Audacity is free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.
How it is useful to technical communicators:
Audacity can be used to add/edit audio when working on video assignments. It provides more audio manipulation techniques that are not available through video software.
Where you can learn more about it:
You can learn more about Audacity and download the software through the Audacity website.
Other software like it:
Adobe Audition
Dropbox is an alternative file storage option that can be downloaded onto both Macs and PCs. It allows users to access their files from any computer by logging onto their Dropbox account, and to also share files with several other parties. Dropbox is especially helpful when sharing extremely large files that may be too large to send over email.
Collaborative teams and remote teams would benefit from Dropbox because files can be accessed and edited as long as there is an internet connection to login to the account. It could be compared to cloud-based storage options, but Dropbox is significantly more integrated into the user’s main computer, and allows for sharing in a way that isn’t possible with some cloud-based options.
More information about Dropbox and the way it works is available on the application’s website: https://www.dropbox.com/about
Point is an extension for Google Chrome and allows a user to easily share links or segments of website content with other Gmail users without needing to sign into their email account.
Technical communicators would benefit from Point in situations that require collaboration such as team projects at work or in school, as the extension streamlines the content sharing process by eliminating the need to open new tabs.
More information is available on the extension’s website, and once Point has been installed, there is an intuitive how-to process in order to teach new users how to optimize Point.
Snagit is a screen capture and screen recording software.
How it is useful to technical communicators:
Snagit allows technical communicators to develop graphic content. Snagit uses a scope view when taking a screen shot to help ensure the user has the exact image desired.
Users can also edit the image (crop, resize, dpi, etc.) within the application once the image is captured.
Where you can learn more about it:
Other software like it:
DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is an XML markup language created by IBM and used by many technical communication groups. DITA content is most often created as a task, concept, or reference topic.
How it is useful to technical communicators:
DITA is useful to technical writers and their businesses because it allows for single-sourcing and content reuse. DITA also allows the writer to focus solely on the content as formatting is determined by the output format.
Where you can learn more about it:
What is DITA and why should you care?
DITA Open Tool Kit (for creating DITA outputs)
Other software like it: