Dicks, S. “The effects of digital literacy on the nature of technical communication work.” Digital literacy for technical communication: 21st century theory and practice (2009): 51-82.

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In this essay, Dicks takes a historical approach to understanding technical writing’s role in the greater context of communication, and analyzes the evolution of technical writing methods as a result of the induction of digital media. The last 15 years have seen seismic social and economic changes motivated by technological innovations. Dicks argues that these changes have dramatically influenced every aspect of technical communication. He argues that as we transition into an era of ubiquitous computing, every aspect of the technical writer’s methodology needs to be revised. By studying the reasons for these changes and the symptoms and  structure of the market as of 2009, Dicks lays out challenges and thinking during the height of the global recession. This reading is one essay in an anthology centered on digital literacy for technical communicators in the 21st century. The anthology focuses on understanding how technology and the current digital writing environment have changed – and continue to change –  the nature of technical communication work.   Continue reading “The Need for Greater Digital Literacy in Technical Communication”