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Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-28T18:49:55Z

Kleinberger: /* Detailed */ edited wording to more closely relate back to source.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies. Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape. Connected networks of workstations, laptops, cell phones, tablets, and servers are the central nervous system in the technical workplace.

Major considerations revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing. In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally driven society.

==Overview==

=== Aims of Technical Communication ===
Technical communication is a discipline present in various fields like education, business, and science. In any domain, technical documentation shares a common objective: assisting the audience in achieving a task or goal.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}}

=== Characteristics of Technical Communication ===
Technical communication is meant to guide an audience and must be easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate.{{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be said to be accurate in two different understandings: accurate in description and accurate in content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication that is delivered logically is well-organized and clear and can be approached in a manner that will be coherent for most users. Technical information that is appropriate contains elements and steps that are suitable for the intended purpose and audience.

==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession ===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.{{sfn|Malone|2008}} In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.{{sfn|Malone|2011|pp=285-306}}

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States.{{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was a time years before the computer and photocopier became common office equipment. During this period, the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, and their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. The technical writer would draft the document by hand and a typist or clerical worker would then use a typewriter to transfer the writer's words into a finished document.

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The work of the technical writer may now also include not only text, but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The current role of the technical writer is not only to write, but they may also be involved in research and information gathering, speaking with technical experts, and selecting document mediums and project tools.{{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers can be as varied as writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} The titles of today's technical writers may vary as well. They may be referred to by names as diverse as information architects to documentation specialists.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}

==Features of Technical Communication==
Technical communication involves conveying complex information to a specific audience. Key features include accuracy, attention to detail, visuals, and clear and concise organization to enhance user understanding.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

=== Accuracy ===

==== Standards Compliant ====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines which are determined by governing bodies and that also have an impact on their technical communication. Furthermore, many organizations may have a style guide that outlines preferred language usage, tone, and formatting.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

==== Detail-Oriented ====
Technical communication should be detail-oriented and free of errors and inconsistencies. Accurate information that is delivered with precision and specificity is essential to providing communication that is unambiguous and free of discrepancies.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

==== Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields where accuracy and impartiality are essential.{{sfn|Detwiler|2021}}

===== Clear and Concise =====
Technical communication should be logically organized, straightforward, and easily understood by the target audience. The language used should avoid needless jargon and be written in a manner that avoids redundant word usage and/or excessive explanations.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

=== Soundness ===

==== Formatted and Organized ====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines that enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. Formatting details should remain consistent throughout the document.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

==== Graphical ====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or images can enhance understanding of a technical document. When presented properly, visuals can explain difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.{{sfn|AI and the LinkedIn Community|2023}}

=== Appropriateness ===

==== Audience-specific ====
Where possible, technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Communication style and tone should be tailored to match the audience's level of expertise and should take into consideration such factors as the users' technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific requirements.{{sfn|Viral Nation|2019}} The tone sets the overall mood for the piece.

====Document Design====
Documents' appropriateness requires that readers can quickly understand the message of the document. The document should be of appropriate style and length for the readers' needs.

==Personas in Digital Writing==
Personas in the context of digital writing, which is writing composed, created and read in digital environments, refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).{{sfn|Lucas|2023a}} There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of UX design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.{{sfn|Goltz|2014}}

Personas may guide the creation of documentation and tutorials catering to different user needs. It is crucial to adjust the language and tone to match the persona preference. Different personas can influence and guide the design of the project.

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric Rhetoric] is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language.{{sfn|Gagich|Zickel|n.d.|pp=34-37}}

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} [[#Hyperlinking|Hyperlinks]] can provide access to additional information that supports authors’ ideas and enhances their credibility.{{sfn|Lucas|2023g|}} Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.{{sfn|DeVoss|National Writing Project|Eidman-Aadahl|Hicks|2010|p=105}}

Digital writers must therefore consider specific elements that compose the rhetorical context in which texts are created and delivered. Such elements may include evaluating the demographics, habits, and needs of an intended audience; determining the overall objective of the communications; and deciding what technologies will be used to create the content. Together, this analysis allows writers to craft messages that both appeal to and inform the target audience. In the digital age, such rhetorical messages may be conveyed through websites, social media, and other digital platforms.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|pp=6-14}}

==Digital Technologies Tools==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. The predominant impact of such a revolution was that it made technical communication more accessible by increasing the breadth of its viewers. The World Wide Web is public and can be accessed by anyone with access to the Internet. Such a phenomenon can be exploited to increase the audience of a virtual document.

Technical writers can use various tools to author and present their documents.

=== Content Management Systems (CMS) ===
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content on a website. It provides a user-friendly interface and tools to easily organize, publish, and update content, including text, images, videos, and documents. Additionally, CMSs often offer features like user permissions, version control, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance the overall website management experience.{{sfn|Carroll|2006|p=129}} Some popular examples of CMS include [https://wordpress.com/ WordPress], [https://www.wix.com/ Wix], and [https://www.blogger.com/about/?bpli=1 Blogger].

=== Image Processing Software ===
Image processing software plays a valuable role in technical and digital writing by facilitating the creation and enhancement of visuals. Documentation and tutorials help optimize images to convey processes or procedures effectively. Whether for screen captures illustrating software interfaces, data visualizations, or graphics for digital content, image processing tools contribute to creating clear and visually appealing materials.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=664}} These tools, such as [https://www.adobe.com/ Adobe] and [https://www.canva.com/ Canva], enhance the visual impact of technical and digital writing, ensuring that images are optimized, informative, and engaging for the audience.

=== Word Processors ===
Word processors are software applications designed for creating, editing, and formatting documents on a computer. They provide many features, such as spell-checking, grammar-checking, and inserting images and tables. These programs are typically used for writing essays, creating reports, or drafting professional documents.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=229}} Some popular software applications are [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word Microsoft Word], [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs][https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration , SharePoint], and [https://www.apple.com/pages/ Apple Pages]. These programs allow documents to be readily disseminated. Comment capability enables audience members to interact about a document with one another and the author.

=== Text Editors ===
Text editors are fundamental technical and digital writing tools, offering a platform for creating and manipulating plain text files. They are indispensable for programming tasks, providing syntax highlighting and code folding features. Text editors are commonly used to write code, markup languages (HTML, XML, Markdown), and edit configuration files.{{sfn|Godson|p=37-41}} Notable examples include [https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/windows-notepad/9MSMLRH6LZF3?hl=en-US&gl=US Notepad] (Windows), [https://support.apple.com/guide/textedit/welcome/mac TextEdit] (macOS), and [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Notepad++]. Whether for programmers, writers, or system administrators, text editors play a crucial role in content creation and technical work.

== Technical Documents ==
Technical writing encompasses various genres and styles, influenced by the information and discourse communities. Not all technical documents are produced by technical writers, as professionals produce various technical documents.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=32}}

Common types of technical communication include:{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

=== Case Studies ===
Case studies are a form of empirical or observational research that consists of in-depth examination of distinct individuals, groups, events, or scenarios. This research can be used to generate qualitative or quantitative data.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=401-404}}

=== Data Sheets ===
A data sheet, also known as a technical datasheet, is a document used to describe and summarize the characteristics of a product, material, component, or technology.{{sfn|IDA|2020|p=}}

=== Descriptions ===
Descriptions are concise explanations of procedures and processes that assist readers in understanding how something works. Product descriptions and process descriptions are the two main types of technical descriptions.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=443-453}}

*Product: provides detailed information about a specific item, including its features, specifications, and benefits.
*Process: provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform a particular task or achieve a specific outcome.

=== Documentation ===
Documentation comprises various texts that allow users to accomplish tasks or gain information. It generally falls into three categories, which can be defined as follows:
* Instructions: Text that describes how to complete a task, often offering numbered steps. Examples include how to download software or assemble a product.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=167}}
* Specifications: Communications that deliver technical details on how a product is put together or a specific operation is executed. Also known as "specs," these texts may be written by engineers or technicians.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}
* Procedures and Protocols: Guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in the workplace. For example, a hospital may provide staff with procedures on how to adapt operations during an emergency, such as a power outage.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}

=== Email ===
Emails are the primary form of communication in the workplace, used for both internal and external communication. They facilitate information exchange, idea exchange, and activity coordination.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=335}} Emails should be brief, concise, readable, and targeted to specific audiences with specific subject lines.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=348}}

=== Letters ===
Letters are a traditional form of communication most often used by employees to communicate with individuals outside of a company or organization. They are typically written on company letterhead. Today, letters are sent either by U.S. mail or electronically.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=139}}

=== Memos ===
A memo (short for memorandum) is an official communication, usually a message from the company, a manager or director, or another person or group acting in an official capacity, used to communicate with others within the same organization.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=353}}

=== Press Releases ===
A press release can be an announcement or recent news that is distributed to media outlets from a company, with intentions on spreading the information to the general public. A press release can be called a press-statement, news release or media release.{{sfn|Pradhan|2021}}

=== Proposals ===
A proposal is a document that identifies an existing problem or opportunity and outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing it. Organizations create ''internal'' proposals to describe programs and projects that meet specific operational needs, such as a plan to replace an outdated software system. Companies develop ''external'' proposals for potential customers or clients. These documents detail new products, services, or initiatives that a company will implement to address a specific customer concern.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=245}}

=== Reports ===
A report is a concise, easily understandable document that presents technical information in a clear, organized format, allowing readers to access varying levels of information. Reports are categorized as informal, such as briefs, and formal, such as research, scientific, and completion reports.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|loc=chpt 10 & 11}}

==== Informal or Brief Reports ====
Informal or brief reports provide an objective overview of an organization's current state, past events, and future plans, ensuring that readers are well-informed about the organization's operations. Some examples include{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=285-288}}:

* Progress Reports are used to inform management about the progress or status of a project.
* White papers and Briefings educate management or clients about important issues.
* Incident Reports objectively focus on presenting facts relating to an accident or irregular occurrence.
* Laboratory Reports describe experiments, tests, or inspections.

==== Formal Reports ====
A formal report is a factual and data-driven response to a research question.
* Research reports present the findings of a study.
* Scientific research reports outline the process, progress, and results of technical or scientific research or the current state of a research problem.
* Completion reports assess the outcomes of a project or initiative and provide feedback to management or the client.

=== Resumes ===
Resumes offer an overview of an individual’s educational credentials and professional experience and often are used to demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications to potential employers.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=100}} They may be organized in various ways, but two common approaches are chronologically and by skills.

Chronological resumes demonstrate the sequence of education and employment history and detail a person’s tasks, responsibilities, and achievements in each successive role.

Skills resumes provide employment history, but the primary focus is to highlight how an individual applied distinct skills and experiences across various professional positions.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=411-412}}

=== User guides ===
A user guide is an instructional manual created to help consumers use the product, service or system. A user guide typically includes step-by-step instructions.{{Sfn|Wainaina|2022}}

==Search Engine Optimization (SEO)==
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt-text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO.{{sfn|Barr|2010|loc=chpt. 17}}

===Keywords===
Keywords are the words that search engines crawl a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added into the search engine results pages from best matches to worst matches. The position of a website in search results is influenced by where it ranks on a scale determined by the keywords that a user searches for.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engines such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can crawl your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===Alt-Text===
Alt-Text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute Alt Attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt-Text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt-Text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===Social Media Presence===
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves visibility of the website overall. Additionally, it can drive traffic and enables back-linking to occur when other websites have the ability to also link to the website.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

=== Goals of Searching: The User's Perspective===
A user of search engines formulates queries by using keywords or posing questions. One of the most important elements of building an SEO strategy for a website is developing a thorough understanding of the psychology of your target audience and how they use words and concepts to obtain information about the services and/or products you provide. Once you understand how the average search engine user—and, more specifically, your target audience—utilizes query-based search engines, you can more effectively reach and keep those users.{{sfn|Enge|Spencer|Stricchiola|2022|p=9}}

==Digital Documentation ==
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas|2014}}

===Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Electronic Format ====
Digital documents exist in electronic formats, which means they are stored and transmitted as binary data. This format allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and transmission of information via electronic devices.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} Digital documentation is the only method to meet a critical challenge of the relatively new concept of "knowledge management" that applies to all organizations. A digital knowledge management system is crucial to an organization so everyone can access information created by employees who are no longer with the organization or to allow cross-referencing with other seemingly unrelated departments.{{sfn|IBM}}

====Non-Tangible====
Unlike paper documents, digital documents lack physical presence. They are intangible and exist as electronic files, residing on devices or in the cloud.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Accessibility ====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI|2022}} It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WCAG|2023}} It is also ethically imperative to make sure there is accessibility in digital writing. There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}} Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|pp=103-104}} Accessibility broadens the reach of digital content and reaches a wider audience. This is important for technical writers, as their documentation and instructions are critical resources for users of varied abilities.

====Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik|Burnett|Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.{{sfn|Last|2019}}

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}} The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}} Ways to improve a document's scannability include implementing visual elements, white space, concise language, highlighting, and emphasis.

====Ease of Reproduction and Distribution====
Digital documents are easily copied and distributed. They can be duplicated without any loss of quality, making it simple to share information widely and at minimal cost.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Hyperlinking ====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

====Multimedia====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in SERPs.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

====Version Control====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023d}}

====Remote Collaboration====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "website developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."{{sfn|Lucas|2021}} One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic locations.

====Security Measures====
Digital documents can be protected with encryption, passwords, and access controls to safeguard sensitive information. These security measures enhance data protection and privacy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Environmental Impact====
Digital documents have a smaller environmental footprint compared to paper documents, as they reduce the need for paper production, printing, and transportation.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Dynamic Updates====
Online digital documents can be updated dynamically, ensuring that users always have access to the most current information. This is particularly valuable in fast-changing fields.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Global Accessibility====
Digital documents can be shared globally, transcending geographical boundaries and time zones. They support international collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge on a global scale.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Integration====
In business and research settings, digital documents can integrate with databases and data analysis tools. This integration streamlines data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Analytics ====
Digital documents can be subjected to data analytics techniques, allowing organizations to extract valuable insights from large volumes of textual data, which can inform decision-making and strategy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==Examples of Digital Documents==
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

=== Infographics ===
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=292-293}}

=== Presentations ===
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.{{sfn|Parkinson|2018|loc=chpt. 4}}

=== Blogs ===
A blog, short for "weblog," is an informational website organized into short articles called posts, typically chronologically ordered series of website updates, written and organized similar to a traditional diary.{{sfn|Bair|2014|p=7}} They are regularly updated, providing readers with insights on a specific topic or subject. Blogs serve various purposes, including sharing opinions, providing news, offering educational content, and documenting personal experiences.{{sfn|Rose|Garret|2012|p=2}}

==User Experience==
User experience (UX) is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by practicing several design methods, including user-centered design, information architecture, responsive design, and usability.

===User-Centered Design===
The approach of user-centered design (UCD) in technical writing consists of the following methodology{{sfn|Lucas|2023e}}:

====User Research====
User research is the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document.

==== Ideation and Prototyping====
Ideation and prototyping refers to the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs.

====Usability Testing====
Usability testing refers to the act of having users interact with digital document designs and recording and adjusting the design based on user feedback.

====Implementation====
Implementation is the stage in which the design is implemented after making adjustments from prior testing.

====Evaluation====
Evaluation refers to the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs.

====Maintenance and Updates====
Maintenance and updates are required in order to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs.

===Information Architecture===

To ensure a digital document has effective UX design and accessible information, technical writers need to construct a clear and organized information architecture (IA). IA is a design principle that organizes information so that it is easily found and understood by users, prioritizing their needs and reducing information overload. A design challenge is making IA understood across multiple digital experiences, changing the navigation structure to fit different medias while staying logical and consistent for the user.{{sfn|Rosenfeld|pp=1, 17-18}} IA that is not constructed well can confuse the user and could cause them to give up their search of information in frustration.{{sfn|Garrand|pp=12}}

The architecture components of IA can be divided into four different categories:{{sfn|Rosenfeld|pp=90}}

*Organization systems: how information is categorized and organized for user understanding

*Labeling systems: how information is represented

*Navigation systems: how users browse information and navigate between pages

*Searching systems: how users search for specific information

=== Responsive Design ===

Responsive design is a strategy that appropriately updates the layout and content of a website or document in relation to the screen size, device, and/or orientation, allowing the site or document to be easily viewed and navigated regardless of device used. With the increased use of mobile devices, web content should be constructed with proper responsive web design (RWD) to ensure effective UX and usability on those devices.{{sfn|Robbins| pp=485}}

There are several design strategies that can be implemented that will increase the success of RWD:{{sfn|Robbins| pp=487}}

*Fluid layout – Responsive sites can be constructed using a fluid layout (or flexible grid) system that will allow content to adjust and flow according to the available screen space.

*Flexible and responsive images – Images and other embedded media can be instructed so that they fit their containers instead of remaining at a fixed size. Images with varying resolutions can also be swapped according to screen size to avoid high-resolution images on smaller devices.

*CSS media queries – Media queries can be written into the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), which would instruct the construction of the site according to screen width and orientation. Adding breakpoints for several screen sizes allows pages to be designed for specific devices.

*Content hierarchy – Carefully constructing content that is organized for the user and creating a hierarchy of content that prioritizes user needs is necessary to ensure effective user experience and navigation across multiple screen sizes.{{sfn|Robbins| pp=499}}

===Usability===

Technical writers must create documents and websites that meet the expectations of their readers and users, and in doing so, writers increase the usability of their site or document.{{sfn|Garrand|pp=26}} Usability can be applied with visual aids, clear and concise language, and structured design.

==Ethical Considerations==
In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be part of one's job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so one will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force one into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=71-84}}

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.{{sfn|Society for Technical Communication|2023a}} The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.{{sfn|Society for Technical Communication|2023b}}

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===The Employer===
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

=== The Public===
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===The Environment===
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|EPA|2023}}

=== Disinformation ===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly.

Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.{{sfn|Lucas|2023f}} Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

==Pedagogical Approaches==
===Writing Styles===
Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization in their schoolwork. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities must now educate students on the different forms of written communication, and when best to employ them.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=20}}

===Multimedia Writing===
Best practices for tone, grammar, and style can vary depending on the form of media (auditory, visual, print, etc.), and many digital writings will combine two or more of these media formats. Students of technical writing may be taught specific techniques for different types of media in order to become proficient multimedia writers.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=23}}

===Breaking and Building===
Breaking and building is a method of teaching effective writing that can be applied to technical and digital formats. It asks students to curate collections of digital media by comparing and contrasting ("building"), and also to critically analyze these collections and attempt to reason out the decisions behind them ("breaking").{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|p=175}} Each process has a set of targeted learning outcomes. Learning outcomes for "building" include making and reflecting on choices to find, group, present, and compile digital content. Learning outcomes for "breaking" include identifying and critiquing decisions in curating existing digital content, such as where the content originated, how it is grouped, and how it is presented.{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|pp=178-179}}

==Future Trends and Challenges==
=== Future Trends===
Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}} To be relevant as a technical writer in the digital age, one must possess the skills of conducting in-depth research, critical thinking, being detail oriented, design, and technical expertise. To succeed at communicating the complex to specific audiences, the technical writer must understand much of the subject in its complexity. This is accomplished through possessing the skills of communication, collaboration, and teamwork.{{sfn|Fechter|2023}}

===Challenges===
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve, the complexity of software,{{sfn|Hovde|Renguette|2017|pp=395-411}} and the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}} Also, technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}}

===Artificial Intelligence===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.{{sfn|Marr|2023}}

One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone.{{sfn|University of Central Arkansas|2023}} Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email.{{sfn|Siddiqui|2022}}

===Plagiarism===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors.{{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

===Credit ===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.{{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
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{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T11:23:32Z

Kleinberger: /* Article Organization */ new section

==Layout and Lead==
Just to get this thing going, I have created the article, developed a rudimentary layout, and added a lead written by ChatGTP. '''All of this may be kept or changed'''. I would certainly revise or rewrite the lead. Questions, ideas, discussion, and comments about the project should be posted here. I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with this semester. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 09:38, 3 October 2023 (EDT)

==Citation question==
I am citing a later edition of a source that is cited elsewhere on the page. (Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). Technical Communication (13th ed). This version has a second author. Should these entries be combined somehow?
:{{Reply to|Beth Kennedy}} Yes. If you’re using the updated version, update the earlier source. Great question, but don’t forget to sign your talk posts. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 14:35, 2 November 2023 (EDT)

::{{Reply to|Admin}}Thank you. I have linked the first citation in the article (paragraph 1) to my Markel use under "Rhetorical Strategies." {{Reply to|mroma98}} and {{Reply to|RDrummond}}, in looking at the article history, it seems one of you may have added the Markel references under Ethical Considerations. I did not update those references yet because the oldest copyright date on my source is 2012, and I was also unsure of the page numbers. If you review the citation I added, and it is appropriate to reference, the shortened reference is <ref name="Markel">. Thanks. --[[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]] ([[User talk:Beth Kennedy|talk]]) 18:23, 13 November 2023 (EST)

==Shortened Footnotes==
I added the template to the project. All you need to do is add the code for your reference under Bibliography and then the SFN code under citations. I made a quick, visual [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QGEr_RhDMKZvPqvncmDR9eoHRmOLeFkXpzp9nzFb-Sg/edit?usp=sharing step-by-step] that show you how to pull the [https://grlucas.net/grl/April%2015,%202019 template] and paste the code.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:11, 11 November 2023 (EST)
:Nice work! Thanks [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 09:28, 13 November 2023 (EST)

== References question ==

Should References be the heading, followed by Bibliography as a subheading? Would this only apply if we are using Notes, Citations, and a Bibliography?--[[User:CEToledo|CEToledo]] ([[User talk:CEToledo|talk]]) 19:14, 4 November 2023 (EDT)
: {{Reply to|CEToledo}} You can do whatever seems logical for this. Check out [[w:The Man Who Studied Yoga|The Man Who Studied Yoga]] to see a way to approach a references section. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 07:27, 6 November 2023 (EST)

--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 12:50, 6 November 2023 (EST)== Shortened footnote code ==
I am having trouble understanding where the placement of the works cited and the shortened footnote code should be. I sent an inquiry email to Dr. Lucas. [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:41, 5 November 2023 (EST)
:{{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} I would put references at the bottom, in a bibliography section. Then you can use the shortened footnotes in the body. This is an easier approach for everyone editing, as they can easily consult the bibliography to see if a reference has been used and entered. —07:30, 6 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} and {{Reply to|CEToledo}} It seems we have two forms of citation happening now: the original one and the revised format that Debbie created. (Thanks Debbie and thanks for the tutorial (above), very helpful!). I think the bibliography with citations using shortened footnotes is a good approach, and my vote would be to transition to this. But it would be good to have consensus. Is everyone ok with this approach? --[[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]] ([[User talk:Beth Kennedy|talk]]) 19:07, 13 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to |Beth Kennedy}} I vote SFN form. --[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 05:04, 14 November 2023 (EST)

Do I need to have the citation section? I see that my shortened footnotes are displaying in the reference section.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 15:48, 6 November 2023 (EST)

== Paragraph Blocks ==

I can't believe how well and quickly this is coming along. At any rate, on to my dispute...are we adhering to any particular standard in terms of the size of paragraph blocks? Too long and it reduces the likelihood of it being read, too brief (a single sentence) and the topic/subtopic of the contribution seems too unnecessary to even mention. -- [[User:CBrown]]

:I separated the Digital Document and User Experience sections. I think paragraph blocks should have around three to four sentences max. More than that, we can create a new subheading.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 06:41, 8 November 2023 (EST)

::The Ethical Considerations section seems to run together. Can it be separated into smaller sections with the primary categories as headings: "Employer," "Public," and "Environment?" --[[User:APitts]]

:::@APitts I agree that it would work better to separate into smaller sections. It would make them appear neater and more organized. -- [[User: HRoney]]

::::Can we agree then that there are no more additions to the "Ethical Considerations" section? [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 09:50, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:::::Edits have been made to separate the Ethical Considerations portion into categories. Can someone look over my work or make any edits as you see fit? -- [[User: APitts]]

:::::{{Reply to |APitts}} I looked over your work and it looks good to me! There were a couple of grammatical errors that I edited. -- [[User: HRoney]]

== Topics vs. Subtopics ==

Why are future trends and challenges separate subtopics under the future trends and challenges topic? Should there not be an overview of future trends and challenges followed by subtopics of examples of future trends and challenges, e.g. artificial intelligence. -- [[User:CBrown]]

:I am in favor of this idea/change if others agree. --[[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]] ([[User talk:Elaine Streeter|talk]]) 14:37, 10 November 2023 (EST)

:{{Reply to|CBrown}} The problem here is that the heading Future Trends and Challenges has room for interpretation. I think the section should just be titled Future Trends. I also think an overview of future trends could be appropriate provided information from its subheadings is not unnecessarily repeated. The material under the Challenges subheading could be relocated to another heading but I would like to hear other opinions on this proposal. —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:13, 10 November 2023 (EST)
::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} While Challenges could be a standalone heading, are we talking current or future challenges? If current, then I believe it would be best as a standalone heading. If future, then it would fit in the current format. If both, then standalone. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 20:04, 11 November 2023 (EST)

:::{{Reply to |Mroma98}} I agree with all of your points. My interpretation of the information contained within the Challenges subheading is that it refers to current challenges. I would prefer to either get input from the individual who originally contributed the content or to obtain consensus from other editors before modifying. —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:47, 11 November 2023 (EST)
::::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} OK. We're on the same page. I agree with both of your preferences. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 21:04, 11 November 2023 (EST)
::::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} I agree that "Future Trends" and "Challenges" could be separated into two different subtopics. After reviewing the edit history, I believe Dr. Lucas is the one who created this heading, and he has indicated that any of the initial outline can be changed or removed. To me, it seems like almost everything currently in this section falls under the "Challenges" category, so that could be its own section. Then the "Future Trends" can be further developed. --[[User:Emmakd|Emma D.]] ([[User talk:Emmakd|talk]]) 15:29, 12 November 2023 (EST)

Under Ethical Considerations, I removed the second person pronouns with a more neutral one. Though the paragraph fits with the topic, writing in the second person is not standard practice for Wikipedia/Litwiki. Litwiki is the intellectual property of Dr. Gerald R. Lucas, PhD, and the rules and format of Wikipedia apply to Litwiki. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 15:07, 11 November 2023 (EST)

== Include external links section? ==

There are a few external (non-wikipedia) links in the article. Should we remove/replace the external links or create an External Links section? According to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External%20links Wikipedia:External links]: "With rare exceptions, external links should not be used in the body of an article. Instead, include appropriate external links in an "External links" section at the end of the article, and in the appropriate location within an infobox, if applicable." —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:50, 10 November 2023 (EST)

:{{Reply to|AWilliamson}} I think we should as this follows the Wikipedia guidelines as well as Dr. Lucas' earlier advice. --[[User:Apjones428|Apjones428]] ([[User talk:Apjones428|talk]]) 12:47, 13 November 2023 (EST)

==Heading Structure==
There are inconsistencies with the subheading structure on the page. I propose we establish the heading structure as follows: Heading 1 (for section titles), Subheading 1 (H2 for subsections within the main section), and Subheading 2 (H3 for items that need to be defined). No italics in subheadings.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:11, 11 November 2023 (EST)
:Debbie, I agree. Your suggestion makes sense, as there should be consistency throughout. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 19:58, 11 November 2023 (EST)

: {{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} I support your proposal. — [[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:56, 11 November 2023 (EST)

I edited the headings and subheadings. Thanks for your input everyone--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 18:52, 12 November 2023 (EST)

== Collaboration and Version Control ==

I think this section can be added to the digital documentation section.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 18:51, 12 November 2023 (EST)
:I moved version control to the digital documentation section. It was already listed there as a characteristic. I left collaboration as its own section. I'm not positive it falls under the characteristics of a digital document. I think it may be fine to leave that one on its own, but also down to do whatever the group thinks is best for it. [[User:Bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna.kerbuski]] ([[User talk:Bryanna.kerbuski|talk]]) 17:53, 13 November 2023 (EST)

I moved the collaboration under the section for digital documentation, and I renamed the subheading "Remote Collaboration" because that is a characteristic of digital documents, but now that I've done it, I wonder if I should have just left it alone. Perhaps, I just need to edit the content under the heading. [[User:Kleinberger|Kleinberger]] ([[User talk:Kleinberger|talk]]) 06:09, 14 November 2023 (EST)

== Features of Technical Communication Section ==
When compared to the other sections of the talk page, this section seems a bit choppy. I'm thinking we can get a better intro paragraph and maybe either add longer paragraphs for each item, or combine some of the subheadings together. Any thoughts on this? --[[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]] ([[User talk:Amanda.Austin1|talk]]) 21:19, 12 November 2023 (EST)

I do think that longer paragraphs will make the section more thorough. Maybe sections like "clear" and "concise" could be combined? [[User: HRoney]]

:{{Reply to|HRoney}} Thank you for your feedback, I've gone ahead and combined those two sections along with adding more context to the remainder of each subheadings in the section. To all, please feel free to review and let me know of any questions or revision changes you'd think would work. [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda.Austin1]] ([[User talk:Amanda.Austin1|talk]]) 14:04, 13 November 2023 (EST)

==Additional Sections==
What additional sections would we like to add to this article? I will be adding in more on multi-modality as well as more information to the SEO section of the page. Other thoughts? --[[User:Apjones428|Apjones428]] ([[User talk:Apjones428|talk]]) 12:47, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:I think adding in more on both multi-modality and SEO would be helpful. SEO is one that I am struggling with understanding. I think that it'd be nice to have more information about it on our wiki.[[User:Bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna.kerbuski]] ([[User talk:Bryanna.kerbuski|talk]]) 17:53, 13 November 2023 (EST)

== Links to other Wikipedia articles ==

In the Wikipedia: Citing Sources guidelines, under the Wikidata section, it states, "Wikidata is largely user-generated, and articles should not directly cite Wikidata as a source '''(just as it would be inappropriate to cite other Wikipedias' articles as sources)'''. Bold font is mine. Five of the eight title, name, or word links go to another Wikipedia article. One of those articles states it doesn't exist. We should consider correcting these. [[User:RDrummond|Randy M. Drummond]] ([[User talk:RDrummond|talk]]) 13:00, 13 November 2023 (EST)

== Article Organization ==

I've been taking a look at the overall structure of the article, and I wonder if we might consider revising the organization. It just seems like there's a bit too much back and forth between Technical Writing topics and Digital Writing topics. Also, I wonder if the Historical Context should come before the Features section. Something about the overall structure just feels "off" to me. [[User:Kleinberger|Kleinberger]] ([[User talk:Kleinberger|talk]]) 06:23, 14 November 2023 (EST)

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T11:09:20Z

Kleinberger: /* Collaboration and Version Control */

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T11:01:15Z

Kleinberger: /* Remote Collaboration */

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T10:59:21Z

Kleinberger: /* Collaboration */

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T10:58:52Z

Kleinberger: /* Remote Collaboration */

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-14T10:56:14Z

Kleinberger: /* Characteristics of Digital Documents */ Moved to characteristics section of digital documents.

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-07T15:46:21Z

Kleinberger: /* Collaboration */

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.<ref name=":3">Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). ''Technical Communication'' (13th ed). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martin's: 182-186. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL36001026M/Technical_Communication ISBN: 978-1-319-30769-1]</ref> Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations within this domain revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity.<ref name=":1">Carroll, Brian, (2010). ''Writing for Digital Media.'' New York: Routledge. </ref> This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach
| title = multimodal-approaches-in-technical-writing
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald-R
| date= September 19, 2023
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = ghost
| access-date =October 30, 2023
| ref = harv
}}</ref> In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
<ref>Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p.</ref>
==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as remaining clear, concise, complete, and correct, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. <ref>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge. New York, 2010. p.24.</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name=":3" /> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Online Documentation and User Experience==

===Digital Documentation===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.<ref name=":2">Lucas, Gerald (September 1, 2023). “Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents.” Retrieved Oct 29, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents</ref>

=== Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/ |title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |author= |website=Web Accessibility Initiative |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/ |title=Accessibility and the Web |author= |website=WCAG |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive. <ref> {{cite book | last = Robbins | first = Jennifer Niederst | title = Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics | publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. | edition = 5th | date = 2018 | location = Sebastopol, CA | page = 42 | isbn = 9781491960202}} </ref> Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

==== Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.<ref>Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J. (1999). ''Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It''. National Book Network. p. 207.</ref> The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===Examples of Digital Documents===
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

====Infographics ====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

==== Presentations====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

===User Experience===
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design and designing the document with the user in mind. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

==Collaboration and Version Control==

===Collaboration===
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki
| title = writing on a wiki
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald
| date= May 18, 2021
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = MediaWiki
| access-date =October 31, 2023
| quote = Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.
| ref = harv
}}</ref>

In fact, one of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined by being open source. And as such, it can be modified by anyone.

===Version Control===
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.<ref name=":2" />

==Ethical Considerations ==
Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" />

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.[https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra]

In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be a part of your job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so you will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force you into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as ones own.<ref name=":5" />

===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

== Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence ===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
}}</ref> One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

==References==
===Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-07T15:45:38Z

Kleinberger: /* Collaboration */

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.<ref name=":3">Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). ''Technical Communication'' (13th ed). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martin's: 182-186. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL36001026M/Technical_Communication ISBN: 978-1-319-30769-1]</ref> Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations within this domain revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity.<ref name=":1">Carroll, Brian, (2010). ''Writing for Digital Media.'' New York: Routledge. </ref> This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach
| title = multimodal-approaches-in-technical-writing
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald-R
| date= September 19, 2023
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = ghost
| access-date =October 30, 2023
| ref = harv
}}</ref> In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
<ref>Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p.</ref>
==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as remaining clear, concise, complete, and correct, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. <ref>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge. New York, 2010. p.24.</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name=":3" /> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Online Documentation and User Experience==

===Digital Documentation===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.<ref name=":2">Lucas, Gerald (September 1, 2023). “Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents.” Retrieved Oct 29, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents</ref>

=== Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/ |title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |author= |website=Web Accessibility Initiative |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/ |title=Accessibility and the Web |author= |website=WCAG |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive. <ref> {{cite book | last = Robbins | first = Jennifer Niederst | title = Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics | publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. | edition = 5th | date = 2018 | location = Sebastopol, CA | page = 42 | isbn = 9781491960202}} </ref> Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

==== Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.<ref>Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J. (1999). ''Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It''. National Book Network. p. 207.</ref> The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===Examples of Digital Documents===
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

====Infographics ====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

==== Presentations====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

===User Experience===
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design and designing the document with the user in mind. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

==Collaboration and Version Control==

===Collaboration===
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki
| title = writing on a wiki
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald
| date= May 18, 2021
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = MediaWiki
| access-date =October 31, 2023
| quote = Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.
| ref = harv
}}</ref>

</ref> In fact, one of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined by being open source. And as such, it can be modified by anyone.

===Version Control===
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.<ref name=":2" />

==Ethical Considerations ==
Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" />

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.[https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra]

In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be a part of your job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so you will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force you into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as ones own.<ref name=":5" />

===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

== Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence ===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
}}</ref> One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

==References==
===Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-07T15:20:15Z

Kleinberger: Added reference

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.<ref name=":3">Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). ''Technical Communication'' (13th ed). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martin's: 182-186. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL36001026M/Technical_Communication ISBN: 978-1-319-30769-1]</ref> Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations within this domain revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity.<ref name=":1">Carroll, Brian, (2010). ''Writing for Digital Media.'' New York: Routledge. </ref> This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach
| title = multimodal-approaches-in-technical-writing
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald-R
| date= September 19, 2023
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = ghost
| access-date =October 30, 2023
| ref = harv
}}</ref> In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
<ref>Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p.</ref>
==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as remaining clear, concise, complete, and correct, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. <ref>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge. New York, 2010. p.24.</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name=":3" /> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Online Documentation and User Experience==

===Digital Documentation===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.<ref name=":2">Lucas, Gerald (September 1, 2023). “Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents.” Retrieved Oct 29, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents</ref>

=== Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/ |title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |author= |website=Web Accessibility Initiative |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/ |title=Accessibility and the Web |author= |website=WCAG |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive. <ref> {{cite book | last = Robbins | first = Jennifer Niederst | title = Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics | publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. | edition = 5th | date = 2018 | location = Sebastopol, CA | page = 42 | isbn = 9781491960202}} </ref> Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

==== Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.<ref>Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J. (1999). ''Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It''. National Book Network. p. 207.</ref> The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===Examples of Digital Documents===
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

====Infographics ====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

==== Presentations====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

===User Experience===
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design and designing the document with the user in mind. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

==Collaboration and Version Control==

===Collaboration===
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref><nowiki>{{cite web |url=</nowiki>https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki<nowiki>|title="Writing on a Wiki" |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date= 18 May 2021| website= Technical Writing in the Digital Age |publisher= MediaWiki |access date= 31 October 2023 |quote=| ref=harv}}</nowiki>

</ref> In fact, one of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined by being open source. And as such, it can be modified by anyone.

===Version Control===
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.<ref name=":2" />

==Ethical Considerations ==
Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" />

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.[https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra]

In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be a part of your job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so you will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force you into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as ones own.<ref name=":5" />

===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

== Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence ===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
}}</ref> One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

==References==
===Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-10-31T15:09:16Z

Kleinberger: Added content to collaboration and version control heading.

ENGL 5106

2023-10-05T20:58:50Z

Kleinberger: /* Course Members */

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

== Course Information ==
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

== Course Members ==
After you get an account, you may add it below. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]

==Project==
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

ENGL 5106

2023-10-05T20:57:49Z

Kleinberger: /* Course Members */

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

== Course Information ==
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

== Course Members ==
After you get an account, you may add it below. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[Kimberly Leinberger]]

==Project==
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

User:Kleinberger

2023-10-05T20:56:30Z

Kleinberger: Created page with "Kimberly Leinberger is a higher education professional who is also a student working toward a graduate certificate in Technical Writing and Digital Communication at Middle Georgia State University."

Kimberly Leinberger is a higher education professional who is also a student working toward a graduate certificate in Technical Writing and Digital Communication at Middle Georgia State University.