The August 2005 issue of Technical Communication will be a special issue focused on the future development of the technical communication profession, guest edited by Michael J. Albers. DESCRIPTION Traditionally, the focus of technical communicators has been on the writing documents. However, in recent years, technical communicators have been widening their scope and expanding into areas such as interface and interaction design, information architecture, information design, and usability. In tandem with this expansion, the fundamental methods of delivering information have changed, primarily though use of single sourcing, XML, and multiple methods of delivery, all of which have increased the need for both collaboration and project management. Further clouding the picture is the move toward outsourcing projects overseas. Many researchers have examined these topics recently, but the examination has tended to be a view of individual technologies and methods and the ways they fit within current documentation processes. The effects of softer skills such as project management have not received adequate consideration. Also, other disciplines have driven the research in areas such as the human-computer interface and information architecture. Missing is the overall examination and synthesis of how these changes will affect technical communication as a discipline in both the short (3-5 years) and longer terms. None of these changes operate in a vacuum, but all affect the others in ways that are both obvious and subtle or as yet unforeseen. The purpose of this special issue is to step back from a close examination of any particular technology or job description, and, instead, to examine how they will affect the development of technical communication as a discipline. POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR THIS SPECIAL ISSUE Issues of interest include ¨ New or expanded skill sets (and their effects) that will be required for a technical communicator to remain viable within the field ¨ The effects of a particular technology or skill on the field and how that technology or skill will integrate with the other changes ¨ The research agenda needed to move technical communication forward, both to address the uncertainties of the near future and to position the discipline for future growth ¨ The ways that the field of technical communication will change as jobs require a more varied skill set (more than any one person can reasonably be expected to master) and the ways that the field needs to position itself to ensure a smooth transition SCHEDULE The schedule for the special issue is as follows: 1 September 2004 500-word proposal due 15 October 2004 Acceptances mailed 15 December 2004 Draft manuscript due 1 February Comments returned 15 March 2005 Final manuscript due 15 July 2005 Issue published Send proposals by e-mail to [log in to unmask] Proposals and drafts will be peer-reviewed. Acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee acceptance of the final article. ------------------------------------------ Dr. Michael J. Albers Professional Writing Program Department of English University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 [log in to unmask]