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| Home > Info Archives |
Information ArchivesHere are links going back several years to presentations we've made, articles we've published and other stuff. Feel free to browse. (Except where otherwise noted, all contents are Copyright Guidance Communications, Inc. Please contact us if you want to reprint something.)
Archived News Releases and Free DownloadsAside From Technical Writing, What in the World Can You Do? Guidance President Jack Massa was the featured speaker at the STC Atlanta Writing and Editing SIG Meeting, April 13, 2004 in Atlanta. His presentation was titled, "Aside From Technical Writing, What in the World Can You Do?" Jack surveyed a variety of occupations and industries in which technical communicators can use their skills to earn money. He discussed the qualifications needed and some of the pros and cons of each. He also talked about developing universal skills for marketing yourself and succeeding in any business endeavor.
Tools and Techniques for Effective E-Learning Jack Massa presented "Web Tools and Techniques for E-Learning" at the Society for Technical Communication Currents Conference, February 28, 2004 at Mercer University in Atlanta. The seminar provided an overview of what makes web-based training effective and explained five key techniques for creating successful WBT. It also examined two prominent WBT authoring tools: Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash.
Animating Web Pages with Dynamic HTML On December 16, 2003, Jack presented "Animating Web Pages with Dynamic HTML" at the Society for Technical Communication Atlanta Chapter Meeting. The presentation was part of the chapter's Tips and Tricks program for technical communicators. Jack provided guidelines for using web animations and then explained the pros and cons of animation using Dynamic HTML and Flash. Next, Jack demonstrated how to create an animation in DHTML using Macromedia Dreamweaver. Using Audio in Online Communication—Why, When, How? Guidance President Jack Massa, and Marcus Graham, president of GM Voices Inc., were the featured speakers at the Atlanta Society for Technical Communication Online Special Interest Group meeting, January 29th, 2003 in Atlanta. The program was entitled "Using Audio in Online Communication - Why, When, How?" Using audio enhances the power of online communications and opens a whole new channel for connecting with your audience. But audio can be costly and difficult to produce. When not used well, it can distract the audience and impede communication. This presentation discussed the best ways to use audio in product demos, online training and on web sites, and described both low-cost and professional audio solutions. Jack Massa reviewed what some experts in the fields of training and new media have to say about why and when to use audio—and when to avoid it. Jack then discussed some low-tech, low-cost ways to add audio to your projects. The second speaker, Marcus Graham, described the environment and services offered by a professional audio production company. Marcus explained the processes and technology his company uses to develop audio for web, multimedia and other applications. Marketing Writing Workshop In Spring of 2002, Guidance presented Can You Help Us Sell It? A Crash Course in Marketing Writing for Technical Communicators. This workshop is designed for technical communications professionals interested in migrating their skills to marketing writing. The class examines the strategies, writing styles, and building blocks used to create marketing documents. Participants analyze real-world examples: print and online, excellent and awful. We taught the workshop at two Society for Technical Communication (STC) Conferences:
Multimedia—Taking the Plunge Guidance President Jack Massa presented Multimedia—Taking the Plunge at the STC Currents Conference, March 4, 2000, in Atlanta, and again at the STC Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, May 22, 2000. Multimedia has traditionally been the province of big corporations or of specialist companies. Projects have typically required large, multi-disciplinary teams, long development cycles, and big budgets. But developments in recent years have made it practical for online authors to create low-cost, "fast-track" multimedia. This presentation describes the tools you need to create small-scale multimedia and looks at three example projects: a software guided tour, a CD browser, and a marketing demo.
Point and Click Multimedia Jack Massa addressed the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Authoring SIG, March 28, 2000 in Atlanta. The Topic was Point and Click Multimedia.
Guidance Presentation at the 1999 ACM SIGDOC Conference Guidance President Jack Massa presented The CD Browser, A New Documentation Vehicle at the Annual Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGDOC Conference, September 12-14, 1999 in New Orleans. A CD Browser is a user-friendly front-end to a software CD-ROM. In addition to allowing easy browsing of the CD contents and launching of installation programs, a CD Browser can enhance product documentation in several ways. This presentation looks at several examples of CD Browsers and how they can be used for documentation purposes. Building Knowledge Bases In May, 1998, Guidance presented Building the Treasure House, Creating Knowledge Bases for the World Wide Web at the STC Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. Web knowledge bases offer an excellent platform for providing technical documentation and customer support information. This 90-minute workshop explores the components of a web knowledge base and the steps needed to plan and build one. It includes interactive discussions and a writing exercise.
Articles, Papers, and Other Writings
This article describes seven building blocks commonly found in marketing writing for technology, and explains how to use them to create effective marketing copy. (From InterComm, The Magazine of the Society for Technical Communication, February, 2002.) The Great White Paper, Marketing Your Technology by Showcasing Your Expertise (external link) A white paper is an important weapon in the marketing arsenals of technology companies. It helps them sell indirectly, by demonstrating their expertise. This article shows you how to focus your company’s technical knowledge into a great white paper that will help you sell. (From TechLinks Community Publishing, November, 2001.) The story of IBM's by-passing of the Intel Merced chip in favor of charting its own course for 64-bit UNIX computing. (From TechTrends Magazine, published by Pioneer Electronics Inc., November, 1998.)
An introduction to web knowledge bases and the methods and tools needed to build one. (From InterComm, The Magazine of the Society for Technical Communication, February, 1998.)
A look at problems, solutions, and opportunities in technical support for systems vendors and resellers. (From TechTrends Magazine, published by Pioneer Electronics Inc., Winter, 1998.)
How various companies were using Lotus Domino to drive their Internet business solutions. (From TechTrends Magazine, published by Pioneer Electronics Inc., Summer, 1997.)
Like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, the mainframe is poised for a BIG comeback. (From TechTrends Magazine, published by Pioneer Electronics Inc., Spring, 1997.)
An introduction Lotus Domino, a technology that adds Internet capability to Lotus Notes groupware. (From TechTrends Magazine, published by Pioneer Electronics Inc., Spring, 1997.)
A report on three documentation reengineering efforts searching for efficient and cost-effective solutions. A paper presented at the Society for Technical Communications Annual Conference in Toronto, May 12, 1997.
Written for IBM resellers, an analysis of the similarities and differences between the AS/400 and RS/6000 platforms and their respective markets. (From UNIX Tales, published by Dickens Data Systems, Winter, 1997.)
An essay about coordinating the communication function across all departments of a business. (January, 1997.)
An overview of the Internet/Intranet revolution and the opportunities it offers all of us. (From UNIX Tales, published by Dickens Data Systems, Fall, 1996.) An introduction to workflow technology. (From UNIX Tales, published by Dickens Data Systems, Fall, 1996.)
Distilled principles of clear communication that apply to business documents of all types. (Fall, 1996.)
Newsletter ColumnsColumns on consulting from CommLink, the newsletter of the Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication. (1996-1997)
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