B Y   K A R E N   M O B L E Y
Editor - Hyperviews:Online
Carolina Chapter

This issue of Hyperviews:Online examines topics that either help us manage our time wisely or give us more time to mismanage. ;-) This issue has case studies on successfully single-sourcing information deliverables (perhaps the current "holy grail" of our profession) and designing a help system that gracefully adapts to customization. Both articles suggest methods of time/work management. Another article looks at search engines and how we can make them easier to use and waste less of the users' time.

If you usually skip the book review, consider checking out this issue's entry. Nancy Allison examines 3 books about navigation as she tries to answer "What is navigation?" It's easy to waste time with poor navigation, but good navigation makes time fly. Will we ever win?

Our education columnist, Nancy Hildebrandt, continues her quest for the smartest online methods to train people without wasting their time, or putting them to sleep!

Finally, the ultimate "make or break" expense of time is trying to get help when you need the help. In the Online SIG, I believe we're all interested in a well-designed help system. Neil Perlin goes to the bleeding edge -- again -- to check out the well-designed help assistant of the future. Take a look to see what we'll be designing in the 21st century.

This issue is also about the time spent by our volunteers to bring the Online SIG its web-based newsletter. When you add up all the volunteer hours it is a lot of time, but Hyperviews:Online is worth it. If you've got some time to spare (because you're single-sourcing with the best of them ;-) ), consider joining our volunteer staff. Also, Hyperviews:Online welcomes articles and columns on any facet of technical communication in online information. If you have an idea, contact us. If you're in Orlando for the STC Conference, look for either Scott DeLoach or myself. We'll both be there and eager to hear your suggestions.

Karen Mobley (merlyn@iname.com) is a programmer and technical communicator specializing in online help and web design with IBM Netfinity servers in Research Triangle Park, NC. She has a B.S. in computer science from Clemson University and is pursuing her master’s degree in technical communication at North Carolina State University.