DITAWriter is Keith Schengili-Roberts. Formerly the manager of a documentation and localization team within the engineering group for a large firm in the semiconductor industry who took his team into the bright new world of DITA back in 2006. Prior to becoming manager I worked as an Information Architect (or really, “Documentation Architect“), redesigning the content deliverables and moving the group from an unstructured FrameMaker-based toolchain to one that uses a DITA Content Management System (in this case, Ixiasoft‘s DITA CMS).
I now work as the Senior Content Strategist at Yellow Pencil.
I also teach courses on Information Architecture and Information Management at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Sciences (iSchool). Back in the early days of the Internet when 56k modems were still the rage I wrote four technical titles on Web development and related material, the latest being Core CSS, 2nd Edition which came out in 2003. Amazingly enough I still get royalties from sales on that book, usually just enough to buy a few cups of tea at the local Starbucks.
I have a real interest in learning more about DITA, particularly in how other people and firms are using it. Starting a blog about it gives me a forum to share my own views and experiences, as well as those of other people I have met who bring their own working knowledge from other domains.
I sometimes get invited to speak at conferences on how to implement DITA XML and Information Architecture. Previous talks include:
- “DITA Today and Tomorrow” Webinar done on behalf of Data Conversion Laboratory, Summer 2012
- The Keynote Speech (“The Rainmaker, The Cloud and The Downspout”) at Content Management Strategies/DITA North America Conference
- DITA Metrics in Production: How, When, Where and Why (and How Much?) (CIDM Webinar, June 16, 2011 @ 11:00am EST)
- Four Years On: Metrics, ROI, and Other Stories from a Mature DITA CMS Installation (Congility 2011 in Gatwick, U.K., May 25, 2011 @ 4:20pm)
- DITA Metrics in Production: How, When, Where and Why (and How Much?) (CMS Strategies/DITA North America Conference in Baltimore, April 5, 2011 @ 1:30pm)
If you are interested in getting in contact with me, send me an email: keith@ditawriter.com.
Keith Schengili-Roberts is the Manager for a Documentation and Localization group that has been actively using DITA XML for the past three years. Prior to this role he worked as an Information Architect, auditing and redesigning the firm's content, the processes behind them and helping the team move to DITA from an unstructured Framemaker-based toolchain.
Keith is also an award-winning lecturer on Information Architecture and Information Management at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Sciences Professional Learning Centre. He is also the author of four professional technical titles, the most recent being Core CSS, 2nd Edition (2001).
He lives in The Beaches area in east Toronto, with his wife, two daughters along with many and various pets.
Hi There,
Just wanted to let you know that my team at BTI Systems uses DITA to develop technical documentation. Please add us to your list.
Great initiative, by the way. I have been curious about how many companies are using DITA. I wish DITA was more widely used outside of technical documentation though… I would like to easily leverage content from Marketing and other groups within our company and vice-versa, but our content is somewhat segregated in our CMS.
Thanks in advance,
–T
Don’t forget, Part 2 of our series “Crossing the Chasm with DITA” with JoAnn Hackos is also in February! It’s on the 23rd! (: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/538300414
Our company (Interactive Intelligence, Inc.) is listed because we mentioned DITA in a job posting. I added that reference to DITA as “a plus” qualification for the first time a few months ago. The reason is because we decided to move toward adopting DITA and a CMS here, but we are still in the planning and proposal stage. I can’t say we are using DITA yet, but we hope to be some time this year.
I have duly removed Interactive Intelligence from the “Companies Using DITA” listing. If you end up using DITA in your future documentation processes, please let me know and I will add it back.
Thank you!