Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2001

Constructing Usable Documentation: A Study of Communicative Practices and the Early Uses of Mainframe Computing in Industry

Mark Zachry Utah State University

Abstract

This study suggests that documentation is a complex technical communication genre, encompassing all the texts that mediate between complex human activities and computer processes. Drawing on a historical study, it demonstrates that the varied forms given to documentation have a long history, extending back at least to the early days of commercial mainframe computing. The data suggest that (1) early forms of documentation were borrowed from existing genres, and (2) official and unofficial documentation existed concurrently, despite efforts to consolidate these divergent texts. The study thus provides a glimpse into the early experimental nature of documentation as writers struggled to find a meaningful way to communicate information about their organization's developing computer technology.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2001-01-01
DOI
10.2190/c8tf-tbav-fh8u-uu9k
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Moran et al. (2012)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (4)

  1. Zachry (2000)
    Communicative Practices in the Workplace: A Historical Examination of Genre Dev…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. MIREL (1998)
    “Applied Constructivism” for User Documentation
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. RUSSELL (1997)
    Rethinking Genre in School and Society
    Written Communication
  4. BERKENKOTTER et al. (1993)
    Rethinking Genre from a Sociocognitive Perspective
    Written Communication
Also cites 6 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.7551/mitpress/3767.001.0001
     ↗
  2. 10.1080/00335638409383686
     ↗
  3. 10.7551/mitpress/1881.001.0001
     ↗
  4. 10.1145/318372.318385
     ↗
  5. Rath Packing Company, New Bulletin, March 11, 1968 (R006/022).
     ↗
  6. Zachry M., Constructing Usable Documentation: A Study of Communicative Practices and the Early Uses of Mainfr…
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 6 View in citation network →

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