structured thinking: authoring for precision content

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Structured Thinking: Authoring for Precision Content™

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Presented at STC Summit in Phoenix, AZ and Toronto, ON. Precision Content offers a holistic approach to content strategy developed by Ascan Information Architects Limited.

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  • 1.Structured Thinking: Authoring for Precision Content

2. Presenter Rob Hanna, CIP IMCC Director/Chief Information Architect Ascan 2014 Fellow Society for Technical Communication (STC) 2013 Information Mapping Certified Consultant (IMCC) 2011 Certified Information Professional (CIP) 20 years experience in technical communication Expert in structured authoring and content management Specialist in taxonomy design and DITA/XML architecture http://www.linkedin.com/in/singlesourceror 3. 2014 Precision Content Roadshow Rochester, NY - April 13-14 Toronto, ON - April 16 Seattle, WA - April 27-30 San Francisco, CA - May 8-9 Phoenix, AZ - May 18-21 Washington DC June 9-10 Chicago, IL - TBD 4. As Information Architects, we make information easier to use by Analyzing your Information assets Business drivers, and End-user needs Building solutions that organize complex information Optimizing information for Usability Utility, and Maintainability 5. Intelligent Content Content that is not limited to one purpose technology, or output structurally rich and semantically aware, making it discoverable reusable reconfigurable, and adaptable. 6. The content challenge Employee churn will be largest contributor to information gaps within the next 5 years. Managers spend 17% of their time (6 weeks a year) searching for information A single issue of the daily New York Times contains more information than a 17th century man or woman would have encountered in a lifetime Structuring and standardizing information is a hot issue due to increased corporate governance, accountability, regulatory controls and compliance demands. Knowledge gaps effect productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness 7. STOP THE INSANITY! Stop throwing more technology at your content problems! Content problems require content solutions! 8. Precision Content A holistic approach to content strategy helping to manage your investment in content transformation Includes elements of utility usability, and maintainability PrecisionContenttrademarkAscanInformationArchitectsLimited2013 9. DITA/XML is An agnostic structured framework for technical communication An open standard gaining rapid adoption Extensible across industries Lacking a consistent, robust authoring methodology 10. Information Mapping is An agnostic structured authoring methodology for business A proprietary standard with global reach Teachable to any audience of practitioner Lacking modern technology delivery framework 11. Together DITA provides the framework Information Mapping provides the methodology Together they facilitate content that is more focused and agile Precision Content 12. Infomation Mapping Robert Horn Stanford University scholar 50 years of experience 13. A New Way of Thinking Information Mapping is software for the brain Message Design Human Factors Engineering Programmed Learning Documentation Writing Research Cognitive Psychology Instructional Systems Design 14. Language Arts Language Arts for Personal Response (LAFPR) To emotionally engage the reader Techniques: narrative style varied vocabulary & sentence structure withholding information Writer driven Meant to be READ Language Arts for Information (LAFI) To convey information that readers need to use Techniques: consistent modular structure concise, direct vocabulary use of graphics Reader driven Meant to be USED 15. Ikea Instructions: LAFI 16. Ikea Instructions: LAFPR If novelist Michael Ondaatje wrote Ikea instructions . The eel-shaped talisman squirms inside the raspy recycled box. A series of quarter turns clock hands marking time bonds back to base. An alphabet of connections in English and French. A into groove B. C slots into D. Chipboard credenza communicating Swedish hegemony. Author/parodist: Geoff Thomas Globe & Mail, August 27, 2009 17. Information types How do I change a tire? How does the engine work? Should I drive on the left or on the right in the UK? What is an airbag? What are the parts of my dashboard? Whats the maximum speed of this car? PROCEDURE PROCESS PRINCIPLE CONCEPT STRUCTURE FACT 18. Standardized blocks of Information... 19. ...are assembled into information products 20. ...and reassembled for different contexts 21. Example 22. Beware of the iceberg! Presentation Analysis & Organization 23. 6 research-based principles CHUNKING RELEVANCE LABELING CONSISTENCY INTEGRATED GRAPHICS ACCESSIBLE DETAIL 24. Exercise How many words on the next slide can you memorize in 20 seconds? 25. How many words can you memorize in 20 seconds? analyst brake market stapler seat traders alternator investor calculators scissors engine pedal dashboard pen backers marker tape profit starter ruler prospects 26. The consistency principle Correct for consistent use of words and phrases parallel construction effective reuse 27. After consistency analyst brake market stapler seat trader alternator investor calculator scissors engine pedal dashboard pen backer marker tape profit starter ruler prospect 28. The chunking principle Group information into small, manageable units 29. After chunking market, scissors, analyst, brake, engine, starter, trader pedal, ruler, seat, dashboard, backer, investor, pen stapler, alternator, profit, prospect, calculator, marker, tape 30. The relevance principle Limit each unit of information to one topic purpose, or idea 31. After relevance analyst, market, trader, investor, backer, profit, prospect stapler, calculator, scissors, pen, marker, tape, ruler brake, clutch, gasket, engine, alternator, starter, pedal 32. The labeling principle Label each unit of information 33. After labeling Stock market analyst, market, trader, investor, backer, profit, prospect Office supplies stapler, calculator, scissors, pen, marker, tape, ruler Car parts brake, clutch, gasket, engine, alternator, starter, pedal 34. The integrated graphics principle Use simple graphics to present information 35. After integrated graphics Stock market Office supplies Car parts analyst stapler brake market calculator seat trader scissors dashboard investor pen engine backer marker alternator profit tape starter prospect ruler pedal 36. Lets try it again ... How many words on the next slide can you memorize in 20 seconds? 37. Now... how many can you memorize? Vegetables Computer parts Instruments peas hard drive violin endive sound card harp carrots monitor piano spinach mouse trumpet celery processor cello broccoli flash drive flute tomato keyboard guitar 38. Proven results RETRIEVAL ACCURACY INITIAL LEARNING +32% +38% +83% USAGE -90% -54% -50% SUPERVISOR QUESTIONS ERROR RATES READING TIME 39. Excerpt from a medical journal... pN3 description only closely mirrors descriptions for pN3a +pN3b + pN3c Use of footnotes confusing Clinically detected and Not clinically detected are not exact opposites, and Inconsistent enumeration of lymph nodes 40. Same content after Information Mapping 44.2% reduction in word count 20% reduction in passive voice 18.4% increase in Flesch Reading Ease score 30% increase in white space Elimination of footnotes, and Addition of labels and visual elements 41. Side-by-side comparison Before After 42. Mapped Content Mapped information meets 2 fundamental needs Mapped information serves the needs of the human brain to find understand use, and retain information. Mapped information serves the needs of technology to manage information that has a standard structure is searchable, and reusable. 43. Circling back to DITA DITA Information Types Concept Task Reference, and None of the above (topic) 44. How do they relate? Information Mapping Types Concept Fact Structure Procedure Process Principle DITA/XML Information Types Concept Reference Reference Task Task Topic 45. For more information, contact Rob Hanna Chief Information Architect +1 (416) 723-4138 [email protected] Ascan Information Architects Limited 29-7340 Copenhagen Rd Mississauga, ON Canada L5N 2S5 www.infoarchitects.ca