Going to try and write an ongoing post for the trends panel. The panelists this year are Scott DeLoach (SD), Alan Houser (AH), Kevin Siegel (KS), Bogo Vatovec (BV), and Joe Welinske (JW).
3:10pm, the topic: Tools & Technology
3:12pm, AH: XML-based authoring will remain a niche-based technology. XML tools aren't as robust, standards are complex and move more slowly. Authoring tool vendors add XML as a "check off" item.
3:14PM, KS: Bullish on Adobe TechComm suite. Adobe will develop it for the Mac. Frame used to exist for the Mac, shouldn't be hard to bring it back. Mac preferred for high-end Flash work. Lot of engineering work for Captivate, RoboHelp, because they never existed on Mac before.
3:16pm, BV: UA technologies will bridge the gap betwrrn readers and creators and support user=generated content. Single-sourcing a shot in the wrong direction.
3:18pm, SB: Within 7 years. applications, files, and almost everything else will be web based. Local apps will exists, but will be rarely used. PCs will miniaturize.
3:26pm, the topic: User Assistance
3:27pm, SD: All software UA will be embedded or web-based. UA search tools will include wikis, discussion groups FAQ centers, knowledgebases, and live chat with tech support.
3:28pm, KS: Unsociable help systems won't be invited to the party. Help will have more demonstrations and simulations.
3:30pm, BV: "Introverted" technical writers who don't want to go out and help users won't be writing help, and will instead be moderating support forums. Company-supported experts will provide a link between users and engineers.
3:32pm, AH: Rich Internet application technology will fill the void in help delivery engines. Vista help, if publicly released, does not provide a general-purppose help delivery solution. RIA engines, such as Adobe AIR, will lead to platform-independent help delivery engines.
3:43pm, the topic: IT Industry
3:43pm, SB: Within 10 years, web will not be free. Ads will be blocked with paid subscriptions. Access devices and access will be free or inexpensive.
3:45pm, KS: Smaller training companies could meet their demise. Aggressive software vendors man training companies will find it more difficult to keep up. More training will go online/virtual.
3:48pm, AH: Quality of machine translation will increase dramatically in 5 years, will match the quality of human translation within 10 years.
3:51, BG: Computers as we know them will disappear. We will have all-in-one devices, specialized, devices, and embedded computers. Specialized devices will become even more specialized.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Techie Wednesday
Not only is Wednesday the third jam-packed day in a row, today turns out to be tremendously techie. This morning, Dave Gash on the separation of content and style. He claimed that there'd not be much code, but, well, let's just say that it's Dave. Worse, it was at 8:30am.
Now, right after lunch, my first exposer to XSLT. Wow. Yow. My brain is beginning to hurt. I think "declarative processing" is Dave's new catchphrase.
Good thing I found the nearby Ben Jerry's and was able to load up on sugar and chocolate to keep me going.
Now, right after lunch, my first exposer to XSLT. Wow. Yow. My brain is beginning to hurt. I think "declarative processing" is Dave's new catchphrase.
Good thing I found the nearby Ben Jerry's and was able to load up on sugar and chocolate to keep me going.
No code? Ha!
Dave Gash started out his early morning session by claiming that his session won't be abot code. A Dave Gash session without code is like an Australasian Cultural Evening outing without alcohol.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Later than last night, not as late as Sunday night
Well, got the last run of this year's newsletter started about 9:30, which means it'll be about midnight when I finish. I'm guessing that I might have to replace up to 3 toner cartridges before the run is done.
In a way, it's my own fault. For the first time ever, I caught a piece of what is affectionately known as the Australasian Cultural Evening. I've never gone before because (a) I've had the newsletter to put out, and (b) I don't drink.
But this year, I found myself suddenly with a nearly full newsletter as the last afternoon session finished. I'd dropped in my session notes, gotten pretty much caught up on tomorrow's events, got in notices of things that folks would have to know about, and just had space for a little more main-article writing and another photo.
At the start, the first stop on the pub crawl--oops, ACE--was to be a nearby place with good pub grub. Because Sue, my editor, was going out with them for the first hour, so I thought I'd go along and grab a bite myself.
But the ACE plans changed, and the first stop became a place not a few blocks away, and so I changed my plans to take in either the highly praised burger at the hotel bar or check out the chicken salad sandwich at Oliver's next door.
But when I came down to the lobby at about 7 to head into the bar, I found Dave Gash there, who was waiting for the ACE group. Thing was, they had already left. Dave confirmed where, and I decided go go along anyway.
The walk was farther than I feared, but it turned out to be an enjoyable time. I got a big juicy burger, downed 3 glasses of lemonade, and headed out the door back to the hotel.
Only to take a wrong turn out the pub door. I eventually made it back, but took a definitely roundabout route. I literally was puttng the final words in the last article when Sue knocked on the door.
Fortunately, the content was in good condition, the editing didn't take too long, and the printing got underway. Now,it's just a waiting game, and when the game's over, I can hit the sack, to get as ready as I can for one, last day.
In a way, it's my own fault. For the first time ever, I caught a piece of what is affectionately known as the Australasian Cultural Evening. I've never gone before because (a) I've had the newsletter to put out, and (b) I don't drink.
But this year, I found myself suddenly with a nearly full newsletter as the last afternoon session finished. I'd dropped in my session notes, gotten pretty much caught up on tomorrow's events, got in notices of things that folks would have to know about, and just had space for a little more main-article writing and another photo.
At the start, the first stop on the pub crawl--oops, ACE--was to be a nearby place with good pub grub. Because Sue, my editor, was going out with them for the first hour, so I thought I'd go along and grab a bite myself.
But the ACE plans changed, and the first stop became a place not a few blocks away, and so I changed my plans to take in either the highly praised burger at the hotel bar or check out the chicken salad sandwich at Oliver's next door.
But when I came down to the lobby at about 7 to head into the bar, I found Dave Gash there, who was waiting for the ACE group. Thing was, they had already left. Dave confirmed where, and I decided go go along anyway.
The walk was farther than I feared, but it turned out to be an enjoyable time. I got a big juicy burger, downed 3 glasses of lemonade, and headed out the door back to the hotel.
Only to take a wrong turn out the pub door. I eventually made it back, but took a definitely roundabout route. I literally was puttng the final words in the last article when Sue knocked on the door.
Fortunately, the content was in good condition, the editing didn't take too long, and the printing got underway. Now,it's just a waiting game, and when the game's over, I can hit the sack, to get as ready as I can for one, last day.
Sue, Don, and Char
I think this is a pretty good photo of Sue (Heim) and Don (Lammers) and Char (James-Tanny), don't you?
I think I hate Word 2007
I'm sitting in Paul Mueller's session on how to automate Word. He's using Word 2003, a design that hs essentially endured the ages. Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom (as many of you probably know), revamped the UI of Office applications for the 2007 release, getting rid of menus and adding something they call a ribbon.
Paul's talking abut using field codes for numbering, long a much, much better alternative to Word's autonumbering feature. Used to be, you'd go to the Insert menu and select Field Code.
Now?
Well first, there's no menu.
So I open the help system. Takes me a bit: I finally figure out it's by clicking on the very small question mark icon tucked in the upper-right corner. I search for "insert field code." Here are the search results, in order:
Field codes: UserName field
Field codes: Date field
Field codes: UserInitials field
Field codes: ListItem field
Field codes: FileName field
Field codes: Title field
Field codes: Sections field
Field codes: Advance field
Field codes: MacroButton field
Field codes: DocProperty field
Field codes: Template field
Field codes: Quote field
Field codes: SectionPages field
Field codes: CreateDate field
Field codes: Comments field
Field codes: FileSize field
Field codes: Embed field
Field codes" NoteRaf field
Field codes: Symbol field
Insert and format field codes in Word
Wow! the 20th item in the search results, two pages down, the only title with all of the search terms in the title.
Is there something wrong with Word's sedarch algorithm? From this limited evidence, I'd say so.
But wait, as they say on the late-night informaercials, there's more! Here's how to insert a field code (note, you don't start with an Insert menu):
On the Insert tab (OK, that's not so bad), in the Text group (huh?), click Quick Parts (huh???), and then click Field.
"Quick Parts"????? Where in bloody blazes did someone come up with that term? How is that anything approaching intuitive?
The irony is that the dialog box that comes up is essentially unganged from past versions.
The Quick Part button is actually a menu that has the following commands:
Document Property > (leads to s submenu, and is unavailable)
Field
--------------------------
Building Block Organizer...
Get More on Office Online...
Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery... (unavailable)
Again: huh?
Paul's talking abut using field codes for numbering, long a much, much better alternative to Word's autonumbering feature. Used to be, you'd go to the Insert menu and select Field Code.
Now?
Well first, there's no menu.
So I open the help system. Takes me a bit: I finally figure out it's by clicking on the very small question mark icon tucked in the upper-right corner. I search for "insert field code." Here are the search results, in order:
Field codes: UserName field
Field codes: Date field
Field codes: UserInitials field
Field codes: ListItem field
Field codes: FileName field
Field codes: Title field
Field codes: Sections field
Field codes: Advance field
Field codes: MacroButton field
Field codes: DocProperty field
Field codes: Template field
Field codes: Quote field
Field codes: SectionPages field
Field codes: CreateDate field
Field codes: Comments field
Field codes: FileSize field
Field codes: Embed field
Field codes" NoteRaf field
Field codes: Symbol field
Insert and format field codes in Word
Wow! the 20th item in the search results, two pages down, the only title with all of the search terms in the title.
Is there something wrong with Word's sedarch algorithm? From this limited evidence, I'd say so.
But wait, as they say on the late-night informaercials, there's more! Here's how to insert a field code (note, you don't start with an Insert menu):
On the Insert tab (OK, that's not so bad), in the Text group (huh?), click Quick Parts (huh???), and then click Field.
"Quick Parts"????? Where in bloody blazes did someone come up with that term? How is that anything approaching intuitive?
The irony is that the dialog box that comes up is essentially unganged from past versions.
The Quick Part button is actually a menu that has the following commands:
Document Property > (leads to s submenu, and is unavailable)
Field
--------------------------
Building Block Organizer...
Get More on Office Online...
Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery... (unavailable)
Again: huh?
Blogging about blogging
I've hit the second moment of confernece synchronicity, this one the morning of the second day.
The first was yesterday, when Cheri was talking about different ways of providing user assistance, and an example she used was a video she found that showed how to reset an iPod, a method described as being used more by younger generations, rather than textual content. And when I go to write my next blog post, there's a link on the home page to a YouTube "channel" dedicated to how to use Blogger.
This morning, I'm sitting in on a session about the usefulness of blogging, especially to reach user assistance goals, and here I am writing a blog entry.
The first was yesterday, when Cheri was talking about different ways of providing user assistance, and an example she used was a video she found that showed how to reset an iPod, a method described as being used more by younger generations, rather than textual content. And when I go to write my next blog post, there's a link on the home page to a YouTube "channel" dedicated to how to use Blogger.
This morning, I'm sitting in on a session about the usefulness of blogging, especially to reach user assistance goals, and here I am writing a blog entry.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Yay! Done early!
It's almost 8:30pm and Sue is making one last fine-tooth-comb pass of tomorrow's newsletter, much earlier than I got done last night, thankfully. I can hope that the printing process will go quicker, but I don't want to get too optimistic. Still, I could be done by 11.
Some really interesting sessions today. The code that Dave Gash presented was very technical, but also very cool. And the session on personas and the usefulness of creating conversations with them, by Dave and Jean Farkas, was tremendously intriguing and interesting.
It seems, however, that a number of folks were less than enamoured withthe opening keynote speaker. While the topic of linguistics can be interesting, some saw the speaker as less so. I saw one comment alluding to hearing snores from the back of the room.
I don't think I've ever heard it as loud as it was today at lunch. So many people were in that room, seemingly all talking at once, that the noise level suddenly seemed to jump from hubbub to roar. And everywhere I looked between sessions, people were interacting.
Tomorrow comes the long day. Early start, aggressive schedule, little or no time to pre-plan writing or photography for Wednesday's newsletter. I'm going to be doing a lot of multitasking during sessions...
Some really interesting sessions today. The code that Dave Gash presented was very technical, but also very cool. And the session on personas and the usefulness of creating conversations with them, by Dave and Jean Farkas, was tremendously intriguing and interesting.
It seems, however, that a number of folks were less than enamoured withthe opening keynote speaker. While the topic of linguistics can be interesting, some saw the speaker as less so. I saw one comment alluding to hearing snores from the back of the room.
I don't think I've ever heard it as loud as it was today at lunch. So many people were in that room, seemingly all talking at once, that the noise level suddenly seemed to jump from hubbub to roar. And everywhere I looked between sessions, people were interacting.
Tomorrow comes the long day. Early start, aggressive schedule, little or no time to pre-plan writing or photography for Wednesday's newsletter. I'm going to be doing a lot of multitasking during sessions...
What might have been...
The MadCap folks came up with a redesigned logo. As I understand it, in the iterative process of design, this was a design that almost made the final cut.
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