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Subject:Re: State of the art From:Richard Mateosian <srm -at- C2 -dot- ORG> Date:Thu, 30 Nov 1995 19:03:01 -0800
The question about "state of the art" has two answers:
1. The term really has no place in ordinary technical writing.
It contributes nothing to the reader's understanding.
2. In marketing communication (which often appears in technical
manuals), the term has a clear connotation of technological
currency. I don't think it's likely to disappear soon.
Since manuals are an integral part of a total product offering, you should
consult with the marketing folks to find out what sort of message and
terminology to include in the promotional and product-comparison parts of
your documentation. ...RM