TY - JOUR
T1 - Technology, community, and technical communication on the Internet
T2 - The Lotus MarketPlace and Clipper chip controversies
AU - Gurak, Laura J.
PY - 1996/1
Y1 - 1996/1
N2 - Computer-mediated communication on the Internet offers new challenges and opportunities for technical communication. The cases of Lotus MarketPlace and the Clipper chip illustrate the specialized nature of technical communities on the Internet and suggest that when technical messages are not overly complex, the process of reposting may widen community appeal but also promote inaccurate information. Yet, when technical messages are highly complex, audiences may not repost such messages; this preserves accuracy of information but at the same time limits how many people will read the information. Finally, these cases strengthen recent arguments that rhetorical delivery is an increasingly important component of technical communication.
AB - Computer-mediated communication on the Internet offers new challenges and opportunities for technical communication. The cases of Lotus MarketPlace and the Clipper chip illustrate the specialized nature of technical communities on the Internet and suggest that when technical messages are not overly complex, the process of reposting may widen community appeal but also promote inaccurate information. Yet, when technical messages are highly complex, audiences may not repost such messages; this preserves accuracy of information but at the same time limits how many people will read the information. Finally, these cases strengthen recent arguments that rhetorical delivery is an increasingly important component of technical communication.
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U2 - 10.1177/1050651996010001004
DO - 10.1177/1050651996010001004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:21344455906
SN - 1050-6519
VL - 10
SP - 81
EP - 99
JO - Journal of Business and Technical Communication
JF - Journal of Business and Technical Communication
IS - 1
ER -