#techcomm — Public Fediverse posts

Hello Mastodon 👋

After being rather quiet on social media for some time, I’m giving this another try.

I work in technical communication and am involved in tekom Europe, focusing on documentation, AI, standards, and European collaboration.

Looking forward to sharing ideas, learning, and connecting with people from the community again.

Frank Kimmerle

#TechComm #Documentation #AI #Mastodon #tekomEurope #tekom

Die Jahresmitgliederversammlung 2026 des Bundesverbands der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer (BDÜ) LV Hessen/Rheinland-Pfalz hat heute Vormittag in Wiesbaden den Vorstand entlastet und einen neuen, vollzähligen und damit schlagkräftigen Vorstand gewählt. Jetzt kommen die Pläne für 2026/27 und die Sachanträge. Mehr dazu bestimmt demnächst auf https://hrp.bdue.de/

#BDÜ #xl8 #1nt #t9y #TechDoc #TechComm #Dolmetschen #Ubersetzung

New blog post: A Couple of Free Writing Tools. The ebook converter is something that I want to try out. If anyone has used it and has comments, please leave a reply.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-couple-of-free-writing-tools.html

#dita #techcomm #ebooks

"Are we heading toward an AI utopia, an AI dystopia… or something in between?

In this episode of Technical Writing Uncensored, I sit down with technical writer and blogger Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti to talk about how AI and LLMs are changing technical writing — and what writers should actually be worried about.

Fabri writes the excellent Passo Uno blog, where he explores technical writing, AI, and the future of documentation.
Read his blog here: https://passo.uno

We discuss whether AI will replace writers, how technical writers can stay relevant, and why writers might actually become more important in an AI-driven world.

Fabri also explains why writers should think of AI as “a second language”, not something that replaces human expertise.

We also discuss:
Why AI is more like a tool (a hammer) than an autonomous intelligence
Why good documentation is essential for AI systems
Whether tech writers will become editors and prompt architects
Why writers need a “mental gym” to keep their thinking sharp

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the real impact of AI on technical writing, without the hype.

#TechnicalWritingUncensored #TechnicalWriter #TechnicalWriting #Documentarian #Documentation #WordNerds #TechComm #ContentStrategy #WritingTips #CareerAdvice #UserExperience #DocsLikeCode #TechWritingUncensored #TechCommunity #aiforwriters #ai #llm #artificialintelligence "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUDtIgcpgA

"Are we heading toward an AI utopia, an AI dystopia… or something in between?

In this episode of Technical Writing Uncensored, I sit down with technical writer and blogger Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti to talk about how AI and LLMs are changing technical writing — and what writers should actually be worried about.

Fabri writes the excellent Passo Uno blog, where he explores technical writing, AI, and the future of documentation.
Read his blog here: https://passo.uno

We discuss whether AI will replace writers, how technical writers can stay relevant, and why writers might actually become more important in an AI-driven world.

Fabri also explains why writers should think of AI as “a second language”, not something that replaces human expertise.

We also discuss:
Why AI is more like a tool (a hammer) than an autonomous intelligence
Why good documentation is essential for AI systems
Whether tech writers will become editors and prompt architects
Why writers need a “mental gym” to keep their thinking sharp

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the real impact of AI on technical writing, without the hype.

#TechnicalWritingUncensored #TechnicalWriter #TechnicalWriting #Documentarian #Documentation #WordNerds #TechComm #ContentStrategy #WritingTips #CareerAdvice #UserExperience #DocsLikeCode #TechWritingUncensored #TechCommunity #aiforwriters #ai #llm #artificialintelligence "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUDtIgcpgA

"Are we heading toward an AI utopia, an AI dystopia… or something in between?

In this episode of Technical Writing Uncensored, I sit down with technical writer and blogger Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti to talk about how AI and LLMs are changing technical writing — and what writers should actually be worried about.

Fabri writes the excellent Passo Uno blog, where he explores technical writing, AI, and the future of documentation.
Read his blog here: https://passo.uno

We discuss whether AI will replace writers, how technical writers can stay relevant, and why writers might actually become more important in an AI-driven world.

Fabri also explains why writers should think of AI as “a second language”, not something that replaces human expertise.

We also discuss:
Why AI is more like a tool (a hammer) than an autonomous intelligence
Why good documentation is essential for AI systems
Whether tech writers will become editors and prompt architects
Why writers need a “mental gym” to keep their thinking sharp

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the real impact of AI on technical writing, without the hype.

#TechnicalWritingUncensored #TechnicalWriter #TechnicalWriting #Documentarian #Documentation #WordNerds #TechComm #ContentStrategy #WritingTips #CareerAdvice #UserExperience #DocsLikeCode #TechWritingUncensored #TechCommunity #aiforwriters #ai #llm #artificialintelligence "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUDtIgcpgA

"Are we heading toward an AI utopia, an AI dystopia… or something in between?

In this episode of Technical Writing Uncensored, I sit down with technical writer and blogger Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti to talk about how AI and LLMs are changing technical writing — and what writers should actually be worried about.

Fabri writes the excellent Passo Uno blog, where he explores technical writing, AI, and the future of documentation.
Read his blog here: https://passo.uno

We discuss whether AI will replace writers, how technical writers can stay relevant, and why writers might actually become more important in an AI-driven world.

Fabri also explains why writers should think of AI as “a second language”, not something that replaces human expertise.

We also discuss:
Why AI is more like a tool (a hammer) than an autonomous intelligence
Why good documentation is essential for AI systems
Whether tech writers will become editors and prompt architects
Why writers need a “mental gym” to keep their thinking sharp

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the real impact of AI on technical writing, without the hype.

#TechnicalWritingUncensored #TechnicalWriter #TechnicalWriting #Documentarian #Documentation #WordNerds #TechComm #ContentStrategy #WritingTips #CareerAdvice #UserExperience #DocsLikeCode #TechWritingUncensored #TechCommunity #aiforwriters #ai #llm #artificialintelligence "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUDtIgcpgA

"Are we heading toward an AI utopia, an AI dystopia… or something in between?

In this episode of Technical Writing Uncensored, I sit down with technical writer and blogger Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti to talk about how AI and LLMs are changing technical writing — and what writers should actually be worried about.

Fabri writes the excellent Passo Uno blog, where he explores technical writing, AI, and the future of documentation.
Read his blog here: https://passo.uno

We discuss whether AI will replace writers, how technical writers can stay relevant, and why writers might actually become more important in an AI-driven world.

Fabri also explains why writers should think of AI as “a second language”, not something that replaces human expertise.

We also discuss:
Why AI is more like a tool (a hammer) than an autonomous intelligence
Why good documentation is essential for AI systems
Whether tech writers will become editors and prompt architects
Why writers need a “mental gym” to keep their thinking sharp

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the real impact of AI on technical writing, without the hype.

#TechnicalWritingUncensored #TechnicalWriter #TechnicalWriting #Documentarian #Documentation #WordNerds #TechComm #ContentStrategy #WritingTips #CareerAdvice #UserExperience #DocsLikeCode #TechWritingUncensored #TechCommunity #aiforwriters #ai #llm #artificialintelligence "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUDtIgcpgA

Well designed information is clear, unambiguous, and enhances comprehension and other human performance.

The illustration below shows a duration. Several design changes could each have made this usable, such as adding a space:
23:00 09:30
or a word:
23:00 to 09:30

#InformationDesign #ContentDesign #TechComm #TechnicalCommunication #interface #usability #duration #time #clarity #comprehension #accuracy #performance #UserPerformance

A slightly updated #introduction as I'm closing out my tiny private instance and moving here.

I had stepped away for a bit, so I am hoping the move here really pushes me to refocus and re-engage with communities on Mastodon.

As for who I am:

I'm a researcher, writer, and developer living in Minnesota. I have a PhD in #TechComm with research interests in the #digitalhumanities and the #sociotechnical histories surrounding technology.

I work primarily in the #civictech and #nonprofit space helping organizations tackling homelessness.

I also talk a lot about #poetry , #art, and the random #ttrpg.

I am looking forward to re-connecting!

This week's Featured Links post has links to articles about the MAGA debt bomb, how the Grateful Dead helped build the internet, how we should respond to people 'doing their own research', and more.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2025/06/featured-links-june-23-2025.html

#Apple, #iPad, #COVID19, #LongCovID, #Finance, #Food, #History, #Medical, #Music, #GratefulDead, #Politics, #Society, #TechComm, #Technology

The problem with "feature first"

\\From Beta to Bedrock: Build Products that Stick.

https://alistapart.com/article/from-beta-to-bedrock-build-products-that-stick/ #ux #techcomm #productdesign

(Liam Nugent via A list apart)

Is "intelligence type" missing from your personas?

\\The Many Facets of Intelligence: Designing User Experiences and Documentation for Diverse Minds

https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2025/04/the-many-facets-of-intelligence-designing-user-experiences-and-documentation-for-diverse-minds.php
#techcomm #uxdesign #ux

(@samiksha Chaudhuri via @uxmatters)

When I was working at the Toronto Stock Exchange I had to create some large documents with content that was being shared with another writer. I did not trust Word's Master Document feature so came up with my own solution. It took a bit more effort than using Master Documents but was stable. I've published my guide to working with multi-file Word documents on my blog in the hope that it may help others.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2025/03/working-with-multi-file-word-documents_7.html

#MicrosoftWord #word365 #TechComm #TechnicalWriting

Another day in the life of a documentarian. #writethedocs #techcomm

If you're a technical writer, today is a sad day. The Society for Technical Communication has filed for bankruptcy.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2025/01/stc-rip.html

#TechComm #STC

@alanpringle @sarahokeefe

Wow. After some 60+ years the Society for Technical Communication (STC) has folded. I’ve been a member for more than 20 years.

This is a reflection on the importance (or lack thereof) of documentation particularly in the software industry, but also hardware, manufacturing, etc. This was once seen as crucial for customer support, but now it’s just an expense to spend as little on as possible.

#enshittification #RIPSTC #techcomm #documentation #racetothebottom

https://www.stc.org/

📅💊 Highlights of the work day:

- Reviewed a big PR with significant content updates + a new guide that should clarify an important concept and help users establish some best practices when using the products

- Great Q&A session with the product manager as part of the kickoff meeting for a new docs project

- Spent some time troubleshooting the GH Action from yesterday; still reconsidering the current approach

#MyMicroBlog #TechnicalWriting #techcomm #documentation

📅 😷 Highlights of the work day:

- Worked on automating the process of creating release notes with GitHub Actions

- Updated the plan and prepared action items for a new documentation project

- Reviewed updates to an OpenAPI document. Figuring out the best approach for using a schema as a base, extensible model

#MyMicroBlog #TechnicalWriting #techcomm #documentation

"Similar to Wood’s conviction that AI’s transformative potential doesn’t come from simple tasks like writing emails, tech writers will likely find conviction when they go beyond fixing simple grammar errors to using AI for developing conceptual articles, generating release notes, or understanding connections across disparate API products.

One of my colleagues compared using AI like learning to play an instrument—it’s one thing to have an intellectual understanding about the instrument and notes, but knowing how to play an instrument well is entirely different. It takes practice, experimentation, learning, diligence, and time. Maybe too many tech writers feel that AI should provide a push-button solution to creating documentation effortlessly (a misguided perception based on too much AI hype). When pushing that button doesn’t magically produce great docs, perhaps they become cynical and dismissive?"

https://idratherbewriting.com/blog/trends-predictions-2025-tech-comm

#AI #GenerativeAI #TechnicalWriting #TechnicalCommunication #APIs #APIDocumentation #PromptEngineering #TechComm

Only a couple of weeks left to get your documentation related talk proposal in for the next Write the Docs conference, held May 4-6 Portland.

➡️ https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2025/cfp/

#writethedocs #techcomm #documentation #cfp

I explain what I do in descending order of specificity, situation-dependent:

- I write UI and API docs for a cybersecurity company.

- I’m a software tech writer.

- I’m a “tech writer.” I write software manuals. No, not furniture manuals.

- I work in tech. No, I’m not a programmer, but I know some. They’re nice. Sometimes.

- I work in tech.

- I work with computers.

The attached Calkearns (with alt-text) is better for some of these.

#TechWriting #TechComm #Software #Humor #Calkearns

Strange O/S message: "Your computer ran into a success."

❔

https://infosec.exchange/@catsalad/112676564786376626

#UI #UX #ContentDesign #TechComm #messages #OS

This is your reminder that we're just over two weeks out from the talk proposal deadline for Write the Docs Atlantic, an online conference about documentation.

All the details are here https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/atlantic/2024/cfp/

#techcomm #writethedocs #documentation #cfp #conference

Retweets appreciated.

The goal of this short and sweet style guide is to be "just enough" guidance for technical documentation contributors who aren't regular writers. Thank you Lorna Jane! https://github.com/lornajane/developer-style-guide #opensource #techwriting #writethedocs #techcomm

It seems that Microsoft is forcing Copilot onto users of Microsoft Word. If you subscribe to the paid version of Copilot, you'll start seeing it pop up in Word, whether you want it or not.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2024/01/microsoft-is-forcing-copilot-onto-word.html

#MicrosoftWord #Copilot #AI #Techcomm

This.

\\Real content design isn’t like the books
https://medium.com/@emma.aldington/real-content-design-isnt-like-the-books-cb79785a026b
#contentdesign #techcomm #ux

I had a recipe that I wanted to share with the family, but the original was a scanned PDF of a rather smudgy page that I didn't want to share. I was able to convert it text and edit it in Word, then save it as a much cleaner and smaller PDF.

Details are too long to post here so I put them on my blog.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2024/01/converting-image-of-text-into-editable.html

You could probably do this directly in Acrobat Pro or other tools but these are what I had on hand.

#TechComm #MicrosoftWord #PDF

Today's blog post is another collection of links to articles on the excellent freeCodeCamp site that should be useful to technical writers (and developers) who want to improve their technical skills.

https://coredump3.blogspot.com/2024/01/more-useful-coding-tutorials-for.html

#Programming #TechComm #TechnicalWriters #HTML #CSS #MySQL #AI

I'm Paul Goble in Nebraska & Colorado, USA. I care about you.

#NotMe: Childrens author, Eurasian expert

Values: #LoveGod #LovePeople #truthmatters #CovidIsNotOver

Work: Technical writer #techcomm #scicomm #icpms #spectroscopy #uxdesign #apidoc #instrumentation

Interests: #physics #linguistics #risks #lighting #VisualArts  #nature #ChristianFiction #libraries #meteorology Play #violin #recorder

Orgs: #ieee-pcs #acm #sigdoc #stc

Pronouns: Talk to me, not about me.

#introduction

"Centering Students’ Rhetorical Knowledge: The Community of Inquiry as Formative Assessment": My essay on valuing the rhetorical experiences of diverse students in peer-review contexts has appeared in _Legal Writing_ vol. 27 @[email protected]

#LawProfs
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#EliReview

Thanks in part to great suggestions I've had over the last couple days about making my Mastodon experience even better, I'm following a bunch of folks from #lawfedi #philosophy and #CommStudies. Just sayin in case I look like some kinda crazy follow-bot. I use hashtags to post on and track topics I'm interested in. Follow back if any of these are your gigs:

#LawProfs
#argumentation
#LegalPhilosophy
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#Section508

Is the problem with #ChatGPT 'cheating,' or is it failure to practice what you want to be? The take from @[email protected]
https://billhd.medium.com/missing-practice-bdd8d27375db

#TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies #TechComm #LegalWriting

@shakil_prof @teamrhetoric @writingstudies @languagelovers I was part of wireless carriers launching teams when the switch from analog to digital phones took place. Remember cell phone manufacturers explaining that we’d eventually shop and do our banking through phones. We laughed :ablobthinkingeyes: I wonder how ChatGPT will change the way we teach and learn #writing #WritingStudies #techcomm #teamrhetoric #academia

#TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies #TechComm #LegalWriting friends: I'm on a project with a long #PDF report where I must ensure its compliance with #Section508 and other federal regulations relating to #DocumentAccessibility . I'm hoping to go beyond mere legal compliance, though, and seek state-of-the-art accessibility resources. I can search the web (and have), but I'm interested in resources you have actually used or supervised others using that you have found especially useful. Boost plz!

#TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies #TechComm #LegalWriting friends: I'm on a project with a long #PDF report where I must ensure its compliance with #Section508 and other federal regulations relating to #DocumentAccessibility . I'm hoping to go beyond mere legal compliance, though, and seek state-of-the-art accessibility resources. I can search the web (and have), but I'm interested in resources you have actually used or supervised others using that you have found especially useful. Boost plz!

#TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies #TechComm #LegalWriting friends: I'm on a project with a long #PDF report where I must ensure its compliance with #Section508 and other federal regulations relating to #DocumentAccessibility . I'm hoping to go beyond mere legal compliance, though, and seek state-of-the-art accessibility resources. I can search the web (and have), but I'm interested in resources you have actually used or supervised others using that you have found especially useful. Boost plz!

#TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies #TechComm #LegalWriting friends: I'm on a project with a long #PDF report where I must ensure its compliance with #Section508 and other federal regulations relating to #DocumentAccessibility . I'm hoping to go beyond mere legal compliance, though, and seek state-of-the-art accessibility resources. I can search the web (and have), but I'm interested in resources you have actually used or supervised others using that you have found especially useful. Boost plz!

"Centering Students’ Rhetorical Knowledge: The Community of Inquiry as Formative Assessment": My essay on valuing the rhetorical experiences of diverse students in peer-review contexts has appeared in _Legal Writing_ vol. 27 @[email protected]

#LawProfs
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#EliReview

"Centering Students’ Rhetorical Knowledge: The Community of Inquiry as Formative Assessment": My essay on valuing the rhetorical experiences of diverse students in peer-review contexts has appeared in _Legal Writing_ vol. 27 @[email protected]

#LawProfs
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#EliReview

"Centering Students’ Rhetorical Knowledge: The Community of Inquiry as Formative Assessment": My essay on valuing the rhetorical experiences of diverse students in peer-review contexts has appeared in _Legal Writing_ vol. 27 @[email protected]

#LawProfs
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#EliReview

Thanks in part to great suggestions I've had over the last couple days about making my Mastodon experience even better, I'm following a bunch of folks from #lawfedi #philosophy and #CommStudies. Just sayin in case I look like some kinda crazy follow-bot. I use hashtags to post on and track topics I'm interested in. Follow back if any of these are your gigs:

#LawProfs
#argumentation
#LegalPhilosophy
#LegalWriting
#TeamRhetoric
#WritingStudies
#TechComm
#Section508

Shaping digital experiences through words

\\The art of content design

https://medium.com/@itsmeeprince/the-art-of-content-design-9eec585c4717 #contentstrategy #contentdesign #uxcontent #techcomm

(Prince Ebenezer)

Nailed it!

\\Every design team needs writers

https://uxdesign.cc/every-design-team-needs-writers-95ddbd4d8081

#ux #techcomm #uxcontent #uxwriting

(Nick DiLallo via UX Collective)

I'm Paul Goble in Nebraska & Colorado, USA. I care about you.

#NotMe: Childrens author, Eurasian expert

Values: #LoveGod #LovePeople #truthmatters #CovidIsNotOver

Work: Technical writer #techcomm #scicomm #icpms #spectroscopy #uxdesign #apidoc #instrumentation

Interests: #physics #linguistics #risks #lighting #VisualArts  #nature #ChristianFiction #libraries #meteorology Play #violin #recorder

Orgs: #ieee-pcs #acm #sigdoc #stc

Pronouns: Talk to me, not about me.

#introduction

I'm Paul Goble in Nebraska & Colorado, USA. I care about you.

#NotMe: Childrens author, Eurasian expert

Values: #LoveGod #LovePeople #truthmatters #CovidIsNotOver

Work: Technical writer #techcomm #scicomm #icpms #spectroscopy #uxdesign #apidoc #instrumentation

Interests: #physics #linguistics #risks #lighting #VisualArts  #nature #ChristianFiction #libraries #meteorology Play #violin #recorder

Orgs: #ieee-pcs #acm #sigdoc #stc

Pronouns: Talk to me, not about me.

#introduction

I'm Paul Goble in Nebraska & Colorado, USA. I care about you.

#NotMe: Childrens author, Eurasian expert

Values: #LoveGod #LovePeople #truthmatters #CovidIsNotOver

Work: Technical writer #techcomm #scicomm #icpms #spectroscopy #uxdesign #apidoc #instrumentation

Interests: #physics #linguistics #risks #lighting #VisualArts  #nature #ChristianFiction #libraries #meteorology Play #violin #recorder

Orgs: #ieee-pcs #acm #sigdoc #stc

Pronouns: Talk to me, not about me.

#introduction

I'm Paul Goble in Nebraska & Colorado, USA. I care about you.

#NotMe: Childrens author, Eurasian expert

Values: #LoveGod #LovePeople #truthmatters #CovidIsNotOver

Work: Technical writer #techcomm #scicomm #icpms #spectroscopy #uxdesign #apidoc #instrumentation

Interests: #physics #linguistics #risks #lighting #VisualArts  #nature #ChristianFiction #libraries #meteorology Play #violin #recorder

Orgs: #ieee-pcs #acm #sigdoc #stc

Pronouns: Talk to me, not about me.

#introduction

#introductions
Okay, so I'm doing the listing interests as tags thing because that seems useful. To make connections, tag 5-7 things not already in your profile, and then post the instructions so others will follow suit.

#HistoricalClothing
#writing
#Oscars
#TechComm
#coffee
#ttrpg
#art
#knitting