Online Communication Competition

Online entries include forms of communication that depend on a computer or other electronic media for delivery. The entries must be primarily intended for viewing on a computer or similar device, not on paper.

Therefore, computer-based training, online documentation, help systems, online demonstration program, simple text-retrieval systems, multimedia information systems, and Web pages can be judged in the online competition.

The online communication competition is not limited to online documents that support computer products. Entries can include online encyclopedias, medical handbooks, and more.

The online communication competition has seven categories (listed below).

1. Help. Online information that has a primary purpose of providing immediate assistance to individuals while they use a product. This category includes and is not limited to general help, procedural help, cue cards, examples, performance support, and integrated user assistance.
   
   
2. Demonstrations. Interactive online information that has a primary purpose of demonstrating or describing the main features of a product or product line with user interaction or feedback. Besides demonstrations of products, this category also includes guided tours and marketing material designed for dynamic user interaction.
   
   
3. Technical Marketing. Static, non-interactive online information that has a primary purpose of describing or defining the main features of a product or product line. This category includes and is not limited to online brochures, catalogs, and marketing materials that are designed to remain static. Most corporate Web pages belong in this category.
   
   

4. Tutorials/Training. Online information that has a primary purpose of teaching the techniques for using the main features and capabilities of a product, or of assisting in the process of teaching. This category includes and is not limited to computer-based training applications, tutorials, online lesson books, and training aids.
   

5. Books. Online information that has a primary purpose of informing users about a topic, concept, product, or process. This category includes and is not limited to online books, policy manuals, newsletters, literary works, user guides, knowledge bases, and magazines.
   
   

6. Reference Material. Online information that has a primary purpose of defining or explaining things like structure, results, words, problems, or parameters. This category includes and is not limited to online dictionaries, glossaries, function or object descriptions, data structure definitions, encyclopedias, and directories.
   

7. User Support Tools. Online information that has a primary purpose of assisting the user to complete a set of tasks or solve a set of problems. This category includes troubleshooting tools, wizards or wizard-like task completion tools, quick start guides, and automated support tools.