TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> Twenty-five years ago, at the dawn of the word processing age, nobody
would
> have attempted half of the things that routinely appear on the pages of
> technical manuals today.
Thirty years ago, half of the things we did in tech. manuals are
no longer being done. Then, we had a stable of graphic artists and
designers to help us illustrate concepts and do page layout. Now,
unless the graphics are screen copies or clip-art silliness, very
little useful conceptual illustration gets put into tech. publications
at an OEM level.
To wit: when was the last time you read anything on TECHWR-L from
a tech. illustrator/graphic designer? Is there such a person in the
business any more?
In the area of free-hand graphic support and conceptual illustration,
computimation hasn't done that much for technical communication, IMHO...
the quality of PC paint/Corel Draw have a way to go to equal the good
old days of even the simplest handdrawn graphic illustration and design.
