As both an educator and an employee in the technical communications field, Chris Ninkovich is on top of the latest trends and changes in this rapidly evolving profession. He works as a technical communicator at Speedline Solutions Inc., a software development company in Abbotsford BC, and teaches in BCIT’s Technical Communications Program. His natural enthusiasm and affability help him successfully manage his time between his two jobs and a busy home life which includes his wife and a three-year-old son.

Chris’s technical career started in 1994. At his first real job as a technical writer, he wrote a maintenance guide for an electric motorbike. “I didn’t know then it was called technical writing,” says Chris. Other past jobs include designing websites, writing proposals , and preparing marketing materials for stockholders. Having seen quite a few changes in the field, he’s got some sound advice for those new to technical communications.

Chris recommends that newcomers understand concepts like single sourcing and have a basic understanding of XML. Chris says that single sourcing is content reuse, repurposing. “Why reinvent the wheel?  It`s not plagiarism,” he says.  Chris explains that there is a real shift now to user-created content. He says that users don`t often use an entire instruction manual; they build their own manual by pulling modules of information from a website. Chris offers an example at Speedline`s customer trainer site where clients can use the entire program or they can build a list of resources for their fellow employees.

Products are more user-focused now he says, and people are making the Internet their own, through Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and Wikipedia.  Social networking trends are moving so quickly, it’s hard to know what’ll happen next. Who could have predicted three years ago the success of Facebook?

Chris also commented on questions that users will have about software.  “Usability is a big concern; it’s number one,” says Chris.  Since technical communicators will be writing the online help and instruction manuals for computer applications, Chris advises that they understand how they function. No matter how easy applications are to use, people will have questions.  Users need to be able to access help on the spot.  Chris says that technical communicators “must use the software; put your hands under the hood and play with this stuff.”