What is Technical Communication?
We all deal with a host of complex systems at home and at work - from computers to cars, consumer products to business procedures - and the need for accurate and accessible documentation to explain them has never been greater. Thus the need for the professional communicator has never been greater. Communication is an essential ingredient for the success and quality of any product, service or business. It involves scientific or technical knowledge of the subject, comprehension of how the subject can be used safely and efficiently, and an understanding of how we communicate.
Professionals communicators are highly skilled people, experienced and trained in preparing the instructional material in every day use that we often take for granted. Indeed, some of the most successful technical documentation is that which allows a person to use the subject almost intuitively. ISTC members have a wide variety of backgrounds and work in many fields. The results of their work are all around you: user guides, manuals, online information, the internet, product design. They are committed to quality and professionalism in communications and include:
- Information Designers
- Publication Managers
- Documentation Managers
- Technical Authors
- Illustrators
- Translators
- Quality Managers
- Desk Top Publishers
- Editors
- Lecturers
- Instructors
- Professors
- Engineers
- Graphic Designers
- Technical Communicators
- Indexers
- Multimedia Designers
- Scientists
- Software Designers
- Trainers
- Webmasters and more!
Here are descriptions, prepared by ISTC Members, of the profession of scientific and technical communication:
- Download the ISTC Careers Leaflet, Thinking of a career in Technical Communication? (PDF).
- The documentation scene by John Mobbs (web pages)
- Technical writer career information (for secondary schools career fairs, etc.) by David Farbey; available in MS Word and PDF
- What is a technical communicator? by Iain Wright FISTC (1MB MS PowerPoint file, including notes)
If you prepare instructional information, be it documents, web pages or technical illustrations, the ISTC is for you. Join now.
