Welcome to TechTips

by James Sands

Hi, I'm Jim Sands, a recent STC transplant from the Chicago area where I wrote a column named Help 101 for the Chicago STC Byline newsletter. As part of my effort to participate in the San Diego chapter's activities, I've volunteered to author a similar column for the Signature. Much like my Chicago column, the focus of TechTips will be to discuss tools that are available in our profession and how local STC members are using them. Note the emphasis on local STC members.

Each month, I'll spotlight a different tool or technological issue. I'll focus on questions like the ones that a client or your boss might ask as they walk into your cubicle. You know, questions like:

Are the rumors true? Is Macromedia really going to discontinue the RoboHELP product? What's going to happen to our legacy Help systems?
Is WebWorks the best solution for single-sourcing? How difficult is it to learn?
What is the best tool to use for simple software demonstrations?
Flash looks cute in the greeting card animations that I get, but can I really use it to describe how to use a procedure that I have to document?
What is the deal with content management? Is it the same as learning management systems?
I need a small e-Learning course that can be distributed on the Web. What tool can I use to do it quickly without a large learning curve for my staff?
What is a wiki,and how can I use it to work with my subject matter experts?

To discuss these things each month, I will need your help. (There's that emphasis on you again.) Out there in San Diego STC are a variety of experts who have answered all of these questions plus many more. You have the tools, the knowledge, and the experiences that the rest of us can benefit from. My job is simply to raise a few questions and find those in our professional community that have the answers.

Therefore, if you've dealt with any of the above topics or have other experiences that you'd like to share, please contact me at jsands@help101.org. I'll just need just a few minutes of your time and then, with your permission, I'll report your findings back to the chapter through TechTips. I look forward to working with you and making TechTips a tool that is beneficial to all of us.

Jim Sands is an independent e-Learning and Help system consultant and writes on technical issues for several professional organizations throughout the country. You can reach him at jsands@help101.org.