The implications of computer graphics for the field of technical communication

Today's technical communicators face the task of producing understandable, usable information for a wide variety of audiences. Because these audiences are becoming more visually oriented and because recent research reveals that visual aids enhance communication, the use of graphics in both written and oral presentations has become essential for creating effective technical information.

In the past, manual production of technical artwork has been a time-consuming, labor-intensive, costly process. However, computer graphics technology now provides the capabilities to transform graphics production into a much more cost-effective operation and, at the same time, offers technical communicators a means of producing more creative, captivating, usable information.

Because computer graphics technology is a newcomer to the field of technical communication, it has the disadvantages of any new, unprecedented methodology; there are still setbacks involved with generating graphics, even with a computer. In addition, various controversies have surfaced among computer graphics users: Which department should be in charge of the computer graphics system, the computer science division or the graphic arts department? What constitutes publication- or presentation-quality graphics? Can an author create his or her own visual aids? These are just a few questions that often spark debate. Nevertheless, computer graphics technology is having a strong impact on the field of technical communication; technical communicators are recognizing the strong relationship between this new technology and their profession.