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The Banff Centre for Conferences
Banff, Alberta, Canada
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATORS AT THE GREAT DIVIDE:
FROM COMPUTING TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
In 1982, SIGDOC held its first meeting. A respectable computer was a
mainframe or perhaps a minicomputer. Microcomputers were just appearing
on the scene. WordStar and VisiCalc were coming into the vocabulary. A
new breed of technical writers was writing third-party manuals to
explain to computer neophytes what the vendor manuals didn't tell.
Twelve years later we convene in a vastly different world --- a
world in which
* millions of microcomputers, mainframes, minis, and supercomputers of
many different makes and models are expected to work together
* people believe they should be able to use a computer the way they use
their other toys and appliances --- easily
* everyone who can afford a computer may not have the skills to read
about them
* people want more than the keyboard and mouse as primary accesses to
computers
The 80s brought us chunking, usability, ease-of-use, graphical
interface design, user friendly. The 90s' jargon includes
interoperability, device independence, virtual reality, the information
highway, and electronic document distribution.
The 1994 conference theme, "Technical Communicators at the Great
Divide: From Computing to Information Technology," gives us a context to
explore how we fit into this turn-of-the-century world; to talk about
the change and continuity in our roles as documentors of information
technology, and to share our experiences as we stand at a watershed in
our profession.
For more information, send e-mail to sigdoc94 -at- mit -dot- edu -dot-
Share your thoughts, research, experiences, and practical solutions with
us in Banff. Show off a special skill. Suggest a tutorial. The
following are suggestions to get you thinking.
INTEROPERABILITY
using the networks to collaborate and gather information
distributing documentation and software electronically
helping customers cope with "all the information in the world"
using the Internet to leverage existing resources
making documents available through virtual libraries and the Internet
HELP ON BOARD
producing on-line help
developing multimedia training tools
dealing with the customer's expectations
KEEPING UP
using new adaptive technology tools
providing "documentation" for users of adaptive technology
providing documentation for non-English speaking customers
and non-literate customers
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
using innovative technologies that support authoring, document
management, group work, hypertext design and mapping, networks and
distribution, multimedia, testing, integration of tool sets
CHANGING ROLES
using the Internet for professional development
merging with training and support
joining the GUI design team
PRESENTATION TYPES
Papers
30-minute presentations of a paper by one or more authors
20- to 30-minute presentations of two or three related papers
Panels
discussion involving a moderator and a number of speakers with
audience participation
Tutorials
half-day or full-day workshops
Posters
visual presentations, including text and multimedia demos, of
solutions to documentation/communication problems
PROPOSALS MUST INCLUDE:
PAPERS: A 500- to 1000-word description of the session topic,
outlining the thesis, main points, and implications for the field.
POSTERS: A 200- to 300-word abstract of your poster topic and,
if you plan to do one, multimedia demo.
On a separate page, the name, title, organization, address, and
telephone number of each participant. Please indicate which
participant is the principal contact.
The software discussed and demonstrated in your presentation. The
software should also be available for display at the conference
PLEASE SEND PROPOSALS TO:
SIGDOC '94
c/o Susan B. Jones
MIT 11-321
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
E-mail: sigdoc94 -at- mit -dot- edu
Fax: (617) 253-8665
Tel: (617) 253-0877
The Program Committee must receive all proposals by March 1, 1994. We
will let you know by May 1, 1994, whether or not your proposal is
accepted. Accepted papers and abstracts will appear in the proceedings
(copyright ACM). We must receive an electronic, final copy of your
paper via
e-mail or on diskette by July 15, 1994.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Chair, Susan B. Jones, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
<sbjones -at- mit -dot- edu>
Paul Beam, University of Waterloo <pdbeam -at- watarts -dot- uwaterloo -dot- ca>
John Brockmann, University of Delaware <jbrockma -at- chopin -dot- udel -dot- edu>
Stanley Dicks, Bellcore <stan2 -at- oscar -dot- ims -dot- bellcore -dot- com>
Phyllis Galt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology <pgalt -at- mit -dot- edu>
Barbara Mirel, DePaul University <bmirel -at- pmxpost -dot- depaul -dot- edu>
Ray Siemens, University of British Columbia <siemens -at- unixg -dot- ubc -dot- ca>
=====================================================
WHERE'S BANFF?
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, one hour west of Calgary, is Canada's
first National Park - Banff. The park's 2,564 square miles boasts some
of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife in the Rockies. Rolling
foothills, pristine glacial lakes and streams, rugged mountains,
unspoiled evergreen valleys - that's Banff.
Banff offers endless combinations of attractions and activities.
* Walk the trails near the town where you can see bald eagles, elk,
bighorn sheep, deer, coyote, beaver, bison, and even the occasional
bear.
* View the life that thrives on hot mineral waters along the Marsh
Trail.
* Take the Sulphur Mountain Gondola up 7,500 feet for afternoon tea at
the teahouse and a 90-mile view of the Banff townsite and the Bow
Valley.
* Tour the town of Banff in a horse-drawn carriage or on a bicycle, or
see Banff from a helicopter.
* Relax in the steamy waters of the Upper Hot Springs Pool.
In addition to the scenery, the rates are remarkable. The Banff
Centre for Conferences includes three meals and two coffee breaks a day
in their room rates of $106 CDN single and $167 CDN double (includes
meals for two).
TWO CONFERENCES - ONE TRIP!
=== ===
The week preceding SIGDOC '94 is IPCC 94, the IEEE Professional
Communication Society Conference, September 28-30. Its theme is
"Scaling New Heights in Technical Communication."
Contact Pamela Kostur, IPCC 94 General Chair, SaskTel Corporate
Affairs, 2121 Saskatchewan Dr., Regina, S. Sask, Canada S4P 3Y2, Tel.
(306) 777-2894, Fax (306) 522-3718.
