Technical communication

What is technical communication?

 

Technical communication includes a wide variety of roles and spans across most industries. Like editing and writing, technical communication does not belong to just one industry. A technical communicator might work as an individual or as part of a small team. People working in this field may have many different titles. You are part of the technical communication world if your role includes creating or supporting:

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• technical information in any format, including printed, electronic, mobile, online help

• information of any sort, such as procedures, work instructions, manuals, user guides, training, parts information

• procedures and instructions for business

• learning material (information design) and training content for print, electronic, or online use

• compliance based information that aligns with standards, legislation, and codes of practice

• user experience, workflow analysis, design, and usability test.

 

A technical communicator can come from any background and may have one of many different titles. One of the most commonly known titles is a technical writer. Whatever their title, a technical communicator creates or changes technical information about a product, service or system.

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Technical information is all around us and is part of our everyday life, whether you recognise it or not. How to use a product safely and correctly is important for the success of any product, service or system. 

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The content and format of technical information can vary, especially with the continuing changes to technology and how people access information today. With technology improvements, we need to keep up with the latest changes and techniques. Professional development is continuous to keep up with the latest information. Conferences, webinars, and other training provides opportunities to update knowledge and awareness.

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Technical communicators can use many different tools to produce content. Tools can include internal editing software, professional publishing tools, or common and basic word or text processors. Some formats may include the use of photographs, video, and 3D content. Recent changes also allow low-cost access of virtual or augmented reality. There is no limit to the possibilities of how to transfer knowledge. A good technical communicator is always thinking about the end-user, how they will access and interpret information, and the most suitable presentation format.

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Technical communicators can create technical information for new products or update existing information. They might research or test a product to interpret and test technical information or specifications. Some tasks include working with or interviewing subject matter experts (SMEs) to extract information and uncover the missing details that a user might need to know.

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Most technical communicators need to work with SMEs at some point when creating technical information. SMEs are the people who create or manage the raw details. We often need to extract extra information from them to unlock key information or clarify details. Technical communicators may also work with the end-users of the information, although this is not always possible. Consulting with end-users allows a technical communicator to create clear and accurate technical information that works for the people who need it.

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