Chapter 1Chapter 1

Introduction to Technical Introduction to Technical CommunicationCommunication

Industrial Age Industrial Age →Information Age→Information Age

Information in itself has no value Information in itself has no value unless it is unless it is usableusable

Avoid useless informationAvoid useless information To understand and respond to To understand and respond to

technical and societal issues, we:technical and societal issues, we: Collect, sort, and interpret dataCollect, sort, and interpret data Recommend a course of actionRecommend a course of action Create a documentCreate a document

Technical Technical Communication is:Communication is:

User CenteredUser Centered Avoid personal thoughts or feelingsAvoid personal thoughts or feelings Audience’s needs = first priorityAudience’s needs = first priority

EfficientEfficient Customers, supervisors, and colleagues Customers, supervisors, and colleagues

use our knowledgeuse our knowledge Documents should not waste timeDocuments should not waste time Documents should be easy to navigate Documents should be easy to navigate

and straightforwardand straightforward

Elements of Effective Elements of Effective Technical DocumentTechnical Document

Worthwhile contentWorthwhile content Sensible organizationSensible organization Readable styleReadable style Effective visualsEffective visuals Accessible designAccessible design SupplementsSupplements

In the event of a In the event of a lawsuit, faulty lawsuit, faulty

writing is treated writing is treated like any other like any other faulty product.faulty product.

All Shapes and SizesAll Shapes and Sizes

LettersLetters MemosMemos EmailEmail Brochures, Pamphlets, Fact SheetsBrochures, Pamphlets, Fact Sheets Instructional MaterialInstructional Material ReportsReports ProposalsProposals

Lannon, John M. (2006). Technical Lannon, John M. (2006). Technical Communication (10Communication (10thth ed.). New York: ed.). New York:

Pearson Longman.Pearson Longman.