Documentation. It's a necessary part of any software or hardware project. But the traditional methods for delivering documentation to users -- printed manuals, PDF files, online help, and the like -- are mired in a sometimes unnecessary level of complexity. On top of that, updates to the documentation often can't be made and deployed quickly.

Enter the wiki. It's not just for project management, planning, and the like. A wiki can be a powerful tool for writing and delivering documentation.

In this talk, Scott Nesbitt will explore the constantly evolving role of wikis in the creation and distribution of documentation. Drawing on a number of real-world example, Scott will discuss:

• The benefits of using wikis for documentation
  
• How both Open Source projects and firms of varying sizes use wikis to deliver documentation
  
• The technologies used to get content into and out of wikis
  
• The pros and cons of involving your community of users in the documentation process
  
• When a wiki might not be the best choice for delivering documentation
  

About the Speaker

Scott Nesbitt is a partner in DMN Communications, a technical communication consultancy based in Toronto, Ontario. A technical writer for over 14 years, Scott has spearheaded the use of wikis for documentation with a number of clients. He's also been using wikis for professional and personal writing projects since 2002.