Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
"All processes by which humans convey meaning about the development and use of
technology."
"All processes...
• Written;
• Spoken;
• Visual;
... by which humans convey meaning...
• Proper syntax;
• Linguistic conventions;
• Organization and design (identifiable patterns);
... about the development and use of technology."
• Technology is using tools?
• Technology is humanity at work?
• Technical - specialized knowledge and information in any field or profession
Content
• Conveys technical aspects of any field;
Context
• Responds to specific situations;
Audience
• Addresses identified readers, listeners, or viewers who often have multiple needs
and constraints;
Organization
Presents information so that it is logical, accessible, and retrievable, so that it's easy
to comprehend and recall.
Visuals
• Often conveys content through various kinds of visuals and graphics (rather than
text) that aid understanding and decision making.
Document Design
• Designs documents to contribute to the accuracy and speed of comprehension and
recall of information;
Usability
• Assures that a document is functional, usable; that it enables users to easily and
accurately complete the task or activity for which the document is intended.
Language Conventions
• Attempts to be straightforward; differentiates opinions from verifiable information;
• Uses clear and direct language without unnecessary complexity; often uses short to
medium-length sentences, subject-verb-object word order; stylistically varied but
simple.
When there is a common need for specialized knowledge, some people build the
networks that make the sharing of that knowledge possible.
In short, some people need to be communicators, those who build the networks and
share the knowledge.
• Engineers can spend as much as 40% of their time writing (Beer & McMurrey,
1997);
• Supervisors spend 40% of their time reading and writing; managers 50% (MIT,
1984).
Final Points
• Context
• Technical Communicators - those who build the networks and share the knowledge.
My Definition of STC;
Context;
The Hobbes/Boyle Debate;
Ancient and Contemporary Roots;
Lewontin's Perspective;
The Public Arena;
Final Points.
Presented objectively.
In STC the formal document is "cleansed" of what goes on as the document is
produced.
The difficulty lies in discriminating which contexts are significant to the practices of
science and technology, how we account for and manipulate them, and how we
communicate about them.
The form scientific inquiry should take and what, ultimately, should count as
knowledge was the subject of passionate, sustained debate in mid-seventeenth
century England. Perhaps the two most prominent participants were: Robert Boyle
(1627-1691) and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679).
Boyle's Position
Hobbes' Position
"... Cannot anyone who wishes come, since, as I suppose they meet in a public
place, and give his opinion on the experiments which are seen as well as they? ... Is
this Society not constituted by public privilege?" The reply: "I do not have an
opinion. But the place where they meet is not public."
One of the major differences between Boyle and Hobbes turned on who -
experimentalists or natural philosophers - would serve as the model for a citizen
pursuing knowledge.
Who Won?
One reason given for the success of Restoration science in England was the ability of
the experimentalists to adapt the activities of their community with the political
landscape.
What Socrates and Gorgias agree on is that the mass of citizens are incompetent to
make reasoned decisions on justice and public policy, but that they must be swayed
by rhetorical argument or guided by the authority of experts."
Gorgias: "I mean [by the art of rhetoric] the ability to convince by mean of speech a
jury in the court of justice, members of the Council in their Chamber, voters at a
meeting of the Assembly, and any gathering of citizens, whatever it may be."
Socrates: "When the citizens hold a meeting to appoint medical officers or
shipbuilders or any professional class of person, surely it won't be the orator who
advises them then. Obviously in every such election the choice ought to fall on the
most expert."
Lewontin's Perspective
"Conscientious and wholly admirable popularizers of science like Carl Sagan use both
rhetoric and expertise to form the mind of masses because they believe, like the
Evangelist John, that the truth shall make you free. But they are wrong. It is not the
truth that makes you free. It is your possession of the power to discover the truth.
Our dilemma is that we do not know how to provide that power."
• You will serve as gatekeepers within your profession in determining who has
access to knowledge and information;
• You will serve as translators of specialist language to and from the language
of other specialists and laypersons.
Final Points
Memorandums
Memorandums (or memos) are used primarily within an organization, where authors and readers
are likely to see each other often. Consequently, the design of memos dispenses with ceremony;
their tone may be likewise informal.
Sections - often distinguished by subheads
• Purpose
• Summary
• Discussion/Background
• Conclusion
• Recommendations
• Continued Communication
Because many messages cross a reader's desk (or computer screen) daily, the first thing she is
likely to ask upon seeing one is "Should I read this?" The purpose answers that question. A very
direct opening like "The purpose of this memo is to ..." is perfectly acceptable.
Purpose
This progress report covers the first month of my study of Geographical Information
Systems and its applications. It cover Phase I (the library-research phase) and part
of Phase II (interviewing the staff and making presentations to them).
Summary
During the first two phases of my study on Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
I have been able to find and present to staff members much helpful information.
Although the real-estate industry has not yet exploited the possibilities of GIS, a
great deal of information is publicly available that can be of tremendous value to
realtors. The major applications will probably include neighborhood information,
development planning, environmental-impact analysis, and mapping. I have opened
channels for useful discussion and planning with the staff, and they seem very
interested in GIS applications. These early phases of the project will be beneficial to
M&M Real Estate Developers; we need a thorough understanding of GIS concepts
before we begin to analyze hardware capabilities and costs in Phase III of the
project.
I anticipate that the completion report will be submitted on schedule.
Introduction
On December 15 I was given approval to conduct a four-phase study on GIS to
determine whether it might have applications for M&M real Estate.
...
Future Work
After completion of the staff interview and study of our specific GIS needs and
wants, I will begin Phase II of the study - to contact GIS distributors - followed
shortly by Phase IV - to research data sources.
Conclusion
Phase I has been completed successfully; I was able to gather a great deal of
information to further educate myself. Phase II, meeting with staff members about
GIS technology and uses, is proceeding well ... I anticipate that the completion
report will be submitted on schedule.