My Work in Technical Communications

I have documented computer systems at large and small software companies in the Boston area for more than twenty years. I enjoy working with the creative people who develop today's exciting technologies, and helping others learn to use tools.

As I follow the evolution of new technologies and best practices in my field, I'm always on the lookout for ideas that enable me to do my job better, and that enable organizations to manage change better. I think that the most important developments in our field are the new tools and methods supporting structured information, open standards, and accessibility, especially on the Internet. I view these developments as opportunities to reach audiences in new and better ways. As a result, I was an early adopter of SGML and XML publishing tools and continue to gain experience in those areas. For the same reasons, I also contribute writing, editing, and tools work to open source projects.

The tools of the trade and best practices change, often at different rates. But the goals of my profession remain clear and constant: to present information about complex systems in the most helpful way for users. It's a riddle that I enjoy solving with each new project.