STC UUX Community Newsletter
Usability Interface

Making the Most of the Usability Discussion List

By David Dick, Editor

One of the member benefits of membership to the Usability and User Experience Community is the Usability Discussion List (e-List). I have learned more about usability from the e-List than I have from classroom study. The e-List is always buzzing with topics: from the merits of a pictures-only installation guide, evaluating the usability of documentation, to search engines and the impact on user interface design.

The Usability e-List is a community of professionals. The e-List isn’t about just collecting facts; it's about the process of solving professional problems, and that is one of the reasons why the information is not archived. It's not a library, a repository, or a database; it's a dynamic, evolving community.

None of us have all the answers. We are constantly learning new skills by performing usability tests and doing the research. The e-List allows you to post questions and get answers from peers and practitioners.

To help you make the most of the e-List, here are some tips that I’ve found useful:

• Upon successful subscription, introduce yourself and note some of your interests. 
• When you ask a question, describe what you have already investigated, even if it is just a single web site. 
• If you see a new book or a good article on usability, please post it. You are welcome to write a short review about it.
• If you do not think that you have anything to contribute to the list—think again. Your experiences and lessons learned are of interest to everyone.
• Do not make strong requests for people to send you anything off-list so you can compile them. The point of a discussion group is to have public conversations. 
• Do not just list a URL and say, “Check this out, it is really cool.”  It is much better to provide a short description as, "This site has an innovative technique for visualizing the quality of different products based on multiple criteria." 
• Don’t use the information for profit.

We have a Web site that covers etiquette, rules of conduct, and guidelines for use. Go to www.stcsig.org/usability/activities/listfaq.html for more information.

Final Thoughts

I close with a mention about Dick Miller for his selection as Associate Fellow. Dick was instrumental in creating Usability Interface. His efforts to publish a world-class newsletter earned the first of many Excellence awards in annual STC newsletter competitions. He has always been a source of advice and instruction, and his selection as Associate Fellow recognizes those important contributions to the Society and the profession.