His interests include Web development, the XML development process, and online help systems. In addition, he has researched the historical and linguistic evolution of the writing of ornithologists and the interconnections between professional and popular writing in the sciences. His articles have appeared in The Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, and Technical Communication Quarterly. His book, The Rhetoric of Science in the Evolution of American Ornithological Discourse, has been published by Ablex Press. John contributed to the tutorials, teaching topics, and quizzes on TechComm Web.