UXnet Events: Topic: User Experience Archives

Topic: User Experience

May 1, 2007

UPA Auckland - The Human Brain 101

Ever wondered why so many usability professionals have studied psychology?

Dr Vanessa Lim from the University of Auckland’s Psychology Department is going to provide you with a Psychology 101 level toolkit of knowledge about human memory, cognition and attention. During her talk we’re going to discuss how human vision, attention and memory work and how this knowledge can be applied to design of software and websites. Vanessa will also talk about experimental methods briefly, while recognising that few people in our industries conduct rigorous, tightly controlled experiments.

Dr Vanessa Lim completed her PhD (2003) in Psychology from The University of Melbourne. Her main research interests are in movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease and Focal Dystonia) and music processing. Currently working at the Psychology Department as the Neuroimaging manager and Researcher. The main techniques used in the lab are Electroencephalography (EEG), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and behavioural techniques.

Registration details at the UPA NZ website

April 3, 2007

UPA Wellington - Prototyping tools for web design

After a slow start to the year, the Wellington Usability Professionals group has an exciting series of events planned for 2007!

To kick things off, their next meeting is Tuesday April 3rd and will be about prototyping tools for web design.

A rapid iterative prototyping process is often used with user centred design (UCD) methodologies.

With web based UCD designs interaction designers use a variety of tools to create, refine and test prototypes. With so much to learn about each tools’ advantages/disadvantages, it can sometimes be helpful to simply talk to someone who has used the tool.

Come along to the next Wellington UPA meeting to listen to six speakers talk for 10 minutes each on a tool that they have used for prototyping. The speakers are:

1. Dave O’Brien, Optimal Usability, talking about Microsoft Visio
2. Lulu Pachuau, Hansel, talking about Omnigraffle
3. Nicole Kaufmann, Optimal Usability talking about Axure
4. Isha Hartono, Provoke talking about Microsoft Expression Suite
5. Tim Norton and Natalie Ferguson, Plan HQ talking about Adobe Flash
6. Mary Sue Severn, Effacy, talking about their own tool Simplar Studio

* RSVP: kat@hansel to confirm your attendance.
* When: Tuesday April 3rd, 12 noon to 1.30pm
* Where: Hansel, Meeting Room, Level 3, 56 Victoria Street, Wellington

March 15, 2007

Intergen Twilight: UX + Usability

The Intergen Twilight Seminars are free informal late afternoon sessions designed to inform you about current trends, technologies and initiatives in the space where business and information technology overlap.

March is all about Usability and User Experience : Why it is important to businesses online.

People lined up to speak so far are:

Natasha Hall – Trademe User Experience : Speaking on the importance of creating a good user experience
Shailesh Manga – Optimal Usability : What is Usability and why should it be employed in projects
Henry Poppelwell : AMP: How AMP engaged usability in their last project, and perspectives on the benefits of doing so.

And the kicker – Free drinks for everyone attending.

Time : 16:30 till 17:30

Where?

Update: Please note that the venue has changed due to the high number of registrations:

Crowne Plaza Auckland
Ballroom 1, Mezzanine Level
128 Albert St
Auckland City

Map

August 29, 2006

UPA Auckland - Interviewing 101 with Shane Hastie from Software Education

Shane Hastie from Software Education will be talking about using interviewing effectively for user centred design - whether you're interviewing current or prospective site users or other stakeholders - these are important skills.

Shane's talk will cover the basics of planning and conducting a structured interview – identifying who to talk to, planning the time and sequence of interviews and then actually conducting an interview.
The talk will concentrate primarily on the people factors which are crucial to successfully gathering requirements for a new or changed product or service, irrespective of the problem domain or business context.

Bio

Shane is Chief Knowledge Engineer at Software Education Associates Ltd (www.softed.com), Shane has over 25 years experience in software development and implementation around the world, using a variety of development methodologies. Shane is an advocate of Agile methods based on his experience building real systems, including a back office & revenue accounting software for small to medium size Airlines which has been implemented in 12 airlines around Africa and is still in use today, reservations & despatch management for shuttle services, pharmaceutical and facilities management systems. Shane has lived and worked in New Zealand, South Africa, USA, UK, Australia and Hong Kong.

Shane's areas of expertise cover Software Testing, Requirements Analysis, Agile Methodologies, Business Analysis and Project Management.

* RSVP: Please RSVP to auckland at upa dot org dot nz by 5pm Monday 28th August
* Time: 6pm onwards for drinks and nibbles. Talks start at 6.30pm.
Finishes at approximately 8pm
* Cost: $10 cash at the door. Please bring correct change.
* Location: Bank of New Zealand, 3rd floor, 125 Queen Street (Map showing location of building - but we are on the 3rd floor).
* Late entry: Call Mark McLay on 029 222 00 16 if you have difficulty getting in or arrive after 6.30pm

May 23, 2006

Webstock Web Conference

Webstock Banner

Webstock is is a four-day web experience: two days of intensive workshops, followed by a two-day conference. The aim: to improve how websites are built through inspiration, education, insightful analysis and practical application.

Never before has such a gathering of web celebrity taken place in NZ. Featuring international talent and web royalty who will provide you with expert knowledge, this is not just your average web conference.

Webstock will have a uniquely New Zealand feel, and in the spirit of one of the greatest mind-expanding festivals ever known, there'll be inspiration and horizon-broadening galore, and fun and merriment aplenty! There'll be ample opportunities for you to chatter and befriend other web-loving individuals over a drink or three, and the chance to mix and mingle with some of the biggest web names in the world!

Whether you're a web designer, developer, analyst, content-editor, information/solution architect or a decision maker from the corporate, government, non-government organisation or education sector in NZ or from further afield - there'll be something motivating, exciting and immensely valuable for you!

Webstock is brought to you by the good people at Web Standards NZ who've taken it upon themselves to promote raising the standard of web sites in their own backyard (and abroad), and have a jolly good time while they're doing it.

October 11, 2005

UPA Auckland - Games User Research with Tracey Sellar

GripShift : A Case Study

* How do game developers know if they are making the right design decisions prior to shipping a title?
* What parts of a game frustrate players instead of challenge them?
* How can developers answer the fundamental question: will gamers think our game is good?

Games user research provides developers with valuable feedback on how a target audience will perceive and interact with their game before it gets to market. It helps to take some of the guesswork out of designing enjoyable game experiences.

In this talk, Tracey will present a user research case study on GripShift, a recently released game developed by Sidhe Interactive for the new PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game console. Tracey will describe how the design of GripShift changed as a result of iterative user testing, and how those changes impacted on the game user experience. She will also discuss some of the benefits and challenges of games user research.

Speaker Bio:

Tracey Sellar is a games user research consultant and is currently Director of the User Experience (UX) Lab in Auckland. In her spare time, Tracey is exploring new research strategies and methods for evaluating game user experience as part of her PhD.

Tracey has been involved with the New Zealand games industry for several years as a user research advocate and consultant. Recent game projects she has worked on include Rugby League 2, Melbourne Cup Challenge and GripShift for New Zealand's largest game development company, Sidhe Interactive. In addition to games, she has conducted user research on a range of products including websites, software, videoconferencing systems, and large interactive display technologies.

Tracey has recently accepted a User Research Engineer position with the Games User Research team at Microsoft Game Studios, and will be relocating to the U.S. at the end of October.

$10 cash at the door. Location details below.

Location: Bank of New Zealand, 3rd floor, 125 Queen Street
Map showing location of building (but we are on the 3rd floor)

Time: 6 pm for drinks and nibbles, 6.30pm talk starts, finishes approx 8pm.
Call Mark McLay on 029 222 00 16 if you have difficulty getting in or arrive after 6.30pm

September 30, 2005

Community capital and household use of the Internet

Community capital and household use of the Internet
Joce Williams
Wellington
Friday 30th September
12.00 PM
http://communication.massey.ac.nz/seminar_series.html
Department of Communication and Journalism
Doctoral Research Seminar Series, Wellington.

Venue: Massey University, Wallace Street,
Contact Details: Nicky McInnes
Tel: 801 2794 x6931

September 21, 2005

Wellington as a Creative City

Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
Time: 4.40-6pm
Venue: GBLT4, Old Government Buildings
Address: 15 Lambton Quay

Michael Volkerling (Director, Centre for Creative Industries, WelTech): Wellington as a Creative City

Booking and Ticketing:
Free event open to the public

For More Information:
Contact:
Sarelle Reid
Phone: 463 5305
Email: sarelle.reid@vuw.ac.nz

September 2, 2005

TUANZ (e)-vision forum - It's all about the USER!

User Centered Design — what is it, why is it important and how can it have an impact on your business?

Website: The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand

September 1, 2005

TUANZ (e)-vision forum — it's all about the USER!

User Centered Design — what is it, why is it important and how can it have an impact on your business?

This interactive session will cover your website, intranet, mobile applications, and product development. If you are a designer, website or intranet manager, developer or product manager involved in IT or telecommunications, this forum is one for you. Join a great line up of speakers including Mark Billinghurst, HITLab, Suzanne Currie, Navman and Jock Phillips, Te Aro for a one day interective session in Auckland or Wellington

Website: The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand

August 31, 2005

Creative Industry

Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2005
Time: 4.40-6pm
Venue: GBLT4, Old Government Buildings
Address: 15 Lambton Quay

Hard at Work in the Creative Industries - Panel discussion, including Deborah Jones (Victoria Management School), Cheryll Sotheran (Director Creative Industries, NZTE), Tim Walker (Director The Dowse), Carol Beaumont (Secretary New Zealand Council of Trade Unions)