STC CWC Member Forum

Free seminar, November 10: Learn How To Cut Down On Product Documentation Costs

2010-08-30T12:10:56-08:00

Learn How To Cut Down On Product Documentation Costs
When: November 10th
Time: 9am-Noon
Hosted by: Next Level Engineering Services
Location: #440 – 4664 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby BC V5C 5T5
Phone: 866-445-6537 ext 109
Cost: Free

Seminar Description:
Join us for an informative session on how individuals in sales, marketing, and manufacturing can create the artwork and animations they need much earlier in the design process with 3DVIA Composer. 3DVIA Composer enables individuals with NO CAD background to directly access design files and pull exactly the artwork they need - whether that’s a photorealistic image for a brochure or an exploded view for a set of assembly instructions.

What we’ll cover
• How design and documentation can be produced on parallel tracks.
• With a few simple clicks, 3DVIA Composer creates scalable vector illustrations with options to control outer line thickness, component colors, shadows, balloons, parts lists, and paper space.
• How to easily generate animations for sales presentations and websites.
• How to cutback on documentation costs. Save the expense of taking digital photos for every product release and reduce paper waste by producing documents that feature more images vs. text.
• How to maximize efficiencies across departments - Help companies focus more on innovation vs. engineering spending time on ad hoc work.

To register, please use this link:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e306lusx6ed38df4

Do you agree with these recommendations?

2010-08-21T09:13:12-08:00

Check out the recommendations that the STC Board approved in April—funding and community support proposals from a survey of communities via their officers.

Download the report from the Resources section: (Word document).

Anyone planning to attend the API/SDK workshop in Portland, OR on August 28? Want to carpool?

2010-08-20T15:04:14-08:00

I’m thinking of going.
Post here, or email me at LoisRPatterson
at
gmail.com
if you might go, and particularly if you might want to carpool.

APIs and SDKs: Breaking into and Succeeding in a Specialty Market | August 28, 2010, Portland, OR

http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/site/events_related/apis_and_sdks_breaking_into_and_succeeding_in_a_specialty_market/

Cut Down On Product Documentation Costs-Free Seminar, August 23rd

2010-08-19T12:58:22-08:00

Learn How To Cut Down On Product Documentation Costs

When: Monday, August 23rd
Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Hosted by: Next Level Engineering Services
Location: #440 – 4664 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby BC V5C 5T5
Phone: 866-445-6537 ext 109
Cost: Free

To register, please use this link:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2z5xt4k4b088700

BCIT Technical Writing Student seeks 10 minutes for short questionnaire.

2010-07-20T19:39:04-08:00

Briefly, I am completing a funding application for school and I require completion of the attached questionnaire by employers of Technical Writers.
Please, complete the attached questionnaire and return to me by email by Fri. July 23, 2010 . Your support is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Cathee Lloyd
kittmartt at yahoo dot ca

STC Certification: Yay, nay, or hey!

2010-08-05T22:30:28-08:00

What are your thoughts on STC finally moving forward with the certification program debated over the past 20 years? The best thing since sliced bread? Too little too late? Feel free to share your thoughts in this discussion area.

Remember that STC Carolina Chapter is hosting Steven Jong, Chair of the certification committee, to discuss the in-progress development of the certification program in a webinar on August 19, 2010. Visit the Coast Lines post for more details.

Drowning, not waving? How Google Wave affects technical writers

2009-10-21T13:35:55-08:00

Interesting article about how Google Wave will change how technical writers do their job:

http://willkelly.typepad.com/will_kelly/2009/06/how-google-wave-can-drown-technical-writers.html

What do you think? How does your company handle technical writing now, and are they likely to use Google Wave? Is this just another doomsday prediction?

The most influential technical communication bloggers

2010-08-05T12:33:10-08:00

Say what you want about influence and whether it correlates to anything useful, but there are some pretty serious tech comm chops on this list of MindTouch’s most influential technical communication bloggers.

(Though, as a side note, I’d argue that using Alexa ranking as a mark of influence or any reliable source of traffic stats is pretty suspect. See what Darren Barefoot had to say about site ranking tools here: http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/archives/2010/07/more-evidence-that-compete-alexa-and-quantcast-are-largely-bollocks.html)

Without further ado, the list:
http://www.mindtouch.com/blog/2010/07/29/the-most-influential-technical-communicator-bloggers/

Discuss: Top 10 things not to do at an information interview!

2010-05-12T00:01:07-08:00

Okay, experienced and non-experienced professionals. How many of you have ever experienced what Karen Rempel detailed here:
http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/index.php/site/coastlines_article/top_10_things_not_to_do_at_an_information_interview/

Feel free to let the comments fly!

Documentation Schedule Shortcuts - Tools, Tips & Tricks

2010-05-11T23:50:20-08:00

Use this forum topic to discuss Karen Rempel’s review, Pam Drucker’s photos, or Ben Hechter’s slides. Article is posted here: http://www.stcwestcoast.ca/site/coastlines_article/schedule_shortcuts_tools_tips_and_tricks_ben_hechter