The Impact of Single Sourcing and Technology

THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY For the last 15 years, technology has dominated our profession. Technical communicators were plunged into the world of desktop publishing in the mid 1980s. It was no longer enough to be a good writer; you had to know page layout and graphic design. In recent years, technology to develop help materials and Web-based materials has driven the direction of our profession. Employers have looked for new hires who could use the new “hot” technology, and placed a reduced emphasis on effective communication skills and audience and task analysis. Without a strong knowledge of tools, technical communicators have had little opportunity for career growth. The emphasis on technological skills has diverted the profession from its original role, that of effective communication. Instead, a significant portion of a technical communicator’s daily routine has revolved around: