Search

This article addresses the issue of technical documents and the impact their structuring has on professionals working in the field of disability. A model was developed to accompany users with disabilities when entering information; it was based on the linguistic analysis of an assortment of technical documents (institutional forms). We studied the problems related to technical documents by using a methodological approach which was based on a combination of complementary studies. The first was a terminological study, which aimed to look for relevant themes. It was complemented by a second one, which analyzed the discourse that was transmitted by the texts and which was centered on exploring the logical links between propositions and paragraphs. We completed these two studies with a final one, the logico-cognitive analysis. This which allowed us to look for contextual clues, which were produced by the texts in the documentary environment. It was therefore possible to formalize information and communication operations thanks to the reference discourse's targeted environment in view of designing an automated information system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to contribute to an increased understanding of the strategic, cultural and other organizational challenges in a transition process from product-centric to customer-centric services. The paper describes an exploratory case study, conducted in a complex financial services organization in the context of their customer-facing services. The transition process was examined through the theoretical lens of Work System Theory (WST), following the argument made by previous researchers that service systems could be seen as work systems. This holistic theory enabled us to capture the three key phases of the transition process as work systems snapshots and through their evolving relationships show the manner in which the transitions occurred from one phase to another. This innovative approach provided the researchers with an in-depth insight into key issues related to organizational environment, strategy, customers, products and services, processes and activities, participants, and information and technologies - all relevant for each phase of the transition process. This research contributes to both information systems (IS) and service science research, bringing the key service research priority of 'service infusion' to the attention of IS researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on American writer Edgar Allan Poe's essay on "The Rationale of Verse." It attempts to explain the controlling principles of poetry which include traditions on all languages in history. It outlines the rejection of its publication which has been ignored, scorned, and vilified for its deceptive scholarship. It also provides an analysis of the important component of Poe's critical theory meant as a technical manual relating to rhythmic aspect of language practice.

The article reports on the psychiatric ethics consultation in the light of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V). It states that psychiatric ethics consultants need good background in variety of fields and the DSM-V will reflect developments in knowledge and practice. The author notes that the enhanced validity to be anticipated in DSM-V should change expectations in level of care. Psychiatric ethics consultants can be participants in the construction and evaluation of DSM and that there is hope for a number of changes in ethics consultation in light of DSM-V.

We assessed the attitudes of 18 research- and 22 community-based substance abuse clinicians on treatment manuals. Research and community clinicians exhibited favorable attitudes toward manuals, and the majority (72% and 77%, respectively) reported an interest in learning more about substance use disorder (SUD) treatment manuals. Among community clinicians, greater years of experience was significantly associated with less favorable attitudes toward treatment manuals. Research clinicians endorsed significantly higher ratings for the importance attached to "theoretical rationale/overview" and "main session points to address" than community clinicians. Findings suggest that community SUD clinicians are already familiar with and have positive attitudes toward manuals, but specific subgroups have concerns that should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tested versions of a manual intended to increase usability and motivation • Found no statistically significant differences for user satisfaction or self-reported motivation • Found that users of the experimental versions performed more tasks correctly [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should instructional texts be purely technical, with a focus on effectiveness and efficiency, or should they also focus on satisfying and motivating users? Good arguments have been made for paying attention to motivational aspects. But only analyses of existing instructions have been published so far, and guidelines for making user instructions motivational have not yet been studied carefully. This article presents motivational strategies and an experiment to test their effects. The results show that motivational elements have little effect on users' effectiveness and efficiency in performing tasks, their product appreciation, and their self-efficacy, but they do increase users' appreciation for the instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2003, the United States exported nearly $720 billion in goods. Businesses that trade in the global market have a legal and ethical duty to make their products reasonably safe, and technical communicators who write the documentation for those products have a legal and ethical duty to protect international consumers by writing adequate instructions. Writing documentation for products that will be distributed internationally requires not only the ability to communicate clearly, but also awareness of the relevant product liability laws, the cultural variables, and the expectations of international audiences. This article first argues that devoting company resources to produce adequate instructions for international users is both practical and ethical, then provides a brief overview of the consumer protection measures that the top U.S. trade partners have implemented, and finally presents guidelines for developing adequate instructions for international audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Grade 9 students wrote experiment manuals for their peers describing a simple physics investigation to explore whether air takes space. Peers executed these manuals and their processes were videotaped. In several experimental conditions, these videotapes were played back for authors. Then they had to rewrite the experiment manual. Three weeks later they wrote a letter‐of‐advice, explaining to peers how to write an experiment manual. Both measures (rewritten manuals and letter‐of‐advice) showed clear effects of the condition in which writers saw real‐time readers’ feedback on their own manual, on understanding of the genre of an experiment manual, as well as on the understanding of physics topics introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of articles related to non-destructive testing published in several journals. They include "The Requirements of QC Manual and LP Examination in Manufacturing of ASME VIII-Div 1 Pressure Vessels," by M. Montazer, "How Many Specimens Is Enough?," by C. Annis, "Real Features of Risk Management Practices," by S. Honiden, "Science of Earthquake Prediction," by T. Kato, and "Steel: Cord Conveyor Belt NDT," by V. Sukhorukov.

This article talks about the design and development of step-by-step visual manuals. In the case study presented, the essential elements for a step-by-step manual for training in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 were incorporated into such a manual for tryout. The contents were organized as a series of lessons, ranging from creating a simple text-only slide to adding visual material and functions. Instruction in the manual was written in a step-by-step manner and the text was modularized. Step-by-step screen captures accompanied the instruction, reflecting the constantly changing computer screen as the learner interacted with the computer. This article also explains how to create a step-by-step visual manual on personal computer desktop using Microsoft Word 2000.

The article presents the author's experience of teaching technical students writing and presentation skills. The author informs that students were given the Service Manual series of assignments. It involved evaluating a technical manual, a letter of inquiry to the publisher requesting to use copyrighted information, and a memo to the instructor describing projected changes. It also included a revision and editing of representative pages from the manual, a formal report describing changes in detail with the actual revision attached as an appendix to the report, and a transmittal letter to the publisher introducing the report and revisions.

The article presents information on the problem of evaluating in-house training programmes. It is all very well organizing and presenting management training programmes - and God knows, that is difficult enough - but how can one be sure that the time, resources, money and effort one put into training is worthwhile? The fact is one can not. But one can at least put monitoring devices in place which help one to be as sure as one possibly can that training is proving effective. Every training manual gives lip-service to evaluation but it is notoriously difficult to carry out effectively. The danger is that delegates will attend programmes - often because they have "earned" them or they feel in need of resuscitation - but fail to build on them. They simply attend a course, enjoy it, forget it and carry on working exactly as before. Courses should not be the end; they should be the beginning. Training does not come cheap and it is understandable that top managers wish to see value for money. This leads, in turn, to demands for "justification" of training costs - proof that spending an amount on a manager will save the company certain amount of money - but the author says that, in his view, this is virtually impossible to obtain.

Features various solid-state literature on products released as of March 2005. "Pendulum Control Valve VAT Series 65.1"; Free Brochure: Automation Solutions for Semiconductor and Flat Panel Display Manufacturing"; "Zenith Etch-Integrated Vacuum and Abatement".

The article presents information on technical literature related to the textile chemical industry. B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. has released its 'Latex Foam Manual' which gives 20 formulations and techniques for preparing Geon vinly chloride and Hycar acrylic and nitrile latexes for foam applications. ICI Corp. has published 'Batch Dyeing Texturized Polyester,' a technical bulletin on the bath dyeing of texturized polyester that describes the major dyeing methods and package dyeing. Laurel Products Corp. has published a product information sheet on its Pyrosan 497 durable flame retardant polyester and acetate fabrics.

The article presents news briefs related to the literature of the textile industry. Nalco Chemical Co. has released a bulletin which describes the properties of its new liquid concentrate form of polymers for coagulation and flocculation applications. A new 12-page brochure by Armstrong Cork Co. describes the company's Accotex texturizing equipment supplies. The book titled "Textile Printing," presents a review of textile printing techniques. The American Association for Textile Technology has released an updated version of the 1968 "Bibliography of Textile Textbooks."

The article presents information on technical literature related to the textile chemical industry. A new 12-page booklet describing the Hi-Sil EP, its white silica pigment designed to replace carbon black in some rubber applications has been released by the company PPG. Beckman Instruments Inc. has published a new bulletin describing its precision electronic microbalances and related accessories. A new handbook from Bethlehem Corp. describes the criteria and gives guidance for selecting precision mixers for liquid processing applications. The company Millmaster Onyx's brochure describes ten types of specialty polyesters used in the design of polyurthane systems.

The article reports on the release of the three updated technical manuals on the use of thermal desorption analytical methods for occupational hygiene and industrial air monitoring by Markes International Ltd. The updated versions follow the third update of the European Commission, which indicates occupational exposure limit value directive signals further reductions in limit levels for chemicals in workplace air.

The article presents technical information paper tips provided by the Technical Association for the Pulp, Paper and Converting Industry in the U.S. Technical paper information include topics on chloride and potassium measurement and control in the pulping and chemical recovery cycle and guidelines for nondestructive examination of suction roll shells,

Presents Spirax Sarco Inc.'s 2004 Product Manual that can assist engineers in specifying and applying steam components and controls. Coverage of steam traps, pressure and temperature regulators and packaged systems; Inclusion of boiler controls, manual and automatic valves and process controllers.

Presents information resources on water works. Topics included in the manual "Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants"; Skills taught through the video recording "Being Prepared: Procedures for Fire Hydrant Maintenance"; Objective of the manual "Distribution Valves: Selection, Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance."

The article announces the online release of "The NTCIP Guide," by the Joint American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Institute of Transportation Engineers and National Electrical Manufacturers Association Committee on the NTCIP. The guide includes a definition list, a selected bibliography and selected descriptions of documents.

Reviews an Electric Heaters Handbook from Omegalux.