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Documents in Disguise: Good Info Comes as Packaged Answers
In the progression from delivering documents on paper to delivering them electronically and on the Web, then as Help, then as a combination of various media, the concept of the “document” has changed from a contextual, linear chain of content to a modular, topic-based content bank that users can tap into, on demand, and pull out the answers they need. The advantages of topic-based documentation have been extolled for a decade now, but in a Web 2.0 world, a new trend has emerged, that of including content from various sources. The idea is to direct users to up-to-date product information as well as provide ad hoc technical support, consulting, training, sales info, and other content, all in a single place. The overall effect is to make users more successful, more quickly than by simply providing the standard documentation set.
Nicky Bleiel, an information developer with Component One, has done just that, and documented the proposal process for an ”Answer Station” that acts as an information portal, working with an existing corporate website, to provide a winning user experience.
Nicky will be sharing her expertise in this area at Documentation and Training West, with her session on Documentation Planning and Library Design in a Web 2.0 World.


