From 2001: A Space Odyssey
Artwork © 1968 Robert McCall
When does the future begin and the present end? As a technical writer, the future begins when I log on to my computer in the morning. The possibilities for the new day take the form of disaster recovery manuals, software updates, and procedure manuals. My work becomes today’s science fiction. For what is science fiction but a look into the future, describing a world of possibilities?
The days when earth’s gravity prohibited the exploration of space have been left behind. A few short decades ago, man’s passion was to travel to the moon. Now it is to journey to Mars and assemble a space station. Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001 seemingly prepares us for the inevitable.
Science fiction introduced the concepts of space travel, among many other tantalizing and mind-teasing possibilities. Society has viewed these prognostications with awe. Many have been horrified. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (The Modern Prometheus) exemplifies this paradox. Frankenstein chronicled the creation of a living being out of spare body parts. The account turned out to be more than fiction. Tim Marshall, in his book Murdering To Dissect, argues that Shelley’s novel sparked a debate over the acquisition of body parts in the early 1800s, which culminated with the passage of the 1832 Anatomy Act. This law granted anatomists access to unclaimed pauper bodies from workhouses. Shelley could not have been more prophetic.
Reality sets in when one considers the recent advances of medical science. A man who lost his hand in a firecracker accident in 1995 received a hand transplant a couple of months ago. The possibility that doctors will produce spare parts, and even entire beings, through cloning technology grows more real every day.
The classic tales of Edgar Allen Poe, H. G. Wells, and Jules Verne explored many other possibilities. Some of these have come to pass, such as the development of the submarine, which Verne depicted in his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Television shows such as “Superman,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Outer Limits” also featured a host of science fiction themes. Exploring the realm of possibility continues today as “Star Trek” depicts many theoretical possibilities, including the transporter, multi-dimensions (or universes), and wormholes through space-time.
While science fiction tests the imagination of its audience, the greatest minds in the scientific world experiment with these ideas. The use of matter/anti-matter reactions for propulsion, first introduced to the general public in the series “Star Trek,” currently occupies the imagination of astrophysicists. Countless scientists, including the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, focus their attention on defining time and space.
Enlisting the pessimists and encouraging the enthusiasts challenge technical writers. This is what makes my job so rewarding. I bridge the gap between the minds of the creators and the lives their creations most affect. “It cannot be done” is not in my vocabulary; rather, “make it so” is my attitude. For the businesses I represent, failure is not an option.
I write the future in whatever I document. Step-by-step, I walk users through the diagrams and sketches that outline the various operating procedures, whether I am dealing with software applications, disaster recovery manuals, or marketing materials. These are the products of tomorrow (or the science fiction of today).
Today’s science fiction is virtual reality at its finest. Endless possibilities surface as I develop documentation for users. Yet there are roadblocks to overcome. Computer paranoia presents a formidable challenge. Fear of PC technology handicaps a tremendous number of people who have not grown up with computers in the classroom. From logging on to clicking Save, many older users cannot accept the virtues of the computer age.
Well-illustrated, step-by-step procedures increase the chance of success. Once a user understands the ease of operation, science fiction becomes science reality—that is, the barrier that once separated fact from fiction is broken. It is this heightened awareness that releases users from their path of resistance.
Developing disaster recovery manuals also provides a look into the future. The world of “what if” creeps into the picture, not unlike the fictional account of the disaster movie Deep Impact. What would happen if a meteor was about to strike the earth? Writing a procedure in anticipation of such an event takes imagination. The restoration of the operating systems must be complete; therefore every nuance must be evaluated.
Marketing materials require the same foresight. The latest and greatest products must break the barriers of consumer skepticism. Clear and concise, user-friendly procedures help to overcome the test of time. Then science fiction becomes science reality.
The power of understanding drives us closer to the future and the future closer to us. We appreciate the magnificence of such science fiction fantasies as the HAL 9000, first introduced in 2001. Perhaps HAL is closer to science reality than we know. We wait in eager anticipation for more advanced technology. The process will never end. We only become more immersed in these developments.
For technical writers, the opportunities are endless. Industries move so fast; the demand for documentation increases exponentially. New products, new processes, and new procedures require hours of careful planning and creative writing. We are propelled at the speed of business.
If science fiction teaches nothing else, I understand the realities of our future. Although I dream that someday I will be able to enjoy the enchantment of holography, my job in the present is to nurture the possibilities of our day—that is, to make science fiction become science reality. My work represents the future, and, as the Borg would say, “Resistance is futile.”