RE: (no subject)

[DGoldstein -at- DeusTech -dot- com]

Mark Baker brightened 6/5/03 with:

<snip>
> The gist of my argument is this: The microprocessor created a temporary
> bubble in demand for technical writers because it put so many immature
> technologies in front of a public who had no previous experience or social
> support to guide their learning of them. Lots of ordinary consumers and
> office workers suddenly had strange new toys that needed documenting. This
> phase of the microprocessor revolution is largely over and we are returning
> to normal levels of demand for technical writers.
</snip>

Mark's gist doesn't jibe with either my own experience or most of the stories I've read on this list. From what I can see, the market for tech writers was hurt by the overall slowdown in the tech field, and not because fewer writers are needed for the new technologies that do come on line. Companies that come out with successful new hardware and software will continue to need tech writers. I can see how Mark's argument might apply to consumer products, but my impression is that only a small minority of us are writing consumer-oriented content.

There are plenty more "immature technologies" on the way, and they will all need to be potty-trained.

Dan Goldstein

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