UX Boot Camp March 11-15, 2013

January 7th, 2013 § 2 comments § permalink

Have a look at the agenda for this conference!

http://usability.bentley.edu/boot-camp

The program is designed to accommodate a diverse range of participants including industrial designers, UX researchers, UI designers, usability specialists, and software and web developers. The curriculum was carefully designed to reflect emerging market conditions and employer demands.

The program highlights the growing importance of the user experience as a strategic business advantage and a point of differentiation in mature or hypercompetitive markets. As a leading business university, Bentley is uniquely positioned to deliver this perspective in a thoughtful and challenging learning experience. The five-day program is organized around five themes:

  • Elements of the user experience
  • User research and market segmentation
  • Design Implementation and innovation
  • Assessment and measurement
  • Process improvement and success metrics.

Chris Cabrera Thompson
UCLA Library

Accessibility Camp Los Angeles

October 11th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

On 10/11/12 2:23 PM, “Patrick Burke” <burke@ucla.edu> wrote:

Hi all,I know Phil P posted this before, but here’s a reminder/update. There

are currently about 80 people signed up, so there should be plenty of

chances to tackle any web accessibility topic you’d care to name.  Patrick (will be there…)

_____________________________________

http://accessibilitycampla.org/

 

Welcome to the home of the first Accessibility Camp Los Angeles, taking place at the CSU Northridge University Student Union (18111 Nordhoff Street) on Saturday October 20. This free event is held in association with: The Los Angeles User Experience Meetup, The Los Angeles Accessibility and Inclusive Design Meetup, and the Los Angeles PHP Developers Meetup Groups.

Focusing on users with different disabilities, sessions can cover digital accessibility topics from the web, desktop software, mobile apps, eLearning, online gaming, and everything in between. Watch this brief video from the firstAccessibility Camp Toronto to get a feel for what to expect during the day.

Regardless of your level of knowledge, this event is for you. It will be a great opportunity for members of the design/development, usability, accessibility, other IT and end-users with disabilities communities to interact and learn from each other. We recommend you browse the Frequently Asked Questions, especially if you have never attended a participant-driven BarCamp/unconference before.

Accessibility Camp LA takes its inspiration from the first Accessibility Camp DC, which was held in October 2009. Sister events include:

Accessibility Camp Los Angeles is completely free to attendees.

  • Interested in stepping up as an event sponsor (to help pay for lunch, t-shirts, disability-related accommodations, etc.)?
  • Have a general question about the event?
  • Want to be updated by e-mail as the event takes shape?

email the event leads, Jennison Asuncion and Joe Devon at a11ycampla at gmail dot com.

You can also follow event updates on Twitter via @a11ycampla.

Learn more about the Accessibility Camp Movement 

Free Drupal Training and UX support

October 11th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

http://ddcla.org/2012/sessions/new-theme-layer-drupal-8

 

A NEW THEME LAYER FOR DRUPAL 8

 

We will be introducing Twig into Drupal 8. Twig is a new theme engine created by the creator of Symfony.

All theme functions in core will be replaced by twig template files, meaning that for someone who needs to adjust markup – there will be only one way to do it: override a template file (not a theme function).

While we’re creating a bunch of “new” template files, we’ll get a chance to review all the markup that comes out of core, and restructure the use of these templates to be more consistent. For example, we’ll be able to provide one “wrapper” template that can be used everywhere, rather than each module creating it’s own, or adding its own wrapper around it’s special markup.

Twig can flatten & sanitize all at the time of printing, meaning we can remove the whole “process” layer that exists in Drupal 7.

Much still needs to be decided about when the template gets called, since in twig-land the template should be called first, and what slides into that template is determined by the ‘variables’ that are printed within it. This is the opposite of how things are currently rendered in drupal-land.

Our pre-process layer may actually become a post-process layer, since the template gets called first, and if a ‘variable’ is requested that Twig doesn’t know about yet, it will need to search the pre-process layer for what to print, and how it should be converted into HTML.

Twig will have it’s own way of rendering objects such as nodes, comments, and users, so we should be able to remove (or replace) the whole “render” layer in the theme (keeping it of course, for things like forms).

Let’s discuss!

 

Interesting session

Web Of Languages: An Introduction to Usability and Developing Web Applications with AJAX and jQuery

April 11th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

*Apologies for cross-posting*

Below is an announcement for the upcoming CLA Spring Fling event, “Web Of Languages: An Introduction to Usability and Developing Web Applications with AJAX and jQuery.” Speakers include Sarah Houghton, aka the Librarian in Black (http://librarianinblack.net/), Derek Christensen, SJSU SLIS Web Technologist (http://slisapps.sjsu.edu/facultypages/view.php?fac=christiansend) and Cary Gordon of the Cherry Hill Co (http://chillco.com/). This program is sponsored by CLA’s Information Technology and Technical Services Interest Groups.

Registration is available here:
http://www.cla-net.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=381

Regards,
Suzanna Conrad
IT Interest Group Chair & Event Planner

****************************************************************

Ever wonder what the programmers are talking about when they mention AJAX? Have you heard of jQuery but aren’t entirely sure what it is or what it does? Are you interested in learning more about usability in web design? Attend the webinar “Web of Languages: An Introduction to Usability and Developing Web Applications with AJAX and jQuery” on May 30, 2012 from 1:00pm-4:00pm PDT to find out more.

Details: “Web of Languages” introduces the basic to early intermediate librarian, library staff member, student, web developer or administrator to usability, as well as developing applications with AJAX and jQuery. Derek Christiansen, Web Technologist for San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science, will define AJAX and present a number of SJSU applications of AJAX; Cary Gordon of the Cherry Hill Company will discuss the uses of jQuery in web development; and Sarah Houghton, Acting Director of San Rafael Public Library, will provide perspective on web usability with an overview of web development techniques for library websites and web applications. The purpose of the program is to introduce these technologies and techniques so that librarians and library staff can better understand and visualize what is possible using these web development techniques.

Early bird registration (Mail-in registrations must be received by the CLA office by 5pm, May 15, to receive the early-bird registration rate):

$35 non-members

$25 CLA members

$20 student members

After May 15:

$45 non-members

$35 CLA members

$30 Student member

Registration and full program information is available on CLA’s website (http://www.cla-net.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=381)

Deadline: May 29, 2012

Questions: Contact Suzanna Conrad (suzanna@terabytelibrarian.com) or Stephanie Roach (sroach@jfku.edu).

Program sponsored by the California Library Association’s Information Technology and Technical Services Interest Groups

Accessibility and Usability: Working Together at MIT

March 28th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

An interesting talk coming up in April on Accessibility and Usability.

http://www.educause.edu/NC12/Program/SESS31

Chris Cabrera Thompson
UCLA Library Web services

Details:

EDUCAUSE Live! Webinar
April 4–Accessibility and Usability: Working Together at MIT

Speaker: Stephani Roberts (http://www.educause.edu/Community/MemDir/Profiles/StephaniRoberts/204182), Web Accessibility Consultant, MIT

Katherine Wahl (http://www.educause.edu/Community/MemDir/Profiles/KatherineWahl/240445), Usability Consultant, MIT

Date: April 4, 2012

Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET (UTC-4); convert to your time zone (http://www.worldtimeserver.com/convert_time_in_US-DC.aspx?y=2012&mo=4&d=04&h=13&mn=0)

Topic: This free hour-long session, “Accessibility and Usability: Working Together at MIT (http://net.educause.edu/live1209),” will explore the successful merging of the usability and accessibility teams in MIT’s Department of Information Services and Technology. Over two years, they have seen fewer projects slip through the cracks. The merge has provided a greater understanding of why the two practices belong together, how this can happen, and the importance of commitment from administrative leadership.

Reserve your seat now (http://net.educause.edu/RegisterNow/1031016)–virtual seating is limited.

Usability Report from the Drupal 7 UX Study at Google

March 28th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Hi all,

For those of you working in the Drupal arena, have a look at this latest report:

http://groups.drupal.org/node/218959

 

There is also a link to the Drupalcon 2012 Denver presentation. Making Drupal easier and better.  The User interface for Content editors and publishers will improve significantly in Drupal 8!

-Chris Cabrera Thompson

UCLA Library Web services

twitter: @ccthompson

 

IA/UX/IxD Huh? Find Out! UCLA Feb. 11, 2012

February 3rd, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

For those of you who are in or interested in learning more about UX/Information Architecture, I came across an event taking place at UCLA.

When:    Sat, Feb 11. 1-4PM

Where:   Charles E. Young Research Library Conference Room, UCLA

Registration info coming soon.

“The first ever World IA Day focuses on Designing Structures for Understanding. On February 11, 2012, we’re hosting WIAD events in 14 cities across all corners of the globe. Learn from world-class IA minds, network, showcase new ideas and attend events tailored specifically to your community. We hope you’ll join us at an event near you this February!”

http://worldiaday.org/locations/los-angeles-ca-usa

UCLA Library Usability Lab — Construction Update

February 1st, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

The physical space for the UCLA Library Usability Lab has been completed. The Usability and Assessment Committee has submitted a “WishList” for acquisition of equipment and software to complete the lab.
Our WishList includes the following items:
* HP Touchsmart9100 All-in-one with HP wireless keyboard and mouse
*PolyVision PJ920 ultra short throw projector (wall mounted to go with Polyvision smartboard)
* Portable projector — for on the road usability tests
* Camera for capturing projected images and writing on whiteboard
* Various VGA adapters for connecting mobile devices to projector
* Morae 3.2 usability software + maint. lic. agreement
* Video camera
* Tripod
* Digital voice recorder

We would love to hear from you about your usability equipment and software needs. Suggestions are welcome!

Comprehensive Review of Usability and User Experience Testing Tools

October 20th, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

From Smashing Magazine, a really nice review of testing tools from mouse tracking to card sorts to running A/B tests to producing quick mock ups for usability analysis.

http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/20/comprehensive-review-usability-user-experience-testing-tools/

“WayFinder” Kiosk Usability Tests

October 14th, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

UCLA Library staff will be conducting usability tests next week.

Want to be a participant?

We need YOU!

WHAT:  “WayFinder” Kiosk Testing

WHERE:  YRL Lobby (near stairs)

WHEN:  Wed. Oct 19 (2-4 p.m.)   AND   Thurs. Oct. 20 (10-Noon)

A usability session will only take 15 minutes and you’ll receive a free USB key!

Want to sign up?  Email  sshafer@library.ucla.edu

Sharon Shafer

UCLA Library Information Technology

 

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