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You Mean the Docs Aren't "The Thing"?

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POSTED BY: KEN CIRCEO, MSS Lead Tech Writer

Ok, I'll admit it. As a tech writer, I sometimes forget that the docs play a supporting role in the overall product, and are probably not the main reason someone buys Microsoft Speech Server.

In my mind, I know this. But when you focus on documentation every day of the year like I do, you tend to think that the doc is the thing, and that the computer program itself is somewhat incidental.

Boss: "How's the new Speech Server release?"

Dev: "The product is fine, I guess. But the docs are fantastic! You've got to read this Prerequisites topic. I couldn't put it down!"

One thing I've appreciated about working for Microsoft is the freedom they give us to innovate. (I know from experience that this is not true with all software companies.) Here we can use audio, video, graphics, animation, Web stuff, pretty much anything we can think of that will get our point across.

So for MSS 2007, that's what we're doing. Not only will the docs be web-based (and therefore always updatable), we're working on some video demos, some LiveMeeting stuff, end-to-end solutions, as well as new samples and walkthroughs.

This is exciting stuff!

Ok, so it's not exciting. It's tech writing. But these days, tech writing is an umbrella that covers a lot more than just putting words down on paper. And if we can produce something — in whatever form — that helps you get more out of Speech Server, then we've done our job.

So keep checking here and on the website for new doc stuff. And feel free to let us know what you're looking for in terms of doc support. For even if the docs are not the thing, they're still what some of us work on day-in and day-out. And any feedback you can give us will help make them better.

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