#techcomm — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #techcomm, aggregated by home.social.
-
So, Kinners, Hände hoch:
Wer hat Bock, mit mir in kurzen Publishingzyklen an technischen Texten im Bereich Klima- und Heizungstechnik zu arbeiten?Was unser Team macht, ist täglich frisch eingereichte Text/Bild-Entwürfe zurechtzuraspeln, bis sie unseren Anforderungen genügen und vom Service-Personal (Servicetechniker und Telefonservice sowie Techniker von Partner-Unternehmen) für Wartung, Diagnose und Problemlösung genutzt werden. 1/2
#fedihire_de #fedihire #getFediHired #techcomm #techdoc -
So, Kinners, Hände hoch:
Wer hat Bock, mit mir in kurzen Publishingzyklen an technischen Texten im Bereich Klima- und Heizungstechnik zu arbeiten?Was unser Team macht, ist täglich frisch eingereichte Text/Bild-Entwürfe zurechtzuraspeln, bis sie unseren Anforderungen genügen und vom Service-Personal (Servicetechniker und Telefonservice sowie Techniker von Partner-Unternehmen) für Wartung, Diagnose und Problemlösung genutzt werden. 1/2
#fedihire_de #fedihire #getFediHired #techcomm #techdoc -
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
-
"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.unoWe 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 sharpThis 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 "
-
"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.unoWe 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 sharpThis 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 "
-
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!
-
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
-
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)
-
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
-
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
-
Another day in the life of a documentarian. #writethedocs #techcomm
-
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.
-
If you're a technical writer, today is a sad day. The Society for Technical Communication has filed for bankruptcy.
-
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
-
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
-
📅💊 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
-
📅💊 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
-
📅 😷 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
-
📅 😷 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
-
"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
-
"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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Strange O/S message: "Your computer ran into a success."
❔
-
Twenty years ago at IBM, the company's commitment to user-focused content led to the decision to develop a standard way of structuring content for multiple #TechComm channels. Michael Priestley led the effort to create the new standard that became #DITA. A fascinating journey down Memory Lane in this conversation.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
CW: UR about families and death
I tested website content for people reporting details of a deceased family member.
One participant: "Just say 'died', don't use euphemisms." Another: "To show respect, make the text clear and the process easy."
The ethics review board adjusted my #research plan: Must provide participants with a list of counselling resources. (I chose to make this available to the #study's #observers too.)
#UR #ContentDesign #TechComm #testing #content #death #ethics #process #design
-
Maaike Groenewege is a leading voice in conversation design for #GenAI. She began her content career in #TechComm and draws on skills she developed then in her #ConversationalAI practice, having observed that whether you're writing for humans or designing prompts for LLMs, you have to truly understand your audience and give them clear instructions.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
So NASA engineers are having to consult "decades old manuals" to figure out how to fix a communications problem with the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which is now almost a light-day away from the Earth.
https://gizmodo.com/nasas-voyager-1-spacecraft-is-speaking-gibberish-1851096904
-
#Techcomm peeps: what are your predictions for the future of technical communication in 2024 and beyond?