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Raising Awareness for Usability Across the Nation. CAPCHI.org Presented by Alfredo Coppola Chief Usability Strategist Venture Communications. My role as Vice-Chair of CAPCHI What matters now in the new, New Economy? The Usability Expert as Facilitator Usability & Government Online (GOL)
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Raising Awareness for Usability Across the Nation CAPCHI.org Presented by Alfredo Coppola Chief Usability Strategist Venture Communications
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! Outline
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… My role as Vice Chair
“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? Accountability.
“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? The End-User!
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 What matters now in the new, New Economy? Usability!
Design Process: Conventional way The Usability Expert as Facilitator Client Project Manager Design Team Web Development Team
Design Process: UCD way The Usability Expert as Facilitator Design Team Web Development Team Project Manager Usability Expert End-Users Client
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. Usability & Government Online (GOL) Where they’re at now
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. Usability & Government Online (GOL) Treasury Board has been informed
Winning Techniques for Conducting Research, Design & Testing
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 Tricks, Tips, Dos & Don’ts Thou shalt:
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 Tricks, Tips, Dos & Don’ts Thou shalt NOT:
Share your most recent experiences! Winning Techniques for Conducting Research, Design & Testing
Alfredo Coppola Chief Usability Strategist Venture Communications alfredo@openminds.ca 613-241-4000 Contact me: