The Usability SIG Newsletter
Usability Interface

Usability Interface is the quarterly publication of the Usability SIG. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide technical communicators with up-to-date and in-depth information on how they can apply usability design and testing techniques to their products. A summary version containing the lead articles and SIG news is mailed to all SIG members.

January 2004

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Newsletter Summary  (4 pages)

Defining an Effective Electronic Performance Support System
By Sam Racine, Kristen E. Kralick, and Sathya Yesuraja
Are your products, services, and technology changing too fast for your customers and employees to keep up with? Are traditional training approaches adequate and cost-effective? Unisys Corporation, has have piloted an electronic performance support system that provides self-instruction for our clients at their point of need. More»

Sneak preview of the Usability and Information Design Stem at the 51st Annual STC Conference
By Caroline Jarrett, Usability and Information Design Stem Manager for the 51st Annual STC Conference
STC will soon be mailing the advance program for STC conference. But it's too exciting to wait that long. Here is a sneak preview of the Usability and Information Design (UID) stem. More»

Usable Tours: Transforming the Usability Lab into an IT Learning Zone
By Davis Marasco
Davis describes how the Product Usability Design Group of IBM educates visiting school children something about usability techniques, and provides hands-on experience with the Usability Lab and its equipment. More»

Giveaways to Thank Helpful Users--What's Best?
Compiled by David Dick
What is the best way to thank helpful users for participating in a usability study? Carl Myhill asked this question to popular discussion group of the Usability community. More»

Types of Usability Methods
By Alice Preston
We’re all somewhat familiar with the range of methods that can be used to usability test our products or even early designs. But there may be more methods than you’ve thought about. How many of the following methods are you familiar with? More»

Usability in Practice: Company Profile of Hylotek
By Diane Giangrossi
Which companies are actually practicing usability, and what does usability mean to them? Who's investing time and money into usability, and what kind of return are they receiving on their investment in the real world? Diane describes how Hylotek is meeting the challenge to design user-friendly products. More»

Heuristics to Evaluate Online Help
By Donn DeBoard
Donn was tasked to evaluate online help. However, he had point of reference on which to evaluate content and quality. There is no consensus concerning what criteria constitute good online help. So, Donn created his own heuristic checklist. More»

Intercom Features Usability
By David Dick, Editor
The Usability SIG is dedicated to meeting the specific professional development needs of its members. Through its award-winning newsletter, informative Web site, and conference presentations, the Usability SIG provides technical communicators resources and opportunities to learn about the field (what) and the different tasks that a usability professional must do (how). Results of the member survey in 2003 indicated that we are meeting the needs of a majority of members, and now we have an example.  More»

Pulse of the SIG: Looking Forward to A New Year in Usability
By Karen Bachmann, Usability SIG Manager
Whether you are continuing to be the lone voice promoting usability or are just starting to recommend your company include usability in their projects, 2004 is already looking to be a good year to learn more about usability and to create your own success stories. More»

Book Reviews

Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces by Carolyn Snyder
Reviewed by David Dick

Designing Web Sites for Every Audience by Ilise Benun
Reviewed by Whitney Quesenbery

Beyond Borders: Web Globalization Strategies by John Yunker
Reviewed by Jeff Staples

Columns and SIG News

SIG News

• Conference progression topics still open
• Whitney Quesenbery elected President of the Usability Professionals Association
• Ginny Redish to keynote UPA 2004

Usability SIG Web Site Tests Macromedia FlashPaper
By David Dick
The Usability SIG is always interested in new ways to put publish our newsletter on the Web. When an upgrade to Macromedia’s Contribute 2.0 included a new program called FlashPaper, we decided to give it a try.