Technical materials often do not produce the response desired by their authors. Reasons for the failure of the document are errors in audience analysis and the rapid obsolence of the materials. This article suggests that communication theory, in general, and cybernetics, in specific, may help ameliorate these problems. The knowledge of communication theory and systems analysis could sensitize writers and editors of technical materials to a variety of factors such as the dynamic nature of the communication process and the fact that the process is interactive rather than unidirectional. It is suggested that the application of these theories could increase the effectiveness of technical communication.
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