Cover image for Text, context, and hypertext : writing with and for the computer
Title:
Text, context, and hypertext : writing with and for the computer
Publication Information:
Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Pr., 1988
ISBN:
9780262022750
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30000000925960 QA76.9.D6 T49 1988 Open Access Book Book
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Summary

Summary

Text, ConText, and HyperText presents recent developments in three related and important areas of technical communication: the design of effective documentation; the impact of new technology and research on technical writing; and the training and management of technical writers. The contributors are all authorities drawn from universities and industry who are active in defining and analyzing the role of computing in technical documentation and the role of documentation in the development of computing technology. This first synthesis of their diverse but related research provides a unique conceptualization of the field of computers and writing and documentation. The book first examines techniques for writing online documentation and the value of usability testing. It presents new research into the impact of human factors in screen design and designing online help, and looks at the impact of desktop publishing on documentation, and at visual literacy and graphic design. Artificial intelligence and documentation processing are then addressed with discussion of data acquisition, automated formatting in expert systems, and document databases; the uses of HyperText in documentation; and the future of technical writing in this new environment. Text, ConText, and HyperText concludes by examining the training and management of documentation groups: how they "learn to write" in industry, management of large-scale documentation projects and their effect on product development; and the "two cultures" of engineering and documentation. Edward Barrett is a Lecturer in the Writing Program at MIT. Text, ConText, and HyperText is included in the Information Systems series, edited by Michael Lesk.


Reviews 1

Choice Review

The chapters in this book are based upon presentations made at the Annual Conference on Writing for the Computing Industry in 1986. More accurately, the book is about the conjunction of three disciplines--the writing of computer programs, system documentation, and creative writing. In all three cases, the concern is methods of using the computer to communicate concepts and ideas. Part 1 is titled "Artificial Intelligence, Document Processing, and HyperText." Although the seven chapters are independently written, the coverage of the area is excellent. Of special note is the chapter by Younggren, which is one of the clearest illustrations seen of the HyperText concept, using Apple's HyperCard to illustrate the concept. Part 2, "Management, Training, and the Corporate Culture," contains nine chapters that discuss and describe the infrastructure required to support the next generation of text processing. Part 3, "Designing On-line Information," does not have the coherence of the other parts; its four chapters describe user interface problems with on-line documentation. Most chapters contain very fine sets of references for further study of the concepts presented. -J. Beidler, University of Scranton


Table of Contents

Edward BarrettMark P. HaselkornGeoffrey JamesR. John BrockmannGeoffrey JamesBoris KatzGeri YounggrenPatricia Ann CarlsonJohn M. SlatinRoger A. GriceLawrence B. LevineEdmond H. WeissJohn KirschRichard Ziegfeld and Ruth Hawkins and Wilson Judd and Robert MahanyEdward Barrett and James G. ParadisElizabeth Keyes and David Sykes and Elaine LewisPatricia SullivanMuriel ZimmermanPhilip Rubens and Robert KrullHenrietta Nickels ShirkJonathan PriceJohn Kirkman
Series Forewordp. ix
Acknowledgmentsp. xi
Introduction: A New Paradigm for Writing with and for the Computerp. xiii
I Artificial Intelligence, Document Processing, and Hypertext
1 The Future of "Writing" for the Computer Industryp. 3
2 Artificial Intelligence and Automated Publishing Systemsp. 15
3 Exploring the Connections between Improved Technology--Workstation and Desktop Publishing and Improved Methodology--Document Databasesp. 25
The Ethics of Automated Publishing Systems (A Response to Dr. Brockmann)p. 50
4 Text Processing with the START Natural Language Systemp. 55
5 Using an Object-Oriented Programming Language to Create Audience-Driven Hypermedia Environmentsp. 77
6 Hypertext: A Way of Incorporating User Feedback into Online Documentationp. 93
7 Hypertext and the Teaching of Writingp. 111
II Management, Training, and Corporate Culture
8 Information Development Is Part of Product Development -- Not an Afterthoughtp. 133
9 Corporate Culture, Technical Documentation, and Organizational Diagnosisp. 149
10 Usability: Stereotypes and Trapsp. 175
11 Investment in Computer-Product Documentation: Causes and Effectsp. 187
12 Preparing for a Successful Large-Scale Courseware Development Projectp. 211
13 The On-line Environment and In-House Trainingp. 227
14 Technology + Design + Research = Information Designp. 251
15 Writers as Total Desktop Publishers: Developing a Conceptual Approach to Trainingp. 265
16 Are Writers Obselete in the Computer Industry?p. 279
III Designing On-line Information
17 Designing Online Informationp. 291
18 Technical Writers as Computer Scientists: The Challenges of Online Documentationp. 311
19 Creating a Style for Online Helpp. 329
20 How "Friendly" Is Your Writing for Readers Around the World?p. 343
Indexp. 365