This month we welcomed people from two countries and two time zones. The group was smaller than usual; apparently summer weather outranks a Zoom meeting! Nevertheless, we had a lively discussion.
One writer told us about his student work placement, creating a document template from scratch and then writing a manual to help dental students learn about a new tool. The hardware he’s documenting is three provinces away, but he’s able to learn about it through videos and a knowledgeable subject matter expert. He’s gained a variety of useful experience in a short time, which will look good on a résumé and provide more options and opportunities for work when the time comes.
Another person joined the meeting from California. She attends similar networking meetings at other STC chapters to keep up with new developments, ask questions, and share information with writers she wouldn’t otherwise meet. Her question about release notes opened up a new area for people unfamiliar with this type of technical writing. (Software providers send release notes to customers when they release a new version, to provide details of product changes, bug fixes, new features, and workarounds.)
We also discussed the pros and cons of text vs. video tutorials. We agreed that videos can provide a lot of details about a complex product or technique, but text can be faster to scan when you need information quickly. Ideally, users would have access to both.
The conversation then turned to a topic that often comes up when writers get together: artificial intelligence (AI), ChatGPT, and their effects on the work and careers of people who create for a living. Such tools can create content that is clear, well organized, grammatically correct — and wildly inaccurate. One person gave an example of an automated transcription of medical notes that had mistakenly substituted the name of one medication for another, which could have had dire consequences if a human hadn’t caught the error.
The current strikes by writers and actors in the US are directly related to AI. Writers are concerned that their work might be replaced by artificially generated content, putting them out of work. Actors are also asking for assurances that their work will not be superseded by AI. Examples range from artificially created voices substituting for humans in animation and voice-over work, to digital images that replace human actors on screen, depriving actors of income and jobs.
The Tech Comm Café provides networking opportunities, job leads, answers to work-related dilemmas, and a burst of professional energy to keep you motivated. We discuss technical writing tools and techniques, career planning, portfolios, and anything else related to working as a technical communicator.
We welcome anyone who’s interested in technical communication — contractor, in-house, student, long-time tech writer, STC member, non-member, career-changer, or recruiter. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
Next Meeting: ONLINE on Wednesday, August 16, 2023
- Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
- If you plan to attend, RSVP by 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 16, to receive login instructions.
Date: Wednesday, August 16
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Online via Zoom
Agenda
- Introductions. Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
- Announcements and job leads. If you know of an interesting event or a job opening, or you’re looking for work, share it with the group.
- Brainstorming Q&A. Ask about a work-related problem and discuss potential solutions.
- Speed networking. Make new contacts and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals.
Heather Sommerville is a senior technical writer and editor with over 20 years of experience delivering clear, concise writing for business and technical audiences. She is an STC Associate Fellow and has served in many volunteer positions with the STC Canada West Coast chapter.