Scottish Usability Showcase

this year’s Scottish Usability Showcase will again feature case study presentations on a variety of usability and accessibility improvements.  We will have 20 minute presentations on topics ranging from large information architecture challenges, improving web accessibility, PDA technologies and how to research innovative new product features for consumer products.  It is sure to be an interesting and enjoyable evening so we hope you can join us.

The 4 talks will be:

'Improving the usability of a large University web site: user research, analysis design and usability testing' –
Catherine M. Brys, Library Web Services Co-Ordinator, Glasgow University Library

Using a number of discount usability techniques, we re-designed the Information Architecture of the web site of Glasgow University Library, an information-rich web site and web application.  The presentation will highlight our methodology, details of discount user research and usability testing, design approaches, challenges encountered and lessons learned.

Improving the usability, accuracy and speed of text entry to a PDA - Andrew Glen, Keypoint Technologies
Andrew Glen, Marketing Manager, Keypoint Technologies
 
Keypoint Technologies developed Adaptex, an innovative and powerful new form of text entry for PDAs and mobiles.  Comparative usability tests between Adaptex and standard predictive text entry on a variety of PDAs & mobile devices showed significant improvements in text entry speed and user satisfaction compared with traditional methods, and provided insights for further development of the product. 

Findings and improvements from a detailed website accessibility audit
Jim Byrne, Jim Byrne & Associates
 
Independent auditing of a website accessibility can help ensure that a site is truly compliant with accessibility guidelines.  Especially since the introduction of PAS 78 earlier this year, more companies are including accessibility goals into their briefs to web designers.  This case study will show how an independent audit using software tools and a detailed code examination revealed some accessibility issues that had not been addressed in an otherwise accessible site build, and how the client, a voluntary sector organisation, was able to learn from this and meet their desired accessibility level of WCAG AA.

How to take an AudioPhoto - researching the usability of a new dimension in digital photography
Ella Chalmers

This talk will describe research into a new consumer product with four families using a prototype AudioCamera on their summer holiday.  This was an early study for Hewlett Packard Research Labs into the user expectations and design features of an innovative product, and provided a wealth of information on how to create products that will support the capture and review of audio, together with stills, as a memory trigger.

Time: 18:30

Venue: Royal Scots Club, 30, Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6QE.

Map and directions.