13 November 2008, 5.30 – 7.30 pm
www.worldusabilityday.org was founded by the Usability Professionals' Association to ensure that products and services important to life are easier to access and simpler to use.
The focus for World Usability Day 2008 is TRANSPORTATION
MELBOURNE EVENT
To celebrate this event, you are invited to visit the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) in Clayton.
5.30 – 7.30 pm
Thursday 13th November 2008
MUARC:
· Is one of the world’s leading injury prevention research centres
· Has a strong program of research in human factors and ergonomics
· Has been awarded for their major systematic contribution to advancing the science of ergonomics and its application in Australia
Some of you may remember visiting MUARC in early 2003, where we heard about their research into how best to provide feedback to speeding drivers (e.g. through visual signs or ‘pushback’ through the accelerator pedal) as well as an overview on the directions for ‘intelligent vehicles’.
PLEASE RSVP BY TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
This event is free – but we would ask you to register ASAP so that we can predict numbers & refreshments.
Send an email to Greg Ralph at:
cogito_ergo@hotmail.com
Let us know:
· Your name
· If anyone else is coming with you
· Whether you’d like to “do pizza” afterwards
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?
(1)
Dr Lesley Day, Deputy Director, will welcome us and provide a brief overview of the Centre and its activities.
(2)
Dr Michael Lenné (Leader of the Human Factors team), Kristie Young & Maggie Trotter will:
· Describe some of MUARC’s recent research projects relating to the design, development & evaluation of the human-computer/machine interface.
· Tell us the results of their 2003 research into providing feedback to speeding drivers.
(3)
Nebojsa Tomasevic will lead a visit to the MUARC advanced driving simulator (the most advanced of its kind in the southern hemisphere) AND the newly developed On-Road Test Vehicle.
REFRESHMENTS (drinks & nibbles) will be supplied.
DINNER will follow for those who are interested – e.g. at a local pizza parlour.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
The Accident Research Centre is in Building 70 on the Clayton campus of Monash University.
· The campus is on the corner of Wellington & Dandenong Roads
· Melway map 575 has an exploded view of the campus
Enter the building on the southern side through the glass doors and there will be someone there to guide you to the RACV Conference Room, located on the 3rd floor of the building.
PARKING
You can park for free in any of the parking spaces near the building.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Melway map 575 shows the bus numbers that:
· Travel along Wellington & Blackburn Roads (which surround the University)
· Stop within & close to the University
(Think what fun you’ll have collecting Transport experiences to discuss with everyone else!)
13 November 2008, 9:00am - 5:00pm
As many of you know, World Usability Day is a global event initiated by the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA) designed to raise awareness about usability and its importance in humanizing the technology that fills our world. This year’s theme is transportation, bringing focus to the design of user friendly forms of transport, transport systems, processes and infrastructure.
UPA Sydney with the support of CHISIG is organising another great event for this year's World Usability Day and we ask the question “What would it take to get you out of your car?"
Specifically, we are focusing on the issues and challenges that come to mind when using alternate forms of transportation in and around Sydney, and we're exploring how user-centred design can be applied to make these alternatives more attractive than relying on our vehicles.
We know this is a very complex and challenging area, so we have asked the people and organisations already designing our transport future to share their experiences. We also want to hear from you and have a variety of ways you can get involved.
We have planned a great day, with very interesting presentations, activities and exhibitions...so be sure to add it to your diary and join us on the day. The day will include:
· Guest speakers / transportation experts
· Interactive workshops & discussion questions
· Photo and design exhibition highlighting transportation challenges and solutions
Mark your calendar
Cost: Free!!! Just come along - no registration required
Who: Everyone is welcome (including students, usability professionals, people who work with or use transportation)
When: Thursday, 13 November 2008, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Where: University of Technology Sydney, Haymarket campus:
Room 12, Level 1, Block B, Building 5
1 - 59 Quay Street, Haymarket.
Contribute to the exhibition
You are invited to contribute your ideas to a simple design and photo exhibition that will be on display at World Usability Day. The exhibit focuses on how we can improve the design of our current modes of transport, supporting systems and infrastructure. Our goal is to identify ways to better support the people who use transportation and be more sustainable in the future.
We encourage you to submit examples to help us draw attention to the importance of usability in transportation. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas with others about what does and doesn’t work, your thoughts about how to create more usable transportation for Sydney, and have a bit of fun in the process. Prizes will be awarded for the most innovative and interesting submissions.
Visit www.upasydney.org for more information about how to submit an entry for the exhibition.
Please note that the deadline for submissions is 5:00pm on Friday, 7 November 2008.
Become a volunteer
World Usability Day is a totally free event, organised by volunteers and friends of Sydney's chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA). World Usability Day is a great, fun way to connect with other professionals and people in the industry, and volunteering is a great way to give back to the community.
We are looking for people to help out on the day and in the lead up to put the finishing touches to the event. If you are interested, email us at events@upasydney.org, and we’ll get in touch.
Join the Global Transport Challenge
An initiative of the international arm of Usability Professionals’ Association, the Global Transport Challenge is an easy way for you to understand how YOU USE transportation everyday and the impact it has on our environment.
To be launched on World Usability Day 2008, you will be able to:
MEASURE your everyday transportation usage
MONITOR your personal carbon travel footprint and compare yourself to others around the world
MINIMISE your energy usage through alternative transportation choices, carbon offsets, and simple travel changes thereby maximising the impact on our world.
To find out more about the Global Transport Challenge visit http://www.worldusabilityday.org/globaltransportchallenge.
If you have questions about the Sydney World Usability Day event, please email events@upasydney.org. More specific details will continue to be added to our UPA Sydney website (www.upasydney.org) as the schedule is finalised.
Hope to see you on World Usability Day!
8 December 2008,
CHISIG's major annual conference, OZCHI, will be held in Cairns, QLD, Australia between 8-12 December, 2008.