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The Author's Technical Skills

Skills and Education

Technical Authoring; Online Help files; writer of Manuals, Help Notes and Procedures.

Philip Tory, BSc(Hons), Dip.M. - Senior Technical Author

I have worked for companies in many branches of industry: from electrical, electro-mechanical and electronics engineering to quality control; civil and military fly-by-wire flight control systems to car park control systems; from leisure centre management computer systems to diesel generators and floodlighting equipment; photography to pensions administration...

Education

I studied Applied Physics, Electronics and Control Engineering at four universities. I also have general scientific and technical interests across a wide range of subjects from astronomy to photography; from building radio transmitters and PCs, to restoring antique clocks.

Software used

I have a high level of computer skills - I build my own PCs from the component parts - and I am a power user of the PC. I use the following software packages extensively:

• Adobe RoboHelp Advanced Help Authoring software, to create computer-based online Help Guides.
• MS Expression Web for web site design.
• Microsoft Office 2010, particularly Word and Excel, including use of macros to automate tasks.
• Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT / 2000 / XP Pro.
• Paint Shop Pro 7 and 10 used extensively for graphics and image processing;
• Mind-Mapping
• Internet Explorer v 6, 7, 8.

I was a Software Product and QA Manager for some years before starting this business, so I understand the concepts of software programming - but I'm not a programmer!

Additional Technology experience:

I have worked with:

• Smart Cards (electronic stored-value chips embedded in plastic cards)
• Touch Screens
• Ticket and receipt printers
• Plastic card printing by thermal transfer.

Career over 30 years

Mys career has covered:

• Technical Authoring, both in full-time employment and as a contractor, normally reporting directly to senior management or director level.
• Creating software Help resources as Windows or browser Help files.
• Writing user manuals.
• Producing technical product specifications.
• Carrying out technical Investigation of products and producing reports.
• User notes for substantial software upgrades, to a customer base of 450 network software systems.
• Support and Help Desk documentation.
• Graphics Design for sales and technical leaflets.
• Year 2000 project responsibility, documenting hardware and software systems company-wide.
• Training Manuals on electronic and electro-mechanical equipment.
• Production of in-house newsletters.
• 'Look-and-Feel' usability testing of a range of software products.
• Thorough testing of software to eliminate bugs before authorising release.

Other areas of experience include:

• Responsibility for supporting capital systems sales to key accounts, often requiring written system descriptions running to over 100 pages.  Reporting to Managing Director.
• Sales franchise management with budgetary responsibility, reporting to Sales, Divisional and Managing Directors;
  Drawing office management, reporting to the Technical Director.
• Analogue and digital electronics design, reporting to Technical Director.
• Field trouble-shooting on electrical, electronic and electro-mechanical equipment, reporting to Technical Director.

Previous know-how covers design and QA of analogue, digital and power systems; of electronic, electro-mechanical and mechanical equipment; from drawing board through to production, installation and field trouble-shooting in both the UK and abroad.

He has over 30 years' experience in photography, and this is useful for including photographs of equipment, assembly methods, maintenance etc.

Technical Writers for Abingdon, Avon, Bromsgrove, Buckinghamshire, Bucks, Burford, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Chipping Norton, Cirencester, Cotswolds, Devizes, Droitwich, Evesham, Faringdon, Glos, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Gloucs, Great Malvern, Hereford, Herefordshire, Hungerford, Kidlington, Lechlade, Ledbury, Malmesbury, Malvern, Marlborough, Melksham, Newbury, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Oxon, Pershore, Redditch, Stow on the Wold, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stroud, Swindon, Tetbury, Tewkesbury, Wantage, Warks, Warwicks, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Wilts, Wiltshire, Witney, Woodstock, Worcester, Worcestershire, Worcs, Yate etc.