Major Project Revision: Why 3

Downstream, I hope this study effect the way we think about user contexts as technical writers in the user-centered design process.  Web 2.0 is not just about user interactivity, but it is about beckoning the user to take part in the production process itself.   The user is gaining a familiarity with Web 2.0 technologies that is creating a context in and of itself.  The user context is being created by the discourse of products.  Academically, this is adding on to the discussion of Barbara Mirel who argues that we cannot ignore user contexts in which they complete their tasks.  But this study argues that user context cannot be ignored because the users’ experiences with the technologies are creating a context of its vey own.  At least, Web 2.0 applications are building user expectations about how these products should look and act not just based on tasks they perform but the ways in which these products are determining the types of tasks that are possible and how that carries over from new product to new product.  

Major Project Revision: Why 2

To answer these questions, I plan to write a research design that outlines methodologies to use in data collection and a literature review to build a theoretical framework for analyzing technical writing for users who are literate in Web 2.0 products.  The research design will outline the ways in which I can collect information about the ways in which users learn how to use new Web 2.0 applications, what expectations they bring with them, and what happens when those expectations are not met?  To argue that this is something that technical writing has to take into consideration, I hope to analyze case studies in which technical writers are forced to accommodate a product to a user who is well versed in the product family (Web 2.0 genre).  The Twitter case may be an example of this.  Now, the literature review will begin to build a framework of study for these concepts.  I will be looking in large part at user centered design studies particularly focusing on the work of Barbara Mirel and her analysis of the user in a particular context that influences their expectations of how the products should work.  John Carroll can also offer a strong discussion through his book Minimalism Beyond the Nuremburg Funnel.  This study will also draw on the work of Clay Spinuzzi and his focus on activity and genre theory in technical writing.  

Major Project Revision: Why 1

How is Web 2.0 culture and discourse affecting technical writing and user-centered design?  Specifically in the creation of web apps like social networking sites.  Looking at Twitter, users played an integral part in how the product currently functions.  When it was first released, some of the key features were not present until users attempted to recreate their genre expectations in this environment.  It was the idea of users to create a syntax in Twitter feeds to show that they are responding to another feed.  Also, users are creating third party applications that run in relation to Twitter.  Another question for this study:  how is the user’s prior knowledge of Web 2.0 applications affecting the ways in which they adapt and change newer applications?  What is the accommodation process?