First International Conference on Usage-Centered Design
25-28 August 2002 | Portsmouth, New Hampshire

A Conference on Usage-Centered, Performance-Centered, and Task-Oriented Design for Software and Web Applications

"Design that Works"

Face Time

This conference is about the human side of technology, so we've organized the program to make it easy for people to meet and exchange ideas. Breakfast, lunch, and morning and afternoon breaks are provided every day throughout the conference, including the pre-conference tutorials and post-conference workshops in order to make plenty of time for discussions with colleagues and new-found friends. An opening reception on Sunday night will set the stage for lots of rewarding interaction all week, and a closing gathering Wednesday afternoon will provide a last chance to make that point or exchange cards.

Program Highlights

Sunday, 25 August, kicks off with pre-conference tutorials led by Kim Goodwin, Gloria Gery, and James Noble, top-rated teachers with years of experience in the field. Enrollment is limited to facilitate hands-on learning and keep the discussion and questions free and flowing. Tutorial attendees get course notes and handouts, of course, plus breakfast, lunch, and breaks, so there will be lots of time to talk about what you are learning.

The conference begins Monday with the keynote presentation by Gloria Gery, one of the smartest and wittiest proponents of designing software to support real people in real work. World-renowned expert on performance-centered design and author of the pioneering book, Electronic Performance Support Systems, Gloria has decades of experience in the trenches helping Fortune 500 companies companies world-wide improve productivity, reduce errors, and speed learning through well-designed software.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 27 sessions feature a wide mix of topics and perspectives. Highlights include case studies and experience reports that detail usage-centered design in practice, research reports that present new findings, and nuts-and-bolts sessions that offer effective new techniques.

Tuesday starts off with a provocative panel discussion on "Roles and Personas, Task Cases and Scenarios: Does it Matter?" Panelists include Kim Goodwin of Cooper Design, Mary Beth Rosson of Virginia Tech, Thyra Rauch of IBM, Karen Holtzblatt of InContext, and Larry Constantine of the University of Technology, Sydney.

Tuesday night, get set to put your design ideas into practice and show your chops in the adrenaline-rush Interaction Design Open X-Games.

Wednesday opens with a plenary presentation by Larry Constantine, Conference Co-chair and co-inventor of usage-centered design. The day finishes with a closing networking break, a final chance for noshing and schmoozing.

For those who want to make the most of an intensive week, Thursday offers post-conference tutorial, including "Pushing the Envelope," a special master class with Lucy Lockwood and Larry Constantine, plus tutorials by Rebecca Wirfs-Brock and Larry O'Brien

Food

Participants in our past seminars have praised the food and service at the conference hotel and raved about the nearby restaurants in Portsmouth. We aim to keep you well fed from breakfast on your arrival to a final slurp and snack before you hit the road. We know that meals and breaks are an important time to make connections, share ideas and common interests, and to raise questions and comments with presenters. Conference attendees get continental breakfast, sit-down lunch, plus morning and afternoon breaks with nibbles, Starbucks coffee, and other beverages.

Family

We are very much a family-oriented business, so we aim to carry this over into a family-friendly conference. Spouses, partners, and children are welcome at  the opening reception and the closing break. Portsmouth and its environs offer a huge variety of fun activities for all ages and interests, from river and island day cruises to museums, lighthouses, parks, and beaches. The great states of Maine and Massachusetts are right next door and the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire are an easy drive away. Bring the family and make a week of it!

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