***** UsabilityNews.com, Newsletter 29 Aug 2007 *****

**** UsabilityNews.com, Newsletter 29 Aug 2007 *****

For all the latest news in usability and human-computer interaction visit the UsabilityNews web site at http://www.usabilitynews.com/

A service provided by the British HCI Group. Visit: http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/

------ EDITOR'S COMMENTARY ------

After what I hope has been a relaxing summer for most of us, the HCI industry which is gearing up for a busy final quarter of the year, judging by the number of events, conferences and workshops scheduled for the next few weeks. For something a bit different I can recommend the 2nd International Conference on Digital Live Art (September 10th, Leeds Met University) for anyone involved in the interaction between Computing, HCI and Live Art.

The main event, of course, is our very own conference, HCI 2007. Held in Lancaster this year, it has taken the theme 'HCI, but not as we know it' to reflect the innovation pushing back the frontiers in the discipline. There's a hugely diverse programme of workshops, seminars and lectures to attend, and a great lineup of industry figures. If you can make it out there for a day or two it will be well worth it. Whether you attend to present your material or to learn more about the work of others, do please think about sending a line or two to UsabilityNews. We are always delighted to hear about developments from the people who are out there doing it, and keen to cover new research, new ideas and new products.

On a broader note, UsabilityNews is currently reviewing its own remit with a view to extending the interactivity of the site. Quite simply, we're looking for more material from the coalface of usability testing, information architecture, experience design, mobility research and related areas. Judging by the growing number of blogs out there, there are quite a few of you engaged in fascinating projects which deserve a wider audience, or who are able to write about the complex challenges, current puzzles and future possibilities of the field in a way that gets the community buzzing. If you write a blog, if you're thinking about writing a blog, or if you have strong opinions about any aspect of the profession, please consider discussing your ideas with us.

Myself and other members of the Advisory Board will be happy to chat to potential contributors at HCI 2007. If you can't be there, contact me by email at editor@usabilitynews.com.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you.

Joanna Bawa
Editor

Advisory Team:
Rod McCall, Jarinee Chattratichart, Ann Light, Andy Dearden, Nick Bryan-Kinns and Gerred Blyth


------ LATEST NEWS ------

* Does Web 2.0 make Copy and Content less Important?
Source: MarketingProfs, 29 August 2007
If your users generate content, what's the role of the professional web writer? Is an online copywriter or web writer any longer relevant for a site that generates a lot of its content through user contributions?
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4128.asp


* High Fidelity and the Problem with 'Sketching'
Source: dexodesign.com, 28 August 2007
Bill Buxton advocates 'sketching' early in the design process but there are problems with ideal approaches in practice.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4124.asp


* Seven User Experience Lessons from the iPhone
Source: slideshare, 27 August 2007
Concise and entertaining presentation with a lot of useful stuff for UX professionals.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4127.asp


* Council websites have poor Usability, study shows
Source: ComputerWeekly, 25 August 2007
The UK's local councils are not doing enough to make their websites usable, according to a study by consultancy firm, Webcredible.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4123.asp


* Article: Home Page Design
Source: UXMatters, 24 August 2007
Are there tips to consider when designing a home page? This article will help you better understand how to approach home page design.

http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4121.asp


------ EVENTS ------

* Usability Testing Training - London
Date: 3 September 2007
One day hands-on classroom-based usability testing training course. Learn how to plan, run and analyse your own usability testing sessions.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4010.asp


* Designing Human Centered Technologies for the Developing World: HCI but not as we know it - HCI2007
Date: 4 September 2007
HCI 2007, Lancaster: This workshop aims to strengthen the User-centred design for development (UCS4D) community, as well as contribute to the body of knowledge about designing for and with communities in the developing world.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4042.asp


* Writing for the Web Training - London
Date: 4 September 2007
One day hands-on classroom-based writing for the web training course. Learn to write and maintain effective online content for your website.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4013.asp


* Training: Usability Testing - London
Date: 4 September 2007
After attending this Usability Testing training course, you will be able to confidently carry out a usability test of your company's product or website.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article3919.asp


* Towards a Social Science of Web 2.0 - York, UK
Date: 5 September 2007 to 6 September 2007
Towards a Social Science of Web 2.0: Keynote speakers include Andrew Keen (author of 'The Cult of the Amateur') and Charles Leadbeater.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article3968.asp


------ JOBS ------

* User Experience / Interaction Designer: Cambridge
Deadline: 31 July 2007
High profile role in newly formed User Experience team at major pioneering software vendor ?influencing a large product range (includes enterprise grade management applications, rich web portals, 2D/3D simulation software).
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4045.asp


* User Experience Consultant - London
Deadline: 29 August 2007
Webcredible is looking for a fantastic User Experience Consultant to join our expanding team. If you want a client-facing role managing your own projects then this could be the job for you!
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4102.asp


* User Experience Consultant - London
Deadline: 30 August 2007
A leading provider of user-centred-design services in the UK is looking for an interaction designer or IA.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4092.asp


* Senior UE Consultant / Information Architect - London
Deadline: 31 August 2007
An opportunity has arisen to join a team of 10 user experience analysts within an internal consultancy for this large, global investment bank in Canary Wharf.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4095.asp


* Freelance Positions - Oxfordshire, UK
Deadline: 31 August 2007
Bunnyfoot has a number of freelance positions for UCD roles available in the upcoming months.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4130.asp


------ PAPER CALLS ------

* Call for Chapters: Handbook of Research on Socio-Technical Design and Social Networking
Deadline: 31 August 2007
Call for Chapters: Handbook of Research on Socio-Technical Design and Social Networking Systems; a book edited by Brian Whitworth (Massey University) and Aldo de Moor (CommunitySense)
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article3993.asp


* CfP: Pervasive Healthcare 2008
Deadline: 14 September 2007
The Pervasive Healthcare conference gathers experts for sharing information on recent developments - both technical and system-level - contributing towards an emerging pervasive healthcare discipline.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article3883.asp


* CfP: CHI '08 Workshop: Now Let's Do It in Practise - Florence, Italy
Deadline: 3 October 2007
This workshop will investigate UX evaluation methods that help product developers to improve both pragmatic and hedonistic UX with various kinds of products, applications and services.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4129.asp


* CfP: CHI '08 Workshop, Urban Mixed Realities:Technologies, Theories and Frontiers
Deadline: 3 October 2007
This CHI 2008 workshop will bring together practitioners and researchers with an interst in the growing field of urban mixed realities.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article4136.asp


* CfP: Future Networked Interactive Media Systems and Services for the New-senior Communities
Deadline: 1 December 2007
This Special issue of the Journal of Computers in Human Behavior is a consequence of a UbiComp 06 workshop and looks at understanding crucial design issues of incoming scenarios of pervasive networked systems for elderly people.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article3820.asp

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