Summary

  • Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) certification from HFI
  • Solid understanding of user-centered design processes and techniques
  • Seven years experience in writing, editing, and designing documentation
  • Exceptional ability to understand, analyze, and implement latest trends and technologies into deliverables
  • Remarkable ability to provide technical assistance to users, communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing and in design
  • User Experience deliverables include sketches, wire-frames, interaction guidelines, design patterns, screen text, and contigency text
  • Documentation solution deliverables include writing system and end-user installation, configuration and administration manuals, online help and training materials; illustrations and annotated graphics; and FAQs and troubleshooting guides

Objective

I would like to provide my understanding and knowledge of usability concepts to help develop user-friendly software products and documentation.

Employment History

  1. Bally Technologies, Chennai

    Senior Technical Writer, July 2006 -- Present

    As a Usability Professional:

    I worked as a usability analyst for porting an application from an AS/400 platform to a web-based GUI platform.

    • Reviewing existing AS/400 screen and task flows
    • Converting flows into user journeys based on rudimentary user profiles
    • Designing wire-frames based on task for a GUI version
    • Validating conversions from wire-frames to interfaces
    • Performing heuristic evaluations & usability reviews on the GUI application
    • Suggesting solutions and corrective actions, wherever required
    • Documenting guidelines for usage of design patterns
    • Developing and designed help systems(inline & stand-alone) for the GUI application

    As a Senior Technical Writer:

    I work as a senior technical writer developing user assistance solutions for various Bally Technologies products.

    • Documenting various applications for mainframe systems, web applications, and GUI products.
    • Reviewing and editing documentation efforts of junior technical writers
    • Defining and implementing processes for improving quality and adherence to standards
    • Analyzing and restructuring documents to improve document usability
    • Researching and evaluating adoption of latest tools and techniques related to documentation

  2. Wipro Technologies, Bangalore

    Technical Writer, May 2004 – July 2006

    • As a technical writer for a major US-based Operations and Support Systems (OSS) solutions provider, I was involved in developing documentation and online help systems for several products.
    • I have also worked with a US-based telecommunications equipment manufacturer for documenting their interactive voice solutions products.
    • All projects required close coordination with development teams, both offshore and onsite.

  3. HTC Inc., Chennai

    Technical Communicator, March 2004 – May 2004

    • In a short term assignment in the organization as a technical communicator, I was involved in developing an user manual for the organization's sales force automation solution.

  4. Angler Technologies, Coimbatore

    Content Developer, April 2002 – March 2004

    • In the role of a content developer for the company's interactive media solutions division, I worked with over 150 projects. On the web side, I was responsible for content development, information architecture, and basic search engine optimization. On the multimedia solutions side, I developed storyboards and wrote voice-overs for presentations.
    • I was also responsible for developing the conceptual flow and content for marketing materials like brochures, pamphlets, electronic mailers, and PowerPoint presentations.
    • Additionally, I was responsible for the company's corporate communications.
    • In an additional role as project coordinator, I successfully managed projects for several high-profile clients from start to end for several design solutions.

Skills and Tools

  • Developing storyboards and content for websites and multimedia presentations
  • Designing wireframes for information flow and prototyping
  • Coordinating with sales team to develop marketing collaterals like product brochures, whitepapers, and presentations

User Interface and

  • Working with development teams to improve usability and fine-tune product interfaces
  • Coordinating with QA team to review and revise the accuracy of documentation
  • Reviewing products to ensure consistency in screen design and interaction
  • Facilitating developing sessions to propogate awareness about

  • Writing concise usable documentation with information sourced from software specifications, first-hand use of the software product, and SME interviews
  • Understanding and creating documentation based on target audiences, varying from expert users or administrators to new users
  • Structuring and presenting information for understandability and easier location of relevant information by readers
  • Creating meaningful illustrations and annotated screenshots to enhance and improve textual content

  • Editing documents for style, grammar, organization, and accuracy based on standards and style guides
  • Reviewing documents produced by other writers for quality assurance and adherence to standards
  • Creating and updating internal style guides and templates to enable consistency in documentation deliverables
  • Defining and implementing processes to ensure improved documentation and quality deliverables

Other Skills

  • Researching and implementing new tools and technologies for improved productivity and reducing documentation cost overheads
  • Providing mentorship to junior team members and reduce team's learning curve
  • Consulting with and coaching managers and writers on business and technical writing projects, documentation planning and design
  • Developing and conducting sessions to help other writers to improve and improving individual writing skills

Tools

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Education

  1. Human Factors International, Bangalore

    CUA, May 2009

    I completed my CUA certification offered by Human Factors International in May 2009. My certification number is 2009-2260.

  2. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai

    M.S. (IT&M), June 2000 – June 2002

    I did my post graduate degree, M.S. in Information Technology and Management under the aegis of the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies.

  3. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

    B.Sc. Comp. Sci., June 1997 – April 2000

    I completed my graduation, B.Sc. Computer Science, at CBM College under Bharathiar University.

Hobbies & Special Interests

  • Professional

    I am interested in understanding and implementing the latest developments in Information Architecture, Technical Communication, and Usability.

  • Personal

    I like to read a lot, particularly fiction. I manage to complete at least 100 books every year..