From: stevenw@mentorg.com (Steve Whitchurch)
Subject: Local QA Group Meeting
Organization: Mentor Graphics Corporation
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 17:35:43 GMT


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                       Local QA Group News Letter                                 4/08/92
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First of all A BIG Thanks to Bart Weaver from TSI for the very good talk on testing
tools He gave at the March 17th meeting.   THANKS ......


This Months Meeting (April 21, 7:30am - 9:00am, at Mentor Graphics, Wilsonville).



	  The Case for Usability Testing of User Interfaces
				   
			   David G. Novick
	    Department of Computer Science and Engineering
		      Oregon Graduate Institute
			  novick@cse.ogi.edu

In this talk, I examine the case for usability testing of user
interfaces.  The alternatives are either (1) unsystematically based on
folklore, (2) require expertise out of reach of most developers, or
(3) based on incomplete theories of interaction.  Usability testing,
with real tasks and real users, addresses the problem of interaction
theory and systematically uncovers the most serious problems in an
interface, particularly for novice users.  Usability testing is not a
panacea, though, because it (1) does not often deal well with problems
of experienced user and (2) fails to provide usability metrics for
design.  I describe the central analytical scheme and practical
elements of usability evaluation with recorded video protocols of
users' interactions with an interface.

			  About the speaker

David G. Novick is an assistant professor of computer science and
engineering at the Oregon Graduate Institute.  He earned a J.D. from
Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.  He is
the author of many papers in the field of human-computer interaction.
With Sarah Douglas of the University of Oregon, he developed the Quick
User Interface Construction Kit (QUICK) and the Quick User Interface
Development Method (QUID).  Dr. Novick's research interests focus on
interactive systems, including technologically mediated interaction
and control of interaction among intelligent agents; and
human-computer interaction, including methods of interface design and
implementation.  A central theme of this research is the role of
meta-acts in control of interaction.  He has consulted on interface
testing for commercial software houses and is a founder of CHIFOO, the
Oregon chapter of SIGCHI.  Dr.  Novick's work on interactive systems
is funded by the National Science Foundation.


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 The following is a list of speakers and topics for the Local QA Group meetings for
 1992. If you have any questions or would like more information about the group,
 PLEASE contact me (Steve Whitchurch) at (503) 685-7000, x2671, or send EMail to
 stevenw@pdx.mentorg.com ........ 
       
    DATE          TIME           PLACE          SPEAKER              TOPIC
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 January 21    7:30-9:00AM     Intel (HF3)     Bill Griffis         WAT Tools

 February 18   7:30-9:00am     Mentor (bld D)  Nancy Winston        UI Testing 

 March 17      7:30-9:00am     Intel (HF3)     Bart Weaver          Testing Tools 

 April 21      7:30-9:00am     Mentor (bld D)  David Novick         Usability Testing <-------

 May 19        7:30-9:00am     Intel (HF3)     Larrye Heyl          Code Documentation

 June 16       7:30-9:00am     Mentor (bld D)  Dan Harper           ISO 9000

 July 21       7:30-9:00am     Intel (HF3)     Mark Johnson         SEI Assessment Process

 Augest 18     7:30-9:00am     Mentor (bld D)  George Burgesser     TET 

 September 15  7:30-9:00am     Intel (HF3)     Steve Whitchurch     Inspection Process 

 October 20    ***********  NO Local QA Group Meeting  *************** 

 November 17   7:30-9:00am     Intel (HF3)     Karen King           Process Improvement 

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If you would like to give a talk on one of the following topics, PLEASE let me know.

 o User Interface Testing.
 o Inspection Process.
 o OSF Testing Tools.
 o Usability Testing.
 o Coverage Tools.
 o Documentation of Code.
 o Metrix Tools.
 o Process Improvement.

The Meetings are held at: 

Intel Corp.,5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy.,Hillsboro OR.
Meet in the lobby of HF-3.
 
Mentor Graphics, 8500 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville OR. 
Meet in the lobby of the Deschutes Building.

Note - The Deschutes Building at Mentor is the one with the flag poles in front.
       The building also has "Mentor Graphics" on the front. 

Meeting Time - 7:30am - 9:00am

Any Questions, give me a call ...

Steve

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Steve Whitchurch
Mentor Graphics 
(503) 685-7000, x2671
stevenw@pdx.mentorg.com
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