INTERNET USER EXPERIENCE 2008
April 1- 3, 2008
Morris Lawrence Building, Ann Arbor, MI
A conference spotlighting methods for dramatically improving today's web site user experience
Presentations
So Simple a Child Could Do It: Developing Online Interactive Worlds
MGAE's MyePets and BeBratz: Online Interactive Worlds for Children
Doug Zeffer, Vice-President, Enlighten
Tonya McCarley, Information Architect, Enlighten
Tuesday, April 1st, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Abstract
When designing for the Web we often operate under certain assumptions - especially when assessing common components like forms, basic interface metaphors (the checkbox), and methods of interaction (click and drag). Question is: What adjustments do you have to make to your designs when you don't know your users level of familiarity? What special considerations and adjustments do you need to make in designing and building an interactive world for children? What are the best practices for younger users and how do you learn them if you don't have access to actual users? What laws need to be accounted for in the design and system architecture?
MGA Entertainment worked with Enlighten to craft online worlds extending two of their toy lines into alternative interactive realms. MyePets was targeted for children ages 3 and Up, and bebratz was targeted for children ages 6 and up. Our experiences challenged assumptions on age and redefined the needs of a younger audience. Learning from focus groups (prior to launch) and post-launch data (supplied through customer support requests), a dramatic difference between age groups was highlighted, indicating changes to be made not just for "kids" but also implemented based specifically on age.
About the Speakers
Carl Collins,
Information Architect
Enlighten
As an information architect, Carl diagrams effective and engaging user experiences. His role is to define requirements for sites based on the intersection of user needs, strategic objectives, and well-organized content. He specializes in applying emerging web technologies to existing user experience needs and enjoys determining the optimal information set for a given presentation. Carl has previously worked on voice over IP interfaces with NOVA group in Osaka, Japan and as a project coordinator for the Sakai Foundation, an open source software group that develops content management solutions for universities. He has also worked as a freelance consultant on a diverse array of social web projects. He is committed to reducing assumptions by incorporating user research and testing into the design process. He holds a Masters of Science in Information from the University of Michigan.
Tonya McCarley,
Information Architect
Enlighten
Tonya is an Information Architect at Enlighten where she works closely with team members and clients to deliver compelling, high quality interactive experiences to users. Her recent projects have included evaluating and understanding the interactive needs of several diverse age groups. Focusing on the needs of an aging user group was essential to the AARP-The Hartford insurance partnership project. At the other end of the spectrum, assessing the skills and abilities of young online users of MGA Entertainment products was critical.
Prior to her work at Enlighten, Tonya was an outside sales representative in college textbook publishing where she focused on helping professors and students achieve their educational objectives. With extensive experience in user-needs assessment, focus groups, and usability, Tonya contributes a client-centric focus to her projects. She holds a Masters of Science in Information from the University of Michigan.