The Golden Age of Technical Communication

Miles A. Kimball Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

This article uses a historical perspective to describe the development of the profession of technical communication through three ages: Brass, Beige, and Glass. I compare this development to the growth of the academic discipline and both to the explosion of noninstitutional technical communication—the growing body of tactical technical communication that happens outside of organizations and institutions. This leads me to describe today as the Golden Age of technical communication. I conclude that we should broaden the scope of technical communication and spread it as a set of skills valuable for everyone to learn.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2017-07-01
DOI
10.1177/0047281616641927
Open Access
Closed
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (19)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 19 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Technical Communication Quarterly
  7. Technical Communication Quarterly
  8. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  9. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  10. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  11. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  12. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  13. Technical Communication Quarterly
  14. Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (26)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 26 →
  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. College Composition and Communication
  5. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  6. Technical Communication Quarterly
  7. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
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  9. Technical Communication Quarterly
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  11. Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. Technical Communication Quarterly
  13. Technical Communication Quarterly
  14. Technical Communication Quarterly
  15. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  16. Technical Communication Quarterly
  17. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  18. Technical Communication Quarterly
  19. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  20. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  21. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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