From "Away With Words" to "A Way With Words"--and Bill Horton to Boot!

By Karen Field Carroll, Editor

The first chapter meetings of 2005 proved to be both entertaining and enlightening. In January, technical-writer-turned-"visual-interaction-designer" Patrick Hofmann of Quarry Integrated Communications in Canada showed how his team developed a wordless manual for technicians installing network computers. Patrick's dynamic presentation included lots of humor and a solid nod toward the technical writers who wrote the storyboards for the manuals.

On January 27, the San Diego Chapter presented renowned technical communicator Bill Horton, who explained his concepts of visual fluency to help technical communicators "communicate across boundaries of language and culture."

At the February chapter meeting, verbivore extraordinaire Richard Lederer, cohost of KPBS' "A Way With Words," entertained STC members and their guests with a lively discussion of the humor and ironies in the English language.

So what's up for March and April? In March, the San Diego Chapter presents STC's own Michael Cardenes, programs director for the San Diego Chapter and president and founder of Multilingual Translations, Inc., and Carol Yourl in a discussion about translation, a must-see for any technical communicator. In April, our chapter presents Steve Krug, author of Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability.

Don't miss the March or April meetings. Go to www.stc-sd.org/events-meetings for details.