Comments on: Is It Time for a New Tool? http://www.useraid.com/blog/2008/12/29/new-tool/ A blog of various topics and random thoughts Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:57:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marc Achtelig http://www.useraid.com/blog/2008/12/29/new-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-5322 Marc Achtelig Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:05:33 +0000 http://www.useraid.com/blog/?p=58#comment-5322 I agree with Scott that we will experience a lot more convergence. If server-based, collaborative tools are to gain a growing share of the market (and they will) this will only happen as long as they use open standards to store data. One of the first question of my clients when choosing new documentation tools usually is: "Who is the company behind that tool? Will they survive the next 10 years or so? What are our options if this company no longer exists?". With client-based software, at least you have to option to continue using it, even if it is no longer supported. With a server-based solution, well... I agree with Scott that we will experience a lot more convergence. If server-based, collaborative tools are to gain a growing share of the market (and they will) this will only happen as long as they use open standards to store data. One of the first question of my clients when choosing new documentation tools usually is: “Who is the company behind that tool? Will they survive the next 10 years or so? What are our options if this company no longer exists?”. With client-based software, at least you have to option to continue using it, even if it is no longer supported. With a server-based solution, well…

]]> By: Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler http://www.useraid.com/blog/2008/12/29/new-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:24:38 +0000 http://www.useraid.com/blog/?p=58#comment-63 I agree that there is a need for improvements in the authoring tools arena. My crystal ball isn't always 100% accurate, but I'd wager that hosted software solutions will begin penetrating the market this coming year and next and that several authoring tools with financial backing behind them will remain the leaders (the same ones that everyone uses today). What will change is the skill sets of the authors. As older writers retire and new content creators enter the industry with new skills (writing modular content for reuse, for example or a mastery of integrating video assets with textual content) we'll see even bigger changes in the authoring arena. To me, it's a matter of convergence -- converging technologies, converging skill sets, and changing user expectations. Add to the mix advances in technology and you've got a major paradigm shift on the horizon. Of course, I could be wrong. :) Scott Abel The Content Wrangler I agree that there is a need for improvements in the authoring tools arena. My crystal ball isn’t always 100% accurate, but I’d wager that hosted software solutions will begin penetrating the market this coming year and next and that several authoring tools with financial backing behind them will remain the leaders (the same ones that everyone uses today). What will change is the skill sets of the authors. As older writers retire and new content creators enter the industry with new skills (writing modular content for reuse, for example or a mastery of integrating video assets with textual content) we’ll see even bigger changes in the authoring arena.

To me, it’s a matter of convergence — converging technologies, converging skill sets, and changing user expectations. Add to the mix advances in technology and you’ve got a major paradigm shift on the horizon.

Of course, I could be wrong. :)

Scott Abel
The Content Wrangler

]]> By: Nithin http://www.useraid.com/blog/2008/12/29/new-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Nithin Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:21:25 +0000 http://www.useraid.com/blog/?p=58#comment-62 I totally agree to your point of view. And, at least in our part of world - India, every job opportunity is filtered based on the experience you have on the specific writing tool(s); needless to say, they lose quality writers by keeping high priority on this parameter. And for that matter, aspirant-writers have to learn most of the tools to grab an opportunity. Thank you! I totally agree to your point of view. And, at least in our part of world – India, every job opportunity is filtered based on the experience you have on the specific writing tool(s); needless to say, they lose quality writers by keeping high priority on this parameter. And for that matter, aspirant-writers have to learn most of the tools to grab an opportunity.
Thank you!

]]>