IN 1977, an article described computer conferences as “a new telecommunications technology that may eventually become as omnipresent and influential as the telephone in offices, laboratories, and homes.” (Murray Turoff and Starr Roxanne Hiltz, “Meeting through your computer,” IEEE Spectrum, May, 1977). Today, computer conferences are ubiquitous and important to engineers, scientists, educators, and businessmen. Computer conferences have become formal structures for exchanging and disseminating information, as well as for formulating policy. Indeed, the October, 1985, issue of Computer magazine on multimedia communications notes the need for “Computer-Based Real-Time Conferring Systems” to handle crises. (Sunil Sarin).

OUR SPECIAL section, “Writing for Disadvantaged Readers,” is unusual and unusually pertinent for engineers. As Andrew Malcolm notes in his “Introduction,” many of the engineers in this country are not native born speakers of English and many readers of technical writing may have handicaps which impinge on their understanding of material. Surprisingly, the techniques that the writers in our special section advocate are the very techniques that good technical communicators should be using anyway to achieve clear communication. For example, they underscore the value of avoiding passive constructions. In addition, the value of technology to improve the quality of life is illustrated in the articles dealing with closed captioning. Professional communicators who read “Writing for the Disadvantaged Readers” will find a new sense of pride in their craft and an awakened sense of the value of technical communication.

Although the Professional Communication stem is firmly committed to integrating visuals and text, we are also committed to having a quality transactions. Since the inception of the Transactions on Professional Communication, the cover has varied between the table of contents, and artwork. To preserve the integrity of the Transaction's institutional identity, we are, as a matter of policy, conforming to the standard table of contents on the cover. Our pages will continue to emphasize the importance of visuals.

Engineers who use word-processing equipment for writing were interviewed. When asked why they were willing to do their own typing in order to use a word processor, they responded with a variety of statements that reveal a positive change in their attitude toward writing. Because a word processor is a powerful tool, engineers find they are not alone at their keyboards; they have access to programs that help them shape and revise their writing effectively.