To Web or Not To Web

Name: Jeanne Cavanaugh

Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

E-mail Address: cavan@mit.edu

Title of Presentation: To Web or Not To Web

Format: Paper Presentation

Suggested Audience: tech writers, documentation mgrs, help desk staff

Presentation Outcome:

1. see examples of where paper documentation is still being effectively used

2. see examples of how information can be presented in both hardcopy and on-line

3. take away ideas they can use on there on campuses

Presentation Content:

As more and more of our faculty, staff, and students become connected to the Internet and begin exploring the World Wide Web, it is tempting for writers to want to publish everything they used to produce on paper via the Web. The Web allows us to easily update documents, to link to other related materials, and to solicit customer feedback.

We need to keep in mind that there are still certain segments of our communities that donšt make daily use of the Web, who are just now becoming comfortable with computers, or who still need the security of hardcopy documentation.

This presentation will give examples of specific audience needs and the related materials that support those needs, and why they are still most effective in paper form. We will also look at topics for which the Web is the most appropriate format for distribution.

We will look at:

• Materials and information for new students
• Materials and information for new computer users
• Materials and information for new network users
• Materials and information for Web users
• Information for Support Providers

Examples of what our group is still distributing in paper format, what we distribute via the Web, what we distribute in both media and how we deal with the issues of mixed media production and distribution will be discussed.