Semapedia.org – Tagging The Mobile Semantic Web

May 29, 2007 Blog No Comments

Semapedia is a Web 2.0 service that we think has many useful applications. It was designed to help people connect their virtual and physical worlds. To do this, users create Semapedia Tags—cellphone-readable hyperlinks to online content from (for now) Wikipedia, or one of its sisters services: Wikibooks, Wikisource, Wikinews, and Wikiquotes—that contain a link from a physical place or object to relevant online content. The service provides instructions for creating and distributing tags. Users create tags by entering a Wikipedia URL into the Semapedia tag creation-form. Doing so generates a Read the full article…

Finally! A DITA Whitepaper Worth Reading: Dynamic Content Delivery Using DITA

May 24, 2007 Blog 2 Comments

The 25-page paper, Dynamic Content Delivery Using DITA, authored by Eric Severson, Chief Technology Officer at Flatirons Solutions, explains in sufficient detail how the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) can help content-heavy organizations provide dynamic, personalized content delivery to customers on demand. This Paper Succeeds Where Most Others Fail We really like this whitepaper because it provides a clear picture of how adopting the topic-based content standard can help your organization see the possibilities a standardized, topic-based approach to content creation can provide. It also helps readers understand how such Read the full article…

Content is King at Web Content 2007 Chicago, June 18-19, 2007

May 23, 2007 Blog No Comments

Content really is king at the Web Content 2007 Conference. Just take a look at the courtly procession of featured speakers. On Day One, you’ll have the opportunity to hear the crown-head of content, Ann Rockley of The Rockley Group, give her best advice on Using Web Content To Build the Customer Relationship. It’s no secret that giving your customers personalized attention keeps them happy and increases referrals. But how do you do that on the Web? By organizing and controlling content to develop a reciprocal relationship. It’s like any Read the full article…

Podcast: TheContentWrangler on Web 2.0 at STC International Conference

May 22, 2007 Blog No Comments

TechWriterVoices has published a podcast interview with Scott Abel of TheContentWrangler.com. The interview focuses on several of the topics Abel discussed in his extremely popular conference presentation, Web 2.0 101: Understanding Web 2.0 and Its Impact on Technical Communication. Abel discusses the importance of RSS feeds, wikis, blogs, geospatial positioning, social networking, tagging, and other Web 2.0 technologies, and their impact on technical communication. Johnson writes: “Scott’s presentation on Web 2.0 was the most popular presentation of the entire conference.” Resources Learn about the Geospatial Web Test drive Plazes a Read the full article…

Grammar Girl To The Rescue

May 22, 2007 Blog No Comments

Got a grammar question? Grammar Girl has answers. Check out her popular website, Quick and Dirty Tricks for Better Writing. A recent hot topic—Grammar Girl’s Strunk & Twite: An Unofficial Twitter Style Guide is particularly timely advice for the web 2.0 generation. Learn more about Twitter.

Decision Time: DITA or S1000D

May 21, 2007 Blog No Comments

By Joel Amoussou, special to TheContentWrangler.com The subject of interoperability between S1000D and the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) has received significant attention within the technical documentation community recently. This article discusses the following issues: Shall we create DITA specializations for S1000D data modules? How can we facilitate interoperability between DITA and S1000D, to enable round-tripping transforms for example? Is the DITA specialization mechanism the best way to make S1000D extensible? How can users leverage the strengths of both DITA and S1000D without introducing complexity? In general, our approach to Read the full article…

Zamzar: Quick, Free, Online File Conversion

May 20, 2007 Blog No Comments

What more can we say? It’s free. It’s quick. It’s online. It’s Zamzar, a file conversion product you might find handy when you find yourself in need of basic file conversion. Types of files handled include word processing, video, audio and more. We did a basic .doc to html conversion of a consistently structured (formatted) MS Word document in just a few seconds. Worked smoothly without any fuss. Nothing fancy. Just fast, online, and free.

Do You Really Pay Attention? Really?

May 19, 2007 Blog No Comments

In order to design information products that are useful to our customers, we have to pay attention to what they say they want and need. But, far to often, we can’t see the real problems in need of being solved. Perhaps it’s because we just don’t pay as much attention as we think we do. Take the case of the “Amazing Color Changing Card Trick” (see video below). If you don’t see what’s going on the first time around, you’re not alone.

Unusual Uses For Software: Solving Sudoku Puzzles With Adobe FrameMaker

May 18, 2007 Blog No Comments

From the “these guys have way too much time on their hands” file comes this interesting use of Adobe FrameMaker. The challenge? To solve Sudoku puzzles. We’re not sure if the solution works, but when we find some free time (yeah, right!) we’ll test it out. Until then, why not give it a try.

Converting Poorly Structured Legacy Content Creates Difficult Challenges When Moving To DITA

May 18, 2007 Blog 2 Comments

Content management and information design expert JoAnn Hackos discusses moving legacy documentation to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) in this interview with Data Conversion Laboratory. Hackos defines legacy content, why and when converting content to DITA is desirable, how to decide what to convert (and what not to), and why writing content and designing new structures are a critical success factor when moving to DITA. Hackos says: “Do not accept the old structures for the future. The new structure not only should be DITA; it’s going to be more Read the full article…

Smart Interaction Design: A Periodic Table of Visualization Methods

May 17, 2007 Blog No Comments

Visual Literacy has produced a remarkable visualization resource you’ll want to check out. It’s called the Periodic Table of Visualization Methods, an interactive graphic that utilizes the periodic table of elements model to help you better understand the various types of visual models you might want to employ. Visual models included in the table: Data visualization – a visual representation of quantitative data in schematic form Information visualization – the use of interactive visual representations of data to amplify cognition Concept visualization – methods to elaborate (mostly) qualitative concepts, ideas, Read the full article…

Web Marketing Association Names Scott Abel To The 2007 WebAward Judges Panel

May 16, 2007 Blog No Comments

Scott Abel, TheContentWrangler, was selected by the Web Marketing Association as a judge for the 11th Annual International WebAward Competition, a competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful website: Design Innovation Content Technology Interactivity Copywriting Ease of use The competition seeks to recognize the individual and team achievements of those who create and maintain outstanding websites. The 2007 WebAward judges consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing websites – including members of the media, interactive creative Read the full article…

[Webinar] Streamlining Content and Translation Processes – The Benefits of XML

May 15, 2007 Blog No Comments

This free one-hour webinar (May 21, 2007) will introduce a way to streamline content and translation processes. According to the organizers, X-Pubs, the webinar will also include a short live demonstration of an XML Content Management System (CMS) and a Translation Management System (TMS).

Most Documentation Managers Don’t Use Metrics As Performance Measure

May 15, 2007 Blog 3 Comments

If a recent survey of technical documentation managers (conducted by TechCom Manager) is any indication, most managers do not use metrics as a performance measure when evaluating the writers that work for them. This is, in our view, something that needs to change. Not using metrics as a performance measure is an issue that needs addressed. It’s important to note that failing to use metrics indicates both a lack of professional management skills and a lack of awareness about content quality management software—tools designed to automatically collect performance metrics, among Read the full article…