Despite the increasing recognition of the value of usability and
user-centered design (UCD), integrating user-centered methods into
software development lifecycles remains a significant challenge for
our industry. Lacking a standard approach, designers in many organizations
continue to negotiate their role and the scope of their involvement
on a project-by-project basis. The idea of integrating UCD into mainstream
software development processes is not a new one, but for many of us
it is an unresolved issue that will continue to thwart our efforts
until it is addressed. Because we felt the need for clearer direction,
we proposed a UPA workshop as an opportunity to collaborate with other
practitioners who are also trying to integrate user-centered design.
In the workshop, held at the UPA conference in June 2003, participants
described how they have influenced changes in the lifecycle, discussed
issues and challenges as well as good ideas, and provided examples
or illustrations of the software development lifecycles that they
were working within. We analyzed this information for patterns that
reflect typical industry practices for integrating user-centered design
with the lifecycle. We decided to represent the results as process
patterns because this is a powerful framework for distilling combined
experiences and describing interventions that have yielded effective
results.
In this talk, we will present the three resulting process patterns
and facilitate group discussion among those who have dealt with similar
issues and challenges. We hope that this will be an interactive session
that will encourage the sharing of experiences and contribute to the
body of knowledge for user-centered design practitioners who are trying
to integrate their work with existing software development lifecycles.
Speaker: Lisa Battle, Lockheed Martin
Lisa Battle joined Lockheed Martin in August 2000 to provide user-centered
design support to the Social Security Administration's Usability Center.
Her primary focus over the past three years has been to introduce
user-centered design into the Agency and to help the Usability Center
transition away from its role as a testing facility to become a leader
in user-centered design. In addition to integrating user-centered
activities with the Agency's documented project lifecycles, Ms. Battle
has led the design of numerous web-based applications for the Social
Security Administration, influenced the redesign of SSA.Gov, contributed
to the definition of Internet application standards for the agency,
and mentored project teams in user-centered methods.
Ms. Battle has consulted on user interface usability and designed
software applications and web sites for a variety of government and
commercial clients. Her career began with the design of information
resources, and progressed to electronic performance support systems
and then to user interface design. Ms. Battle holds a master's degree
in cognitive psychology/human factors from George Mason University.
She is a member of the Usability Professionals Association (UPA) and
the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM-CHI).
Lisa Battle (
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Senior User Interface Designer, Lockheed Martin
Registration: Please register in advance for this
event.
To register: Send email with your name and organization
name to
by noon Wednesday, September 24 (day of meeting).
UPA DC Metro maintains a code of professional ethics to encourage
the free expression of ideas and assure the security of our members
and guests. We reserve the right to exclude or remove any individual
and to limit meeting attendance if necessary
Cost:
Free to UPA DC Metro members
$5 to nonmembers
Payment options:
We can take cash or check at the event. We prefer that nonmembers
pre-pay by sending your check (for $5) to:
UPA-DC Metro
c/o Lynn Baumeister
9039 Sligo Creek Pkwy #1715
Silver Spring, MD 20901
We can give you a receipt if you like at the event.
Directions: See the UserWorks
web site or refer to the directions below.
From I-495 in Maryland: Take Exit 28A and proceed north on New Hampshire
Avenue (Route 650) toward White Oak. At the first intersection (almost
immediately) turn right onto Elton Road, beside Safeway. Continue
several hundred yards, pass the Coca-Cola building, and turn left
into Executive Court. Our building (1738 Elton Rd.) is the one farthest
from the street. We are in Suite 138.
From Dulles Airport: Make a right onto Cargo Drive. Cargo Drive becomes
Aviation Drive. Turn left onto ramp and merge onto Dulles Airport
Access Road. Take the VA-267 Exit (Exit 12-13-14 VA 267 to Reston
Pkwy/Wiehle Ave/Hunter Mill Road). Merge onto VA-267 East. Go East
on VA-267. Take Exit 18 (I-495 North to Baltimore/Bethesda MD). Keep
left at the fork in the ramp. From 495 North follow the directions
"From I-495 in Maryland" above. Directions to Restaurant: Viet Palace, Hillandale
Shopping Center, 10107 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20903
Take Exit 28A and proceed north on New Hampshire Avenue (Route 650)
toward White Oak. Go through the first intersection (Elton Road),
and then turn right into the Hillandale Shopping Center.
)
by noon Wednesday, September 24 (day of meeting).
with events-related issues.