Scott Abel talks about DocTrain West 2008
Is Web 2.0 just another buzzword created by marketing types to sell features that have existed since the birth of the Internet? Or is there something to this generation of web tools that started innocently enough to make the Internet a friendlier place for the common folk, but has now become ruthless in the way it streams information from multiple varied and often divergent sources directly to your Inbox?
Media, once heralded as the message, is now an unstoppable vehicle that drives content to all of us, from all sides, at all times. No longer do we need to search out different perspectives on a single issue. The reader comments beneath a blog post will give that to us. The problem is, now that we have all this information, what are we supposed to do with it?
Web 2.0 is the focus of Documentation and Training West 2008, taking place at the Marriott Pinnacle from May 6 to 9. I asked Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler himself, to describe his second year spin on this conference. He explained that while technical communicators respond to specific words like: XML, single sourcing, information architecture, and, of course, DITA, it is always a challenge to feature presenters who can serve these topics in fresh ways, without rehashing old material.
Part of the problem is that conferences tend to be centered around vendor and not participant needs. In 2006, Abel opened his first ever appearance at the conference by telling his captive audience, “Conferences suck—including this one.” He was not yet the Program Manager, so he felt he could shoot from the hip from the point of view of a participant and not as a presenter. To provide maximum value to the attendees, presentations need to be well-researched, relevant, relatable, and above all, instructional. Presenters must provide practical tips and techniques that participants can apply immediately to improve their work or personal life.
This year, Documentation anad Training West explores how Web 2.0 fits into our neat little world of structured information hierarchies, usability studies, and content reuse. Featured alongside concept talks about content engineering, wiki-roundtripping, single-sourcing, DITA vs. DocBook, and help authoring, the conference features regaled experts on Web 2.0 topics. For example, among others:
- Bob Glushko educates future knowledge workers about document engineering;
- Darren Barefoot credits social media for providing tools to turn just about everyone into a technical writer;
- Ann Rockley predicts that companies will open their eyes to see DITA as the standard for component content management;
- Joseph Gollner proves that XML would still be in the hands of programmers if not for the social web; and
- Ann Gentle facilitates a panel to address the “beyond” of blogging.
Abel himself has been a forerunner in specialist user group communities (UGC), as one of the founders of the Content Management Professionals network and the Content Wrangler blog. He recently created a social network for content management professionals that has gained a lot of traction. In only three weeks, the community boasts over 1400 members—the first 500 signed up within the first 24 hours.
For more information about Documentation and Training West 2008:
STC members save $200
Contact Eileen Savary at PUBSNET (+1 978-649-8555) to register by phone before April 30, 2008. Use discount code: Vancouver.
Note: This offer is not retroactive, cannot be combined with other offers, and is only available by telephone.
Documentation and Training West 2008
May 6 – 9 2008
Regular price $999 US
Discount $799 US
STC CWC May chapter meeting
STC CWC members are invited to a joint event sponsored by DocTrain, featuring Ann Rockley and RJ Jacquez. We will be meeting at the Marriott Pinnacle instead of the YWCA conference centre on this date.
Next chapter event
Karen Rempel presents Yoga for Technical Writers
