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What is it?

A directive of the European Parliament and of the Council that applies to machines and manufacturing plants in the European Economic Area (EEA). The purpose of the directive is to promote the free movement of machinery within the Single Market and guarantee a high level of protection for workers and citizens in the European Union.

Why is it important?

Since January 1, 1995 new machines and manufacturing plants may be placed in the European Economic Area (EEA) only if they are compliant with the European Machinery Directive.

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What is it?

A curated set of vocabulary selected to communicate clearly and simply for a specific purpose. Controlled language is often used when writing for machine translation or for global audiences.

Why is it important?

Controlled language is a critical feature of writing for localization. It is an umbrella term that encompasses several initiatives, including Plain Language, Simplified Technical English, and Caterpillar Fundamental English, among others. Effective controlled language initiatives choose the simplest terms needed to convey meaning, while also restricting grammar, syntax, and verb forms.

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What is it?

The practice of actively maintaining dictionaries and glossaries focusing on globally accepted technical standards. Technical terms are organized and controlled, with a clear set of guidelines dictating their use.

Why is it important?

Terminology management enables correct and consistent use of terms throughout the writing process or any other effort requiring accurate vocabulary usage.

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What is it?

Specifications for eLearning training materials, including file formats, hardware and software requirements, query and statement structures, and protocols for tagging, citing, and attributing material. Examples of eLearning and mLearning standards include the former AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee), the current SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model), and the emerging xAPI (the Experience Application Programming Interface).

Why is it important?

By conforming to standards, eLearning content can be created and packaged so as to be shareable across various learning management systems. Standards make eLearning material more available and discoverable, make launch and access more reliable, make tracking and data capture more flexible, and ensure that content is accessible to those with physical or mental challenges

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What is it?

Any application that processes XML documents so they can be used by that program or be prepared for use by another program.

Why is it important?

XML is a structured text format. To use XML in technical communication, you need an XML processor for functions such as editing, transforming XML into deliverables, and managing XML in a database.

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What is it?

Industry-defined file formats for images, video, audio, and other multi-sensory content that can be included as a resource in a structured XML document.

Why is it important?

Media standards provide a consistent technical method for delivering these experiences to a variety of output formats from single-source content (XML). The prominent documentation standards have dedicated elements for referencing media: DocBook has <inlinemediaobject> and <mediaobject> elements; DITA has <image> and <object>; TEI has the <media> element.

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What is it?

Vocabularies and processes used to create specialized, editable structures for documents that conform to the XML standard.

Why is it important?

Successful interchange of structured information depends on a common understanding of the vocabularies involved and how they are processed. The standards for providing this take the form of an XML schema and provide common ways of structuring different types of content to facilitate reuse, catalog maintenance, version control, and other aspects of technical documents.

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What is it?

A marketing approach which endeavors to provide customers with a seamless user experience, no matter through which channel or device, or during which stage of the content, product, or customer lifecycle.

Why is it important?

Successful omnichannel marketing depends on delivering the content appropriate to their stage in the lifecycle through the most appropriate channels.

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What is it?

Designing information to evoke, guide, sustain, and leverage human action.

Why is it important?

Minimalist information design is important because, in contexts of engaged activity, people neither want, nor can effectively use, comprehensive information.

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