World Usability Day 2011 at the University of Minnesota

Join us for World Usability Day 2011, "Designing for Social Change," on Thursday, November 10, in 402 Walter Library.

The event kicks off at 9:45 a.m. with Beth Fraser, director of governmental affairs for the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. She will review her case study on organized testing of the usability of absentee ballots in the State of Minnesota. We will see how this study increased the likelihood of the successful submission of votes by absentee citizens, including soldiers serving overseas.

The afternoon presentation begins at 1:00 p.m. with Matt Diamanti, senior director of UX for the Mayo Clinic. He will delve into how a designer’s worldview affects how effectively he or she serves the needs of users, with a specific focus on healthcare and the Mayo Clinic.

For the evening portion, the Minnesota chapter of the Usability Professionals Association has arranged for a presentation by Thomas J. Smith, lecturer for the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology. He will speak about the importance of usability and learning environment design in student learning outcomes at 7:00 p.m. in 330 Science Teaching and Student Services. A buffet dinner is included and will be served prior to the meeting at 6:00 p.m.