Practical Considerations for the Remediation of 3D CAD into Visual Technical Communication

Abstract

A rapidly developing trend in the engineering community to exchange design information using 3D objects has the potential to empower technical communicators. 3D CAD software can often be exploited to remediate these design objects into a wide variety of diagrams, illustrations, photographic-like imagery, and interactive 3D compositions. This capability, combined with improvements in browser software, consumer level computers, and handheld devices raises important questions and considerations for the practice of technical communication. In the following paper the author describes avenues of approach that permit practitioners to take advantage of the increasing availability of 3D CAD and to engage this technology with proprietary and open-source software in a manner that increases the scope and domain of technical communication practice.