Improving Your Project Management Skills
Wednesday, June 16, 2004 |
Stay Motivated and Thrive!
Wednesday, May 19, 2004 |
Non-Fatal Errors: Creating Usable, Effective Error Messages
April 17, 2004 |
White Papers In Your Future
Mar. 17, 2004 |
The Changing UI of Technical Communication
February 18, 2004 |
Re-purposing Technical Communications
Jan. 21, 2004 |
|
|
Wednesday,
August 20, 2008
TBD
|
 |
| Archive and Presentation Links |
Becoming
the Compelling Candidate
Wednesday, June 18,
2008
What can you do to give a company every incentive to hire
you? From knowing yourself, to knowing your audience, to
proactively convincing management that you are the best match,
here are the steps to meet the company's needs so it will
meet yours. Not only will you find better work, but you'll
get more respect – and better opportunities – faster.
We'll discuss resumes, cover letters, researching, interviewing,
portfolios, and negotiation as they relate to today's local
job market for technical communicators. Bring your toughest
questions and be prepared to participate fully.
As a former software industry Technical Writer and Publications
Manager, and for the past 13 years a recruiter of Bay Area
technical communicators, Andrew knows that we often fail
to capitalize on our full professional potential. He also
knows how we can reverse this tendency. If you're ready to
make your career more fulfilling, show up and share. This
one meeting will likely save you years of frustration.
About the presenter: Andrew Davis runs
Synergistech Communications, a local recruiting firm for
staff and contract technical communicators. Andrew is a former
writer of system administration and software developer documentation
for companies such as Oracle (documenting relational databases
on proprietary operating systems), IBM (UNIX hypertext authoring
tools), Informix (Windows database tools), Network Equipment
Technologies (PBXs and routers), and Verity (enterprise text
search tools). He is also a past president of the San Francisco
STC.
Andrew is well-connected in Silicon Valley's software and
telecommunication documentation communities, and focuses
on introducing small and mid-size companies to technical
communicators possessing hard-to-find technical expertise.
In addition to recruiting Technical Writers, Synergistech
has provided its clients with trainers, instructional designers,
medical writers, and user experience (UX) professionals on
both coasts.
Synergistech's web site, www.synergistech.com,
contains detailed, specific advice for aspiring as well as
established technical communication professionals, and includes
large sections on resumes, portfolios, interviewing, contracting,
compensation, and competing in today's job market. He's reachable
at andrew@synergistech.com or
1-866-591-2968. |
 |
What
color is your book?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Symantec has the Yellow Book. IBM has the Red Book. Other
large companies have other versions of this book type. What
is this, and how do you write one? This presentation uses a
real project as an example. You will learn to how plan, structure,
and then write one of these books.
About Gilbert Gonzalez: Gilbert is
an award-winning technical publications professional with over
19 years' experience planning, creating, editing, and updating
technical documents for end-users, system administrators, and
developers.
Gilbert is a Senior Information Developer at Symantec Corporation
and the president of the San Francisco STC.
|
 |
The
Power of Personas:
A 360° Approach to Understanding Users
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Technical communicators have an increasing number of tools
and approaches to choose from to deliver content to meet the
needs of diverse and targeted audiences. How do we know
we are meeting the needs of our audiences and delivering the
right content, at the right time, in the right format?
User personas are a methodology that can help ensure the information
model maps directly to the work and information use model of
each user audience.
About
Joan Lasselle: Joan is Founder and President of Lasselle-Ramsay,
Inc., a professional services company that develops business
information and learning solutions that drive superior user
experience, productivity, and change.
Lasselle-Ramsay focuses on four practice areas: content management,
technical documentation, training development, and on-the-job
information tools.
Since 1982, Lasselle-Ramsay has worked with major high-tech
and medical device manufacturers to develop technical documentation
solutions for commercial products. |
 |
Radical IA: Pushing the
Envelope to Move Beyond Tactics to Strategic Information Architecture
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Whether you are currently an information architect, or want to
be one, the tactical aspects of IA are just one dimension of the
role. Strategy is key, and in many corporate cultures it requires
a radical approach to garner acceptance for the strategic dimension
of the IA role.
Join Andrea Ames for a conversation about Radical
IA – what it is and how to achieve it, as well as how to
determine when it’s fruitless in your corporate culture.
Bring lots of questions and your own experiences to enable a lively
and interactive discussion!
About
Andrea Ames: Andrea
is a Senior Technical Staff Member and Information Experience Strategist
and Architect in the Information Management division of the IBM
Software Group.
Andrea has nearly 25 years of experience in technical
communication, specializing in information strategy, usability,
architecture, and design.
She is a Fellow and past President (2004-05) of STC, an ACM Distinguished
Engineer, and a senior member of IEEE. She designed, coordinates,
and teaches in the UCSC in Silicon Valley certificate program in
Technical Writing and Communication. |
 |
The
Pulse of Today's Job Market: 3 Inside Perspectives
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Are you worried about the economy's downturn? Have you ever
wondered what hiring managers and recruiters are really looking
for? Have you ever wanted a chance to ask questions about jobs
and job searches outside of a hiring process? Here's your chance
to kick your job searching skills up a notch.
Three industry leaders--Andrew Davis of Synergistech Communications,
Mira Wooten of Oak Hill Corporation, and Tim Bombosch of Lasselle-Ramsay
Information Development Services--will share their insider
perspectives with you. Susan Becker, past president of STC
SF, will serve as moderator.
Whether you are currently seeking a position, or just want
to prepare yourself for your next search, or are hiring for
a position, this panel provides an valuable opportunity to
reassess your job search skills. Following this presentation,
you will be able to conduct shorter, more effective job searches--a
valuable skill at any time and even more valuable in today's
climate.
To make sure we address the most common questions, we invite
you to send your questions in advance to Tim Bombosch at bombosch@gmail.com.
During most of the evening, however, panelists will field your
questions from the audience.
About Tim Bombosch: Tim Bombosch is a technical
communications consultant and Project Management Professional
for Lasselle-Ramsay Information Development Services. His projects
range from high tech and bio tech to consumer electronics and
manufacturing. Clients include Hewlett Packard, Genentech,
Boston Scientific, Iridex, Beckman Coulter, the US Mint, and
Plantronics.
Tim speaks and writes extensively about project management,
technical communications, and Web 2.0. He is a Senior Member
of the STC and serves currently the Secretary of the STC Management
SIG. He is the and Program Manager of STC SF as well as its
Immediate Past President. Tim has written and managed multiple
award-winning documentation projects at Lasselle-Ramsay, Mindjet,
Sygate Technologies, IBM, and Kaiser Permanente.
Before becoming a technical communicator and project manager,
Tim taught media studies at Stanford University, where he received
his PhD in German Studies.
About Andrew Davis: Andrew Davis runs Synergistech
Communications, a local recruiting firm for staff and contract
technical communicators. Andrew is a former writer of system
administration and software developer documentation for companies
such as Oracle (documenting relational databases on proprietary
operating systems), IBM (UNIX hypertext authoring tools), Informix
(Windows database tools), Network Equipment Technologies (PBXs
and routers), and Verity (enterprise text search tools).
Andrew is well-connected in Silicon Valley's software and
telecommunication documentation communities, and focuses on
introducing small and mid-size companies to technical communicators
possessing hard-to-find technical expertise. In addition to
recruiting Technical Writers, Synergistech has provided its
clients with trainers, instructional designers, medical writers,
and user experience (UX) professionals on both coasts.
Synergistech's web site, www.synergistech.com,
contains detailed, specific advice for aspiring as well as
established technical communication professionals, and includes
large sections on resumes, portfolios, interviewing, contracting,
compensation, and competing in today's job market. He's reachable
at andrew@synergistech.com or
1-866-591-2968.
About Mira Wooten: Mira Wooten is the Director
of Business Development at Oak Hill Corporation, a consulting
company that specializes in technical content development.
Mira is a gifted networker who is grounded in industry best
practices. Her well-honed communication and negotiation skills
help her determine client needs and balance those with the
requirements of contractors and the company Oak Hill, making
sure everyone wins.
She's a senior member of the STC and a certified Enterprise
Content Management Practitioner, with a BS degree in Business
from the University of Phoenix and a graduate certificate in
Telecommunications Management from Golden Gate University.
Mira writes and performs music to raise money for non-profits
in the Bay Area when she's not helping her clients achieve
their business goals. |
 |
An
Overview of Trends, Tools, and Technologies in Software User
Assistance
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The application of technical communication skills to the development
of software user assistance has grown immensely in the past
twenty years. This specialization is very fulfilling and challenging
and technical communicators are finding their role in the software
development process to be increasingly valued.
User assistance is much more than "Help." It encompasses
a wide range of skills and technologies that are combined to
improve the software user's experience.
-
We contribute through wizards, tutorials, and web-based
training.
-
We develop and populate knowledge bases and content
management systems.
-
Printed manuals and their PDF equivalents are still
an important element of our documentation sets.
-
Many of us are now embedding helpful content directly
into the user interface.
-
We are involved with usability testing, localization,
testing, quality assurance, and branding.
This presentation provides a cutting-edge overview of the
latest trends in software user assistance, defines the key
terminology, highlights the most important technologies, and
offers predictions on future directions of our field. The seventy-five
minute session should be of interest to technical communicators
of all backgrounds and experience levels.
About the presenter: Joe Welinske is the
president of WritersUA, formerly known as WinWriters. WritersUA is
a company devoted to providing training and information for
user assistance professionals.
The WritersUA/WinWriters Conference draws hundreds of attendees
each year from around the world to share the latest in user
assistance design and implementation. The free content on the
WritersUA web site attracts over 20,000 visitors each month.
The WritersUA
Annual Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, March
16-19, 2008.
Joe has been involved with software documentation development
since 1984. Together with Scott Boggan and David Farkas, Joe
authored two editions of the popular and pioneering book Developing
Online Help for Windows. He has also taught online Help
courses at the University of Washington, UC Santa Cruz, and
Bellevue Community College.
Joe received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University
of Illinois in 1981, and a M.S. in Adult Instructional Management
from Loyola University in 1987. Joe is currently serving his
second term as President of the STC Puget Sound Chapter. |
 |
|
Automating
API Documentation
Wednesday,
October 17, 2007
API Documentation is a fast-growing and highly-paid specialty
in Technical Writing. As Monique Semp explains, you can write
an API Reference in FrameMaker and publish it as a PDF, but
such a document is difficult to maintain and unlikely to satisfy
your target audience: programmers. Programmers expect online,
hyperlinked reference material that's exactly in sync with
the API elements (such as classes and functions).
This presentation shows how to use automated tools to generate
an HTML-formatted API Reference. Monique will give us an overview
of automating an API reference's production and tell us the
advantages of such an approach over a manual solution such
as FrameMaker-to-PDF. She will give us guidelines for choosing
the right tool, and discuss concerns such as imposing coding
standards and workflow changes on the engineers. She will demonstrate
how this all worked when, using DoxyS, she developed an API
Reference for a 700+ function ANSI C API.
About the presenter: A Senior STC member,
with more than 15 years of documentation and software experience,
Monique has won STC Touchstone and Berkeley competition awards
of merit and excellence every year since 2001.
Monique began her career as a software engineer writing PL/M
and C code for automated train control (the "people movers" in
airports) and the accompanying user manuals. Her career evolved
and she's been a technical writer since 2001; her first project
was producing API documentation for Java-based wireless applications.
Monique has her own company, Write Quick, Inc., and provides
many technical writing services, including API references,
programming guides, configuration manuals, and technical processes
and procedures. |
 |
What
does Web 2.0 Mean for Technical Communication?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Web 2.0 is a concept without a definition. Think of it as wikis
and blogs, collective intelligence, multidirectional communication.
Technology often innovates faster than businesses can adapt,
and Web 2.0 is no exception. This new webscape’s challenge
to technical communicators is profound:
-
How can technical communicators maintain complete, accurate,
and easy to use documentation in an environment that is
constantly evolving and invites both participation and
customization?
-
What is the evolving role of technical communicators in
this paradigm?
-
What technology and production issues do technical communicators
face?
On a deeper level, the role of technical communicators changes
most dramatically because, in a Web 2.0 world, the value and
role of information changes.
Instead of an add-on expense to product development, technical
communication holds all of the pieces of Web 2.0 technology
together. In addition to integrating help files and PDFs into
product packages or interfaces, technical communicators become
deeply embedded in marketing communication, support, and e-commerce.
About the presenter: Tim Bombosch is a certified
project management professional (PMP) and technical communication
consultant with Lasselle-Ramsay in Mountain View, California.
He is currently a project manager for information development
projects. He also implements content management systems and
plans strategically for the future of technical communication.
Tim has over 8 years of experience in the technical communication
industry. He worked at Mindjet, Sygate Technologies (now Symantec),
IBM, Web MD, and Kaiser Permanente. Before beginning his career
as a technical communicator, Tim taught media studies at Stanford
University, where he completed his PhD in German studies and
wrote extensively about German cinema.
Tim is the immediate past president of the San Francisco STC. |
 |
What
Technical Communicators Need to Know to Succeed in the Real
World
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Whatever technical communicators have been doing, we've not
been achieving all that well. According to studies of technical
communication departments, we are not getting the work that
we seek. We are not perceived as the champions of users in
the organization—usability groups get that responsibility.
Web and intranet sites are developed by Web developers rather
than technical communicators.
The news isn't all gloom and doom—many technical communicators
are finding ways to get the work we seek. What are these people
successfully doing?
That’s what this interactive session explores. Specifically,
it identifies the needed skills and the sales strategies that
work, helps participants develop their own action plans and,
in the process, helps participants seriously consider what
success means.
About the presenter: Barbara A. Giammona
has been a technical communicator for more than 20 years and
a manager of technical communicators for more than 15. After
seven years as a vice president at Morgan Stanley in New York
City, she is currently the manager of corporate IT communications
for McKesson Corporation.
Barbara’s article “The Future of Technical Communication:
How Innovation, Technology, Information Management, and Other
Forces Are Shaping the Future of the Profession,” published
in Technical Communication, the Society's journal, in August
2004, was the recipient of the Frank R. Smith Award for Distinguished
Technical Communication.
Barbara is an STC Associate Fellow and a member of the San
Francisco STC chapter and the Orange County chapter, where
she plans to relocate.
Need to Succeed presentation and
handout 
|
 |
YouTube,
Lifecasting, and You: How video affects online communication
Wednesday,
July 18, 2007
With ubiquitous broadband availability, video on the Internet
has undergone a revolution in the last 2 years.
Video-enabled iPods and cell phones, RSS-ready iTunes, YouTube,
digital cameras and camcorders, and inexpensive data plans
have all given bloggers, independent video makers, and "lifecasters" multiple
outlets for sharing their views, opinions, observations, and
information.
This month, Stephanie Bryant, author of Videoblogging
for Dummies, presents an overview of the tools and technologies
to help you decide the best methods for getting your video
message out there.
About the presenter: Stephanie Bryant is a technical
writer and videoblogger from Santa Cruz, California. She's the
author of Videoblogging for Dummies, and has been videoblogging
since May, 2005. Some of the videoblogs she's worked on include
the Intellectual Property Society's videoblog. She lives on the
road with her husband and their cat. |
 |
Structured
Wikis for Collaboration and Content Management
Wednesday,
June 20, 2007
Wikis are great! But because Wiki Markup does not structure
information as effectively as XML, reusing content and single
sourcing can be difficult. The open-source, structured Wiki
system TWiki takes important steps towards overcoming this
obstacle, making adopting Wikis for technical communication
more viable.
In this presentation, Phil Gochenour of CNET explores the
basic functionality of TWiki and what makes it "structured." He
discusses TWiki's benefits for collaboration and some plugins
and variables that extend its functionality. Phil's presentation
also includes a demo of a TWiki Wiki he developed at CNET.
About the presenter: Phil Gochenour, a technical
communicator in the Project and Service Management and Documentation
Group at CNET Networks, is directly responsible for developing
and maintaining the internal CNET Networks TWiki system.
Phil holds a PhD in comparative literature, with a specialization
in media studies, from Emory University. He has taught in the
media studies program of the University of Virginia as a visiting
assistant professor of digital media studies, and is the author,
of articles on online communities, systems theory, and the
novels of Thomas Pynchon. Since 1999, Phil has been involved
with online content development as a writer, editor, content
strategist, and information architect. |
 |
Introduction
to the Translation of Technical Documents
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
An overview of Globalization, Internationalization, Localization,
and Translation: what they are and who does them, and concepts you
as a Technical Writer must understand about presenting
your work in other languages.
About the presenter: Daniel Doornbos took
his first technical writer job in 1982 covering lubrication
and maintenance of farm machinery and construction equipment
at Chek-Chart, a division of Simon & Schuster (now part
of Motor Information Systems).
After spending a few years as a Manager of Graphic Production,
Daniel returned to writing as the Technical Publications
Manager at Pinnacle Systems (now a division of Avid) documenting
video editing and broadcast television products. Later, Daniel
worked as a contractor for several companies, including his
former employers, developing documentation for the mortgage,
health care, automotive, and broadcast television industries.
Currently, Daniel is the lone writer at Promise Technology,
where he develops user documentation for RAID controllers
and storage subsystems. His responsibilities include localization
of user documents and GUIs.
Daniel received his MBA degree from Golden Gate University
and certificates in the Management of Technical Documentation
and in Graphic Production from the UC Santa Cruz Extension. |
 |
From
World-Weary to World-Ready: Meeting Today's Content Globalization
Challenges
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Today, the need to produce content ready for all world markets
is greater than ever, but localization costs are higher,
too.
Much attention is focused on localization methodologies,
tools like Translation Memories, and content management systems,
but the biggest factor in the quality and cost of all content
still is the size and quality of the source material itself.
This workshop gives technical writers and content developers
tips and techniques they can implement immediately to improve
content and cut localization costs significantly. The seminar
also presents a business case for improving content development
and reducing word counts.
About the presenter: Hans Fenstermacher
is President and founder of ArchiText, a division of language
service provider Translations.com (part
of the TransPerfect Global Group). ArchiText provides comprehensive
translation, localization, and content globalization services
to Global 2000 companies.
Born in Germany, Hans speaks six languages fluently and
holds degrees from Princeton University and the Fletcher
School of Law and Diplomacy. His 25-year career in the language
and writing industries led him to create ArchiText's ABREVE® process
(patent pending), a proprietary English content globalization
system, designed to reduce content volume, enhance content
usability, and maximize content efficiency. Hans is an Associate
Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication, as well
as past president of the Boston Chapter. In 2002 Hans founded
the Globalization And Localization Association (GALA) and
served as its first Chairman.
Presentation  |
 |
The
Sheer Audacity! Using the open source Audacity audio editing
program to produce great podcasts. Presented by Jerry Franklin
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
What is podcasting, why is it important to me, and how can
I get in on it? Jerry will answer these questions by presenting
a brief overview of podcasting in the corporate world, also
including a few examples of how podcasts are being used to
deliver technical information.
Jerry will spend most of the presentation providing an overview
and high-level tutorial on Audacity,
the free audio editing software that has enabled many people
both with and without technical backgrounds to engineer and
produce their own podcasts.
About the presenter: Jerry Franklin is a
freelance technical and marketing writer for a range of high-tech
clients. Before becoming a freelancer, Jerry was the lone technical
writer at Bricsnet, a small private software company in San
Francisco. Prior to Bricsnet, Jerry worked at another small
private software company, ZANTAZ, in Pleasanton. Prior to that,
Jerry worked at PeopleSoft, where he managed content for www.peoplesoft.com
before transitioning into technical writing elsewhere in the
company.
Jerry became involved with podcasting when he began helping
his wife build her business as a certified dog trainer. Their
podcast, The Good Dog Show, may be found at www.dogworks.libsyn.com.
Jerry belongs to the STC, the IEEE Professional Communication
Society, and the ACM SIGDOC. He lives in Alameda with
his wife and, of course, two dogs. Contact Jerry at audacityguy@gmail.com. |
A
Panel Moderated by Barbara Giammona with Andrew Davis, Meryl
Natchez, and Julia Cope
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
The San Francisco Chapter STC celebrates its 25th anniversary
with a panel of past, present, and future chapter leaders
speaking on future trends in technical communication, with
insights from the past.
Come enjoy a lively discussion among our panelists: past
presidents Andrew Davis and Meryl Natchez, current president,
Julia Cope, and new chapter member, Barbara Giammona. Find
out where they think technical communication is headed in
the Bay Area and hear some tales of earlier times in our
chapter. Bring your questions and be prepared to add your
insights. |
 |
Zero-Search-Time
Documentation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come by Peter Schorer
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
In this talk, Peter Schorer, author of How to Create
Zero-Search-Time Computer Documentation, will
outline the ZST method for producing documentation. ZST
documentation allows users to find the information they
want in less than 25 seconds at least 80% of the time.
The method is technology independent, and thus can be applied
to the creation of online and/or paper documentation.
Even at this late date, the fields of documentation (and
human factors (computer-human interface [CHI] design) do
not have a simple metric for the effectiveness of their products.
And yet, measurement of results is a central requirement
of any technical field. |
 |
How
to Use a Portfolio to Ace a Job Interview by Jack Molisani
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Have you ever interviewed for a job you wanted but didn't
get?
If so, come to our June meeting and hear Jack Molisani lead an entertaining and
informative session on how a portfolio is not just a sample of your work—it is
an interviewing tool you can use to achieve the four critical steps needed to
receive a job offer.
The presentation will include what to put in a portfolio,
how to get things to put in your portfolio, and most importantly,
how to use your portfolio to ace a job interview.
Jack is founder and president of ProSpring Inc., a technical
communication staffing firm: www.prospring.net.
He also is producing LavaCon: The Third Annual Conference
on Technical Communication Management, September 25–28
in Honolulu, Hawaii: www.lavacon.org. |
 |
Network
Security: Issues, Technology, and Management by Mark Kadrich
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Mark Kadrich, Senior Scientist at Sygate Technologies, will
speak about fundamental issues in network security, including
emerging technologies, risks, and management. His presentation
begins with a discussion of network security basics and then
proceeds to a discussion of regulatory compliance. The second
half of the presentation will analyze state of the art security
technologies and solutions, with an emphasis on how enterprises
can effectively manage network security. |
 |
Writing
Content for the International Audience by Michael R. Cardenas
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
If you have been involved in authoring content in just one
language, let's say English for North America, you will definitely
agree that it is not a
cakewalk.
So what is different about authoring content that needs
to be localized
into several languages? Are there any special issues we need to take into
consideration as technical communicators?
In his presentation, Michael will explore the special needs
technical
localizers face when taking your English content to other cultures and
countries. |
 |
From
Tutorials to Programmer's Guides by James Bisso
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
This presentation looks at sample applications, tutorials,
and other kinds of instructional code that can be leveraged
to write an API programmer's guide. |
 |
| |
ISO
Auditing for Technical Communicators: An Introduction by Kathy Stanley
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Capitalize on your talent for communications by working
in the ISO process.
Research and Preparation - Required for our books and help,
the auditor needs to understand the business that they are
measuring and prepare the right set of questions. The same
analytical skills that let us read and understand an engineering
spec transfer readily to understanding the ISO quality system
components.
Interviewing - The interviewing skills required to develop
technical
information can help us focus and control an audit. Our ability to take
notes and develop information from the responses comes in handy if you want
to do ISO-related work.
Writing - Each audit requires a comprehensive report. Our
ability to
communicate complex information in a simple, effective way is a natural
match for the type of writing required for an audit report.
Professional Growth and Networking - Being part of ISO will
introduce you to people from all parts of the business world
and different industries. |
 |
An Overview
of Trends, Tools, and Technologies in Software User Assistance
by Joe Welinske, President, WritersUA
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
The application of technical communication skills to the
development of software user assistance has grown immensely
in the past twenty years. This specialization is very fulfilling
and challenging and technical communicators are finding their
role in the software development process to be increasingly
valued.
User assistance is much more than "Help." It encompasses
a wide range of skills and technologies that are combined
to improve the software user's experience. We contribute
through wizards, tutorials, and web-based training. |
 |
Holiday Party.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A special holiday celebration with door prizes
The San Francisco STC is bringing the year to a rousing finale with a
special holiday party at the London Wine Bar in downtown San Francisco. The price of admission includes hors d'oeuvres and wine service for two hours. We will also have door prizes.
This will be our last meeting at the London Wine Bar. Come experience the ambience of the place we love so well one more time before we move to the Elephant and Castle.
Celebrate the end of another year. It's a great chance to renew
acquaintances with other technical communicators and to meet some new people. See details. |
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Information Architecture for Technical Communicators
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
How is being an "information architect" different from being a
"technical communicator"? Both consider audience needs, identify
information to be included, analyze existing content, determine
information structure and organization, and determine how to make
information "findable" for users. But for information architects, the
work often stops at describing the architecture, rather than developing
the content itself, and the deliverables may have names like site map,
wire frames, taxonomies, metadata, and controlled vocabularies. For
those who are new to IA, this may sound jargony and technical, but there are plenty of parallels in technical communication (think documentation plan, outline, sample topics, terminology list, index entries). more>> |
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Fitting WebWorks Publisher Into a Publications Workflow
Presenter: Steve Homer, Freelance Technical Writer
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
This session offers a brief overview of WebWorks Publisher Pro 2003 and describes how this tool fits into a publications workflow.
We will address the following questions:
- How do you choose the best help authoring tool for your situation?
- Are you doing "single-sourcing" if you use WebWorks?
- What types of publications workflows lend themselves to single-sourcing?
- What types of organizations will find single-sourcing irritating?
- How does the size of your organization affect how a help authoring tool fits into your workflow?
- What kinds of customizations can you make to WebWorks output?
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Structured Authoring, XML and Single Sourcing: An Update
Presenter: David Knopf
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Publishing technologies are evolving rapidly. To a large degree, the workflow and tools you choose will determine how easily and effectively you can create, manage, publish, and maintain content. Structured authoring, XML, and single sourcing are spreading throughout large information development organizations. Technical content is an important asset and should be managed accordingly. In this presentation, David Knopf will address recent trends and suggest which approaches work best for today's technical publishing organizations. |
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Developing a Healthy Response to Stress
Presenter: Richard Pinneau
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Stress is pandemic and is seriously damaging health, productivity, and
creativity. The psychological and physiological responses of human beings under stress can be miraculously effective in the face of life-threatening physical threats but are severely maladaptive for long-term psychologically stressful conditions. Health, performance, and creativity all benefit from learning simple skills for defusing the effects of modern occupational pressures and challenges. Richard Pinneau, Ph.D., offers you some skills to begin using immediately and methods to instill them as automatic, healthy responses to stress. |
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Your Writing Samples Portfolio: A Personal Sales Kit & Career History
Presenter: Lu Rehling
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
A writing samples portfolio is a critical tool for career advancement. No technical communicator's resume and/or cover letter is complete without promising that the job (or promotion) seeker has a portfolio of writing samples available. Which means that every technical communicator needs to decide what to include, how to pull everything together, how to present the resulting portfolio well, and how to efficiently and effectively update it over time. Presentation Evaluation Checklist  |
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Increase Your Job Satisfaction and Your Value to Your Company by Improving Your Project Management Skills
Presenter: Tim Bombosch PhD, PMP
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
When I ask technical communicators to describe themselves, they almost always identify their writing, tool, design or technology skills. But, when I ask them why projects succeed or fail, effective or ineffective project management practices lead the list of reasons they give.
Technical communicators have a unique set of skills to be effective
project managers. By improving your project management skills, you can advance your career, improve the quality of your work, and increase your job satisfaction. Presentation  |
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Stay Motivated and Thrive!
Presenter: Howard Miller
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Technical Communication has changed a lot in the last few
years and will continue this way. How do you stay current
and continue to grow in an ever changing environment? This
interactive presentation will explore how you can create
the most success in your career and in your life! Howard
Miller, the presenter, is a professional Life Coach who is
passionate about developing and coaching people to be the
best they can be. In this program Howard will combine lecture
and exercises to help each person get more motivated and
excited to pursue enhancing their careers. Presentation 
Howard Miller: Supplying capability for action. |
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Non-Fatal Errors: Creating Usable, Effective Error Messages
Presenter: Emily Wilska
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
"Memory requests for some applications may be denied." "Error 404: File Not Found." "Error on page." "Invalid entry. Please check your info and resubmit." "Fatal error. Procedure aborted."
It's often easy to identify what kinds of error messages don't help users, but it can be tricky to avoid them, and even more of a challenge to create the opposite: error messages that give users a clear indication of the problem, offer information to help them fix it, and provide tips on how to avoid the same situation in the future.
In this workshop, we'll explore what makes many error messages so bad, simple steps to make them better, and how good error messages can help make technical communicators' jobs easier. In addition, we'll look at ways of communicating to managers and executives the value of good error messages-in terms of reduced support costs, happier customers, and better products. Presentation  |
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White Papers In Your Future
Presenter: Beau Cain
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
How do white papers help managers, engineers, governments, and consumers justify decisions in today's lean economy? How do technical or marketing communications writers know what type of white paper will do the job best? (Hint: There are ten types of white papers.)
Join us for a session exploring this most versatile and misunderstood of all business and engineering document types. We'll discover the difference between a white paper and a whitewash, and learn how white papers can be excellent tools for insinuating technical publications departments into the planning phases of product development. Presentation |
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The Changing UI of Technical Communication: Transforming Your Career and Moving from Commodity to Strategic Contributor
Presenter: Andrea L. Ames
February 18, 2004
The economy's taken a downturn, and you know that many companies lay off cost centers, like technical publications and training, first. Perhaps you've already been laid off--or you're concerned you might be. You've heard that many companies are "offshoring" technical writing for fees as low as $5/hour--effectively commoditizing the writing and Help development skills you've relied on for years. You're ready to take the next steps in your career.
Join Andrea L. Ames for a brief look at the state of the industry and how you can progress in your career. She'll discuss the characteristics of commoditized technical writing, what you can do to contribute to product profitability and company strategy, and how you can demonstrate your additional value to your company or clients. Presentation  |
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Re-purposing Technical Communications
Presenter: Mick Renner
January 21, 2004
As technical communicators, we have developed skills that are useful to the wider community. For example, the insight and understanding you use to create a chart for a technical manager can translate into the skills necessary for creating a chart for a traffic-control meeting, a fact sheet for your local animal shelter, or a diagram for a fundraising effort at your child's school.
We all have the power to make wider use of our knowledge and experience. By doing so, we can provide benefits for others and gain a deep sense of personal and professional satisfaction.
In this session, we'll examine the various ways we have made such contributions and suggest new ways of benefiting our communities. |
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