INTERNET USER EXPERIENCE 2008
March 31 - April 2
Morris Lawrence Building, Ann Arbor, MI
A conference spotlighting methods for dramatically improving today's web site user experience
Tutorials
Introduction to User Experience
Wednesday, April 2nd, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Carol Smith
Principal Consultant
Midwest Research
Abstract
This tutorial is geared towards web managers, project leaders and others who want to better understand the basic concepts of User Experience (UE) work. It includes brief introductions to related fields such as cognitive psychology, design and accessibility. The second half of the tutorial will help you gain a high level understanding of many of the methods that UE practitioners use to research users and evaluate web sites including card sorting and basic usability tests. To help solidify your learning there will be hands-on learning experiences.
Instructor
Carol Smith has seven years of experience researching user needs and conducting usability studies. She is the Principal Consultant at Midwest Research (www.mw-research.com), a research and usability testing consultancy in Ohio.
Ms. Smith has researched people ranging from Kindergarten students to retirees in their homes, schools, factories, and offices. She has used her methods to improve web sites and applications, intranet portals, and consumer products. Ms. Smith has worked with government, non-profit, and private sector clients in industries such as: automotive; education (classroom and e-learning); financial; fine art; health care/medical; human resources; insurance; manufacturing; real-estate; and retail. She has project management expertise and has managed a User Experience department.
Ms. Smith is the Director of Global Outreach on the Board of Directors of the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) and is also is a member of the international committee defining the Body of Knowledge for usability (www.usabilitybok.org). She has presented on accessibility and usability topics at the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) International Conference.
Ms. Smith earned her Masters of Computer Science in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University in Chicago, IL in 2002. Ms. Smith also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalistic Photography and Videography from Denison University in Granville, OH.