Technical writer with several years experience. I write educational material to help people learn technology skills, specialising in web and software development topics (programming tutorials, API/help documentation, UI/site copy). Particular areas of interest and expertise include open source education technology projects.
Mozilla
I worked as a contractor with the Mozilla Foundation regularly for a couple of years.Tech writer on the Open Badges project from February 2014 - see my GitHub profile for an overview. During my time with Mozilla I wrote API and help documentation, tutorials, drafted standards specifications and user interface copy - see these projects for more:
- Mozilla Backpack docs | wiki
- BadgeKit Help | About
- BadgeKit API docs | wiki
- BadgeKit Web app wiki
- BadgeKit API node.js client docs
- Open Badges Directory IO site
- Open Badges specifications docs
- Open Badges displayer wiki
Mobiletuts
I worked for Mobiletuts+ as an author and assistant editor / technical reviewer for a few years from 2011. Here are some of my articles on Android and Java development:- Android SDK - Implement a Share Intent
- Android SDK - Using the Text to Speech Engine
- Data Management Options for Android Applications
- Android SDK: Context Menus
- Android SDK: Implement an Options Menu
- Creating a Twitter Client for Android [Series]
- Code Workshop: Java Strings
- Mobiletuts+ Quiz: Java Fundamentals
- Mobiletuts+ Quiz: Android User Interface Essentials
- Android SDK: Displaying Images with an Enhanced Gallery
- Android SDK: Build a Speak and Repeat App
- Image Display and Interaction with Android WebViews
- Capture and Crop an Image with the Device Camera
- Mobiletuts+ Quiz: Android Application Fundamentals
- Building a Customizable Android Analog Clock Widget [Series]
- Building Apps with Environment Sensors [Series]
- Build an ASCII Art Editor [Series]
- Build a Twitter Search App [Series]
- Implementing Drag-and-Drop Functionality
- Creating Custom Views
- Receiving Data from the Send Intent
- Creating a Simple Tween Animation
- Creating Frame Animations
- Creating a Simple Property Animation
- Working with Google Maps - Application Setup [Series]
- Create a Barcode Reader
- What's Happening in Android: Google I/O and the Developer Console
- Create an Interactive Screen Saver with Daydream
- Create a Book Scanning App [Series]
- Create an Arithmetic Game [Series]
- Create a Drawing App [Series]
- Drawing with Pattern Fills
- Drawing with Opacity
- Supporting Alternative Input Devices
- Android from Scratch - Android SDK Requirements
- Android from Scratch - Working with Eclipse
- Android SDK: Working with Android Studio
- Android SDK: App Structure
- Android SDK: User Interface Design
- Android SDK: User Interaction
- Java Application Programming
- Android SDK: App Resources
- Android SDK: Project Manifest
- Android SDK: App Data
- Android SDK: Virtual & Physical Devices
- Android SDK: Running & Debugging
- Android SDK: Activities & Lifecycle
- Android SDK: Common Android Components
- Android SDK: Samples
- Android SDK: Publishing and Releasing
- Android SDK: Next Steps
- Android SDK: Detecting Gestures
- Android SDK: Create a Hangman Game
- Create a Music Player on Android [Series]
- Integrating Google Play Services on Android
- Streaming Video in Android Apps
- Google Play Game Services: Achievements
- Google Play Game Services: Leaderboards
- An Introduction to Android Transitions
Smashing Magazine
Articles for Smashing Magazine including:- Guidelines For Working With External Code Libraries
- Getting The Best Out Of Eclipse For Android Development
Liquid Technologies
I worked with Liquid Technologies regularly between 2012 and 2014, providing articles, tutorials, videos and help documentation for Liquid XML Studio, an XML development software product. See the following pages:Nettuts
An HTML5 Web development tutorial for Nettuts+ covering interactive animated SVGs:Web Designer Depot
Web development articles for Web Designer Depot on HTML5 topics:Techopedia
Tech articles for Techopedia IT professionals' dictionary site:Developer Drive
Web development tutorials for Developer Drive, a Web development blog covering emerging technologies, particularly focusing on HTML5 and CSS3:- XML Schema (XSD): Using Compositors
- Using HTML5 to Determine User Location
- Moving Web Page Elements Using The CSS3 Translate Transform
- Scaling Web Page Elements Using The CSS3 Scale Transform
- Skewing Web Page Elements Using The CSS3 Skew Transform
- Making Use of HTML5 Storage
- Using Backgrounds in CSS3
- Pushing Updates to the Web Page with HTML5 Server-Sent Events
- Implementing Drag and Drop Functions with HTML5 and JavaScript
- Implementing Drop-Down Menus with CSS3
- Using Custom Attributes in HTML5
- Creating First Animations With CSS3 Using Keyframes
- Transforming Elements in 3D Using CSS3
- Rotating Web Page Elements Using The CSS3 Rotate Transform
- Giving Users Offline Access with HTML5 Application Cache
- Creating Inline SVGs with HTML5
- Allowing Users to Edit Text Content with HTML5
- Allowing Users to Resize Web Page Elements with CSS3
- Creating A Web Page Calculator Using The HTML5 Output Element
- Carrying Out Tasks in the Background with HTML5 Web Workers
- Creating a Slider Control with the HTML5 Range Input
- Using CSS3 Attribute Selectors
- Displaying the Progress of Tasks with HTML5
- Animating Buttons with CSS3
- Create a User Note-Keeping Utility For Your Site With IndexedDB
DWUser Education Center
A series of Web development/design tutorials for DWUser Education Center:Web Design Library
Web design and development tutorials for Web Design Library:Blueberry Consultants
Updating, rewriting and creating new material for Blueberry Consultants, see these pages:Syntaxxx
Web development tutorials for Syntaxxx, a Web design / development tutorial and tips site:- Introduction to Web Development - Web Basics
- Introduction to Web Development - Building Websites with HTML
- Styling Web Pages with CSS
- Interactive Web Page Functions with JavaScript
- Getting Started with jQuery
- Introduction to SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- Introducing CSS3 Animation
- Get Started with HTML5 Canvas
- Using CSS3 Transitions
- Rearranging Web Page Items with HTML5 Drag and Drop
- Accessing User Device Photos with the HTML5 Camera API
- Animation and Interaction with SVGs
Apex Computer Training
My first tech writing gig was an extensive series of instructional tutorials on technical subjects such as Flash and Java development for Apex Computer Training Software. Many of them are no longer online but here are some on Java:Demand Studios
When I started as a tech writer I wrote hundreds of articles for Demand Studios - here are some of them:- What are the differences between a circular queue and a linear queue?
- The Difference Between Dynamic & Static Web Pages
- Do Android Apps Continuously Use Data?
- Android Accessibility Features
- What Is Keystroke Encryption?
- What Is Abstract Path Name in Java?
- Number of Occurrences in SQL
- Different Web-Based Protocols
- Why Use a Low Level Programming Language Like Assembly?
- The Advantages of Knowing Many Programming Languages
- Difference Between a Syntax Error and a Semantic Error
- Callback Functions in JavaScript
- Difference Between Front End and Back End
- What Is Type Casting in Java?
- What Is an Event in Java?
- What Are Instance Variables in Java?
- What Is an Assignment Statement in Java?
- What Is an Internet Spider?
About Me
I've worked in education technology for several years, as a freelance developer and technical writer. Completed my Masters focusing on learning a foundation in software development in 2007 (MSc/PgDip IT with Distinction, Glasgow University). My undergraduate degree was in English Language & Literature (Glasgow 1999) and I had a load of different jobs before I worked in tech.Co-founder of Hack Aye, exploring what open source practice can bring to other areas of collaboration such as education, art and activism.
Contact me at sue@benormal.info
Archive/ Comedy/ Other Stuff
Android Things
Android Things is a blog about Android developer tutorials, tips, resources and thoughts.Best Tech Tutorials
Best Tech Tutorials is a blog listing the best tech tutorials on development and computing topics.The Tech Interpreter
The Tech Interpreter is a tutorial blog covering a range of development/computing activities.Huliq
A few daft articles:Brain Dead Air
spoof arts magazine
spoof arts magazine
Brain Dead Tech
spoof tech news blog
spoof tech news blog
Brain Dead Gossip
spoof gossip news blog
spoof gossip news blog
Brain Dead Facts
spoof facts/trivia blog
spoof facts/trivia blog
All My Coolness
spoof social networking
spoof social networking
The Balance Method
spoof self-help technique/philosophy
spoof self-help technique/philosophy
Hangman Sun
spoof novel excerpt
spoof novel excerpt
By The Book
an article about books
an article about books
this is not me
A multimedia site providing an interface to a children's story I originally wrote as a book
[Not worked on for a long time]
A multimedia site providing an interface to a children's story I originally wrote as a book
[Not worked on for a long time]