raising awareness for usability across the nation capchi.org presented by alfredo coppola chief...
DESCRIPTION
My role as Vice Chair To raise awareness about usability overall; To act as a lobbyist - ensuring that policy makers within government and other industry associations are well-equipped to implement intelligent integration of design and technology; I will need your help…TRANSCRIPT
Raising Awareness for Usability Across the Nation
CAPCHI.orgPresented byAlfredo CoppolaChief Usability StrategistVenture Communications
Outline
My role as Vice-Chair of CAPCHI What matters now in the new, New Economy? The Usability Expert as Facilitator Usability & Government Online (GOL) Winning techniques for research, design and
testing - let’s hear them!
My role as Vice Chair
To raise awareness about usability overall; To act as a lobbyist - ensuring that policy
makers within government and other industry associations are well-equipped to implement intelligent integration of design and technology;
I will need your help…
What matters now in the new, New Economy?
What matters now in the new, New Economy? Accountability.
“The recent market downturn has put growing pressure on Web companies to perform…”“Investors are demanding accountability and they’re expecting usability practices to help them find it.”
- Dianne See Morrison,Independent Digital (UK),
March 2001
What matters now in the new, New Economy? The End-User!
“We admit that our company does not devote enough time studying consumers vs. the amount of time and money spent studying our technology”
- Brian O'Shaugnessy, VP Technology
Development, Bell Mobility
What matters now in the new, New Economy? Usability!
Why?• Reduces risk• Saves time/money in the long-run• It offers tangible, measurable criteria to
make sound design decisions• It makes good business sense
• e.g. Aer Lingus
The Usability Expert as Facilitator
The Usability Expert as Facilitator
Design Process: Conventional way
DesignTeam
Project Manager
WebDevelopmentTeam
Client
The Usability Expert as Facilitator
Design Process: UCD way
Design Team
End-Users
Project Manager
Client
WebDevelopmentTeam
Usability Expert
Usability & Government Online (GOL)
Usability & Government Online (GOL)
There are tremendous opportunities in this area to pursue – the government needs lots of help;
Project managers lack experience to make informed choices on: how to evaluate capabilities of consultants how to blend internal/external resources
from varying disciplines measuring success
Usability & Government Online (GOL)
Phase one was completed earlier this year Established ‘Common Look and Feel’
guidelines For many departments a ‘TOPICS’ approach to
information architecture was chosen Good for 2nd and 3rd-level navigation,
however, personalization will be required to address diverse audience segments.
Where they’re at now
Usability & Government Online (GOL)
One size doesn’t fit all As skill levels rise and as Web best practices
change, they've got to stay ahead of the game.
Usability must be a routine aspect of site maintenance and renewal, and new techniques are needed to cut the costs and speed up delivery.
Treasury Board has been informed
Winning Techniques for Conducting Research, Design & Testing
Tricks, Tips, Dos & Don’ts
• Be predictable and obvious• Think ‘useful’ – design in support of
accomplishing user tasks• Follow conventions (e.g. – traffic light)• Give users starting points• Integrate copy like a conversation in
transactive areas• Write concise, objective & easily scanned copy
Thou shalt:
Tricks, Tips, Dos & Don’ts
• Expect the user to figure it out• Expect users to change for you• Make users sit through a ‘groovy Flash intro’• Create obstacles for users, e.g. - “This site
works best with Flash 5.0” • Pollute the user – e.g. lots of photos of smiling
people• Conduct a focus group 2 weeks before launch
Thou shalt NOT:
Winning Techniques for Conducting Research, Design & Testing
Share your most recent experiences!
