Use of the Internet for technical communication will be the focus of this senior seminar. Hands-on, practical experience using Internet related technologies (e.g. HTML, CGI and JAVA, graphics editors such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator) for communication of technical information will be provided. The potential impact of these technologies on the substance of technical communication (e.g. the level of detail in "published" information, the quality of graphic information and page layout, use of animation), the social institutions informing technical communication (e. g. scientific-technical publishing firms, intellectual property law) and the nature of professional rewards related to publishing will be examined.
The major requirement for the course will be an "electronic term paper". The "default topic" of this paper will be the student's senior design project. Papers on other topics (subject to the instructors approval) are welcome.
The format of the course will be seminar-discussion emphasizing collaborative learning and student participation. Though there are no prerequisites for the course, the expectation is that everyone will have something to contribute from their own current or previous experience with the relevant technology. Specific students will be designated to make presentations and/or lead discussions on relevant topics at each session. "Outside experts" (depending on availability) will make contributions to some sessions.