2011-2012 Speakers & Programming
In an effort to jump start planning for our 2011-2012 year I am putting out this request as both a call for speakers for members interested in volunteering to speak and to ask for suggestions for topics or speakers you would like to hear or speakers you would like to have speak again.
Space has been reserved at Duquesne University in the Student Union, but if you or the company you work for would like to host a meeting or a tour of their facility, we would be open to that as well.
Note all dates listed are the 3rd Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated. Dates listed removed after event date.
- March 15th – Speaker Needed
- April 19th – Speaker needed
- May 17th – Speaker & space needed (Duquesne Union closed)
- June __? – Picnic – Date & location suggestions needed
2011-2012 Schedule
February Meeting: Joe Welinske of WritersUA
| When: | Thursday, February 9, 2012 6:30-8:30 PM | ||
| Where: | Duquesne University Student Union Room 608 600 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15219Park in the Forbes Garage (cash only) and proceed to the top floor to cross to the Student Union. You will come out at ground-level, it is NOT the building connected via the skyway. You will see a flag pole and a Starbucks sign outside of the Duquesne Union. Elevators are located at the back of the lobby past the shops and university offices. The Locust Garage is permit only.Campus Map |
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| Price: |
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| RSVP: | REQUIRED – Seating is limited to 30 attendees. Send an e-mail to vp@stcpgh.org to RSVP and pay by cash or check at the door OR pay now using the PayPal button. Cancellations must be received by Tuesday, February 7th. |
Meeting Overview
An Overview of Trends, Tools, and Technologies in Software User Assistance
The application of technical communication skills to the development of software user assistance has grown immensely in the past twenty years. This specialization is very fulfilling and challenging and technical communicators are finding their role in the software development process to be increasingly valued. User assistance is much more than “Help.” It encompasses a wide range of skills and technologies that are combined to improve the software user’s experience. We contribute through wizards, tutorials, and web-based training. We develop and populate knowledge bases and content management systems. Printed manuals and their PDF equivalents are still an important element of our documentation sets.
Many of us are now embedding helpful content directly into the user interface. We are involved with usability testing, localization, testing, quality assurance, and branding. This presentation provides a cutting-edge overview of the latest trends in software user assistance, defines the key terminology, highlights the most important technologies, and offers predictions on future directions of our field. The seventy-five minute session should be of interest to technical communicators of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Speaker Bio
Joe Welinske is the president of WritersUA. WritersUA is a company devoted to providing training and information for user assistance professionals. The WritersUA/WinWriters Conference draws hundreds of attendees each year from around the world to share the latest in user assistance design and implementation. The free content on the WritersUA web site attracts over 20,000 visitors each month. Joe has been involved with software documentation development since 1984. Joe recently published Developing User Assistance for Mobile Apps. He has also taught online Help courses at the University of Washington, UC Santa Cruz, and Bellevue Community College. Joe received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1981, and a M.S. in Adult Instructional Management from Loyola University in 1987. Joe was the President of STC Puget Sound Chapter from 2006-2008 and served as Membership Director for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association in 2010.
Questions? Contact Robin Davidson at president@stcpgh.org
