Top 10 TechComm Influencers 2011
I've been listed by MindTouch as one of the Top 10 TechComm Influencers of 2011
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David Farbey, Technical Writer
Technical Communication and Information Design
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Most Influential Tech Comm Bloggers 2010
I've been listed by MindTouch as one of the top 25 Most Influential Tech Comm Bloggers for 2010!
Tag Archives: user-focus
What is “user focus” really about?
The best instructions are always written from the user’s point of view. But what does that mean? What is that point of view, and how do you reconcile that point of view with the widespread expectation amongst people who employ … Continue reading
Posted in information design, technical writing
Tagged information design, technical writing, user manuals, user-focus
6 Comments
Please release me from release notes
I have an admission to make. I detest software release notes. Let me be clear: I am all in favour of keeping customers informed about the latest enhancements to a product, and understand that a new software release is a … Continue reading
Mind the gap
I commute to work every day on the London Underground, known familiarly to Londoners and visitors alike as “the tube”. The tube network doesn’t always work as well as it could, and recently there was a very disruptive strike (with … Continue reading
Posted in information design, technical writing
Tagged information design, tech writing, technical writing, user-focus
4 Comments
Is there such a thing as a “Programmer/Writer”?
In a recent discussion thread on LinkedIn, someone asked for opinions about the job description for a vacancy for a “Programmer/Writer”. Was it possible they asked, for someone to be both a software programmer and a technical writer? Was it … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged software development, technical writer jobs, technical writing, user-focus
4 Comments
Beware the Default Manual
Thomas Barker, in his book Writing Software Documentation, uses the term “the default manual” to describe a user’s guide that is organised according to features, rather than tasks. This sort of user’s guide has a chapter for each menu in … Continue reading
At last, some consideration for users
As I work extensively with companies developing computer software and hardware, I am proud to be a member of the British Computer Society (the BCS). I receive regular emails and magazines and occasionally attend local meetings. This week an email … Continue reading
Usability from the trenches
Mark Liberman is a linguist and mathematician at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also has some responsibilities for student accommodation.He has written a wonderful article about an example of poor usability for a new computer application which was supposed … Continue reading
Tagged tech writing, usabilty, user-focus
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