TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Sam Clemens Has a Live Manual From:Richard Mateosian <srm -at- C2 -dot- ORG> Date:Wed, 12 Oct 1994 16:05:27 -0700
Someone sent me email about the Sam Clemens/Manuals are dead threads, and it
stirred me to try again to clarify my point.
A passive, text-based account, even online and full of links, can't teach or
describe the current major software packages, and the situation will only
get worse.
You'll receive a paper manual with the software packages of the future, but
it will be like a travel brochure, featuring scenes of exciting program locales.
Online help systems that achieve symbiosis with the software will do the
teaching and describing. A new software development methodology and new help
authoring tools will make this all possible.
We need to involve ourselves early to assure that the tools we'll be using
suit our needs. ...RM
Richard Mateosian Technical Writer in Berkeley CA srm -at- c2 -dot- org
