The role of technical communicator is to translate complex technical information into structured, organized and appropriately presented information.

A technical communicator is:

• a translator: they start with raw information communicated through sundry communications channels (e.g.: technical diagrams, recordings of interviews, written specifications) then translates them into other communications channels (e.g.: written information, diagrams, photographs) suited to the user and the purpose of publication, in compliance with regulations.
• an organizer: the information collected and that communicated using various channels is a mix of procedures, regulations, information to know and promotional topics that cannot be just copied and pasted into a Table of Contents and conveyed to the end user. The information must be cleaned up and organized to optimize the time taken by the user to search and read it.
• a presenter: the information must be presented in the manner most suited to how the users will use it. A hazard warning cannot be placed discursively only within the machine description. It must also be repeated and emphasized in the operational procedure at risk. What user is going to read the description of the machine if they already assisted the installers for a week of start-up and operation?
• an investigator: the information is never served on a silver platter by the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) (e.g.: designers or installers). The writer must know how to find it and how to capably extract it from the mind of the SMEs during the interviews. Sector regulations must be researched for the specific product, checked and applied.
• a linguist: in publications that require expression through written texts, or through language more suited to the user and in a consistent manner with the purpose of the information. The writing must ensure the users’ understanding and respect their time and cannot be used to showcase our ability of expression. Moreover, if the texts have to be translated into multiple languages, they must follow strict rules and use a lower number of words.
• a technical expert: a technical communicator must use the most advanced IT tools and devices, designed for the technical communication sector. They must keep up to date on the latest trends in the sector and become experts in the tools that they use. And, when using these tools, communicators must remember that what they produce serves the target user of the information and not the performance of the tool itself or the current trend (e.g.: remember the advent of Flash? Every website had a Flash intro; unfortunately, most users had slightly obsolete PCs, and would get impatient staring at the status bar. And then Skip intro was invented).

For good technical communicators, some of these characteristics will be innate gifts, while they will have acquired others through suitable training, and others through mistakes made in their professional life.

But the litmus test is the user.  Whatever I decide to do, or which theories I decide to apply, I have to check them in the field, on my users.

I could participate in an international competition of technical communication and win a prize for the best manual, but if it is found that that manual is not used by the users, it will be a bitter victory!