The second issue of Intercom in 2016 focuses on trends in communications. By kind permission, Tom Johnson, an avid blogger at http://idratherbewriting.com/, agreed to let me publish his list of technical writing trends and predictions for 2016. They include a ripple effect from the growth of APIs and increased adoption of new tools like Swagger and Markdown.
Also in this issue are two blog posts by Summit Keynote Speaker David Rose on the Internet of Things and Enchanted Objects. The Summit is taking place in Anaheim, CA, 15–18 May 2016. If you like his thoughts on these trending topics, consider attending the Summit to hear him speak in person!
Also from the STC Summit, Conference Committee Chair Todd DeLuca and Program Manager Jamie Gillenwater have written an overview of the topics that emerged from reviewing nearly 300 conference proposals. Topics that are trending include government documentation, software and technology, academia and higher learning, translation and localization, scientific bodies, and more. The most popular themes were globalization and technology.
And related to globalization and international technical communication, Kirk St.Amant has written an article that summarizes five principles of research in culture, communication, and design. His article explains what the growth of global markets means for technical communicators who are increasingly conducting or reviewing research on other cultures. His five principles will help communicators understand how to influence the effectiveness and applicability of research with international audiences and users.
In the ever-popular topic of writing and editing, Bradford Connatser has prepared the second part of his study on noun strings. He offers practical advice for how to repair noun strings and how to educate authors to avoid using them in technical discourse.
The February Society Pages feature an update from the new Technical Communication editor, Dr. Sam Dragga; an article on transportation options in Anaheim; and a reminder of STC’s Corporate Value Program benefits. Both Scott Abel and Nicky Bleiel have contributed meaningful columns—one on a change agent in publishing and the other on presentation tips (just in time for Summit!). This issue also brings back Witful Thinking, with a humorous piece by Geoff Hart.
As always, send me your submissions, comments, or feedback via email.
