Getting Personal: Individuality, Innovation, and Technical Communication

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1999

Getting Personal: Individuality, Innovation, and Technical Communication

Carol J. Steiner RMIT University

Abstract

This philosophical article explores individuality and innovation (creating new technology) as they relate to the communication approaches of scientists, engineers, and technologists. I suggest that effective communication between technical and non-technical people is difficult because technical communication lacks humanity, a personal dimension. I also suggest that dimension is lacking because technical people give up their identity to be considered competent and I argue that a different approach to communication education for scientists, engineers, and technologists is required to equip them with requisite communication skills to make their personal contribution to successful innovation.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1999-10-01
DOI: 10.2190/cmbb-e8k1-827t-f38k
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

Bogomoletc et al. (2021)

Frozen Meat Against COVID-19 Misinformation: An Analysis of Steak-Umm and Posit…

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Praetorius (2002)

Technical Communicators as Purveyors of Common Sense

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Cites in this index (1)

Steiner (1994)

Why Technical Writers? A Case for Training Technologists to Speak for Themselves

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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