Redish J. (2010). Technical Communication and Usability: Intertwined Strands and Mutual Influences. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 53(3), (pp. 191-201). doi: 10.1109/TPC.2010.2052861

In Janice Redish’s (2010) article, “Technical Communication and Usability: Intertwined Strands and Mutual Influences” she acknowledged that “Before we consider how technical communicators can contribute to the future of usability, we need to understand how the fields of technical communication and usability have influenced each other in the past” (p. 191). Redish explored the history of UX, the development of practice and techniques, the extensive research on usability, the importance of teamwork and collaboration, the emphasis on communication, the complexity of both the process and the products, and the need to adapt to new changes. Redish’s purpose was to propose that “Perhaps being reminded of how deeply and how long technical communication and usability have been intertwined will increase mutual respect and collaboration in future work on the entire UX—interfaces, architecture, content, and more” (p. 199). Redish’s intended audience was technical communicators and researchers of user experience. Redish offered an extensive analysis of the history of UX, which effectively promoted reflection and appreciation for how much the field has developed.