The secret to user generated and crowd sourced content

Mozilla’s Janet Swisher had a number of useful tips at Technical Communications UK 2012 on how to encourage user generated and community based content: People contribute because they want to learn something and for personal growth. You need to recognise this work. Crowds aren’t smart, communities of peers are. Create a community about the topic… Read more »

Looking back on Technical Communications UK 2012 conference

Technical Communications UK 2012, the conference organised by The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, ended last Thursday, and I’ve had a few days to reflect on this event. What was new There was a more of an international feel to the conference this year – there seemed to be more overseas speakers and delegates… Read more »

German Manager discovers the secret to writing product information in English

Sometimes, we are asked by German clients to improve the English text in their product information sheets. Although their staff speak and write excellent English, they recognise their marketing copy can appear a little stilted, “wordy” and unclear. The sentences may be grammatically correct, but no native-English speaker would ever write them in that way…. Read more »

Cherryleaf interview in PC Pro Magazine

Cherryleaf’s Ginny Critcher has been interviewed by PC Pro Magazine about the role of the Technical Author today. Ginny has extensive project management skills and has considerable experience using the main technical authoring tools. She is fluent in Spanish, has an MSc (in Information Systems), a BA (in Spanish Studies) and an RSA TEFL (teaching English… Read more »

The federated Help authoring system

The federated database is a term that has been growing in popularity in recent months. According to Wikipedia: Through data abstraction, federated database systems can provide a uniform user interface, enabling users and clients to store and retrieve data in multiple noncontiguous databases Could a similar approach be used in the field of technical authoring… Read more »