With the new developments in communication and information sciences, it is not surprising that technical translation faces new challenges. This paper gives a short practice-oriented overview. The author identifies four long-term trends in specialized communication: computerization, internationalisation, commercialisation and ‘contextualisation’. Each trend brings along new tools and challenges, which should be covered in both intra- and extra-university research. New developments lead to new professional profiles, which should be translated in new university curricula, and in post-university seminars, workshops and courses. Practical issues such as multilingual technical writing and computer supported cooperative work are discussed under a separate heading. A model showing the complex interlinks among trends and the consequences for theory and practice in communication studies rounds off the paper.