Expertise
Thank you for considering TechScribe for your software documentation project. Here you will find an overview of my skill set, which shows you why you get excellent value from TechScribe.
Dr Mike Unwalla, principal technical writer.
How it all started
In 1999, after four years as a technical writer in the software industry, I decided to work for myself.
As we all know, much documentation is unsatisfactory. Bad documentation contains 'technobabble', jargon, and information that does not help people. Therefore, people struggle to use software and IT systems.
What helps TechScribe to produce excellent software documentation? Early in my career, I taught English as a foreign language. After that, an MSc and PhD research gave me a good knowledge of software and IT systems. The combination of teaching skills, training skills, English language skills, and technical ability is rare. It means that your technical people can talk to me in their language. Then, I write the information in a manner that is suitable to the readers of the documentation.
See also 
A day in the life of Mike Unwalla, produced by ISTC
A profile of Mike Unwalla, produced by PCG
Member profile of Mike Unwalla, produced by ISTC
Subject matter
TechScribe produces documentation for software and IT systems. Some of this documentation is for end users and some is for technical experts. Some examples of the subject matter are as follows:
- Desktop applications: clinical auditing, content management, healthcare, diary and scheduling, PCL print file viewer, stock control systems, translation memory systems
- Microsoft applications: Access, Excel, ODBC Administrator, Query
- Operating systems, file systems and related technologies: dynamic binary code translation and optimisation, Microsoft Windows, Open Database Connectivity, OpenVMS Record Management Services (RMS)
- Programming languages: SQL, VBA
- Web technologies: web-based enquiry systems, XML website development tools.
Professional status
Former Principal UK Expert on software documentation, appointed by BSI.
Fellow of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (FISTC).
Chartered Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS CITP).
Senior Member of the UK Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.
Member of the Society of Indexers, Accredited Indexer (AI).
Reporter for the online groups section in Communicator, the journal of the ISTC.
Trained in Information Mapping methods.
Certified Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS): Expert level.
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