From: lranton@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (Lorie Ranton)
Newsgroups: comp.doc.techreports
Subject: Usability Testing
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1992 15:23:10 GMT
Organization: University of Waterloo
NNTP-Posting-Host: oak.ucsc.edu
Keywords: Usability Conference
Originator: golding@oak

% Moderator's note:  this isn't the normal fare for this newsgroup,
% but it seems relevant to me.  If you don't find it to be so, please
% send me (the moderator, compdoc-techreports@ftp.cse.ucsc.edu) email 
% and let me know.  -richard

*********************************************************
                 Usability Concepts and Procedures:
           Third Conference on Quality in Documentation
*********************************************************

November 19-21 1992
at the University of Waterloo, Ontario Canada

====================
Featured Speakers
   Mark Chignell, The University of Toronto
   John Clegg, Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Ontario
   Roger Grice, IBM, Kingston, New York
   Kent Norman, The University of Maryland
   Amanda Prail, Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, California
   Judy Ramey, The University of Washington
   Ginny Redish, American Institutes for Research, Washington
   Catherine Schryer, The University of Waterloo

==============================
Objectives of the Conference
To . . . 
 -  show how to overcome common obstacles
  - present practical applications for in-house testing
  - make usability testing an affordable and viable option for companies
  - present information about current developments in usability testing

=================
Why Usability?
Your company's written material is often your only contact with 
customers and potential clients it makes a statement about who 
you are and the products and services you provide. Even the 
best designed and most up-to-date product is only as effective as 
its documentation. 

Usability testing measures how easily customers can use your
product. But it doesn't stop there. Usability testing enables you 
to evaluate how to improve your product to make it easier to use 
and more effective. 

==========================
Benefits of Usability Testing
By watching people use your product before it goes into
production, you can eliminate costly design problems before 
your product goes to market.

You can witness the effectiveness of your document, clearly 
see where your manual and support systems break down, and 
make changes based on the test results. One short test can 
ensure customer satisfaction and perhaps even
save your corporations reputation.

When consumers use products that have not been usability 
tested they often get frustrated, don't use the product and may 
even return it.

===============================
What Should be Usability Tested?
If your product is designed to be used by people, it should be 
usability tested. Such products are: software, computer 
hardware, photocopiers, coffee machines, video cassette 
recorders and much more.

=========================
Who Should Attend?
The Usability Concepts and Procedures Conference is for
anyone interested in maintaining product effectiveness. 
This includes writers, programmers, educators, consultants, 
software engineers, and developers, quality
assurance personnel, salespeople, executives, and managers. 

======================
How Can I Register?
Contact Laurie Ranton for an extended agenda and a 
registration form. 
		Laurie Ranton
		The Centre for Professional Writing, 
		The University of Waterloo, 
		Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, 
		519 885 1211 x 5227
		(fax) 519 725 1701. 

The registration fee of $375.00 (or $295.00 for STC Members) 
includes proceedings, lunches, snacks,  workshop material, 
and the Thursday evening speaker and dinner. 
Proceedings of the event, a registration booklet, and 
your name tag will be available for pickup in the registration 
area. Registration begins at 8:00 on Thursday morning.

======================
Sponsor Information
Sponsors of the conference receive special rates on registration 
and other benefits. Sponsors of previous events included IBM, 
NCR, Mortice Kern Systems, BNR, Frame Technology, and 
ITRC. Please contact Paul Beam or Laurie Ranton at the 
Centre for Professional Writing for more information
about sponsoring opportunities.

=============================
Where the Conference is Held
All presentations are conducted at the University of Waterloo. 
The rooms are air conditioned and set up to facilitate discussion 
among participants.


===================
Agenda at a Glance

Thursday November 19, 1992
8:00      Registration
9:00      Opening Remarks, Gary Waller, The University of Waterloo
9:15      Kent Norman, The University of Maryland
10:30     Break
10:45     Amanda Prail, Hewlett Packard
12:00     Lunch
1:30      Kent Norman (Workshop) 
3:00      Break
3:15      Mark Chignell, The University of Toronto
4:30      Networking
6:00      William Buxton, The University of Toronto and Dinner 

Friday November 20, 1992
9:00      Ginny Redish, The American Institutes for Research
10:15     Break
10:30     Roger Grice, IBM
12:00     Lunch
1:30      Amanda Prail (Workshop)
3:00      Break
3:15      Ginny Redish (Workshop)
4:45      Networking

Saturday November 21, 1992
9:00      Judy Ramey, The University of Washington 
10:15     Break
10:30     Catherine Schryer, The University of Waterloo
11:45     Lunch
1:15      Judy Ramey (Workshop)
2:45      Break
3:00      John Clegg, BNR




Centre for Professional Writing                Laurie Ranton
University of Waterloo,               lranton@watarts.waterloo.edu
200 University Ave. W.                   519 885 1211 x5227 (phone)
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1                     519 725 1701 (Fax)


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