Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions

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 the integration of 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. In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is both comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

The profession of technical writing began to take shape in the 1950s when technical writers began to create formal organizations. During this time, academic programs and conferences were established. Key writing associations, such as the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, were also formed in the 1950s. Several of these associations 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>

With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many of the same 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>

Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. 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, rhetorical messages are conveyed via websites and social media platforms. <ref>{{cite book

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

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. Technical communicators are obligated to alert 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" />

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world’s oldest professional association dedicated to the advancement of 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>   

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 to maintain your ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

Artificial intelligence programs are capable of producing technical writings. 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