CONNECTICUT CHAPTER OF USABILITY PROFESSIONALS

NOVEMBER 27, 2008

NEWSLETTER
Our December Meeting Holiday Wishes...
Packaging of the Usability Professional -- #om the Recruiter/ Seasons greetings to
Headhunters Point of View everyone. I hope each of you
have enjoyed a wonderful
Thanksgiving holiday -- and
have a sense of excitement
and anticipation for 2009.
CT UPA has plans for an
array of interesting events
and programs in 2009. In
addition to the relevant topic
to be presented in December
program -- we are lining up
some compelling topics
which we are confident will
extend your professional
credibility and inspire you to
Miles Jennings excellence.
We are looking for your
Matt Forbes participation. Please come to
the meetings, become a
The next Chapter meeting will “unexpected,” and be ready to seek member and please volunteer
be held the evening of December out and secure a new position if to help us grow.
11, 2008 at a location yet to be the need arises.
determined. - Michael Rawlins , President
To that end, we will welcome CT UPA
It goes without saying that in Matthew Forbes, Managing
these troubled economic times, no Director at Apex Systems Inc.,
company, and no individual and Miles Jennings, Managing
position is rock solid and Director at Modis, Inc. to discuss
recession proof. It is truly “Packaging of the Usability
alarming to see positions being Professional – from the Recruiter/
eliminated in all industries on a Headhunter’s Point of View.”
daily basis. Although possibly
uncomfortable, it behooves all of
us to be prepared for the

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CONNECTICUT CHAPTER OF USABILITY PROFESSIONALS NOVEMBER 27, 2008

at the same time, most likely in the

month of January. Again, in the new Upcoming Meetings
spirit of openness I will come
From the completely clean. This new policy Mad*Pow Design
Treasurer: New will greatly simplify and update our Speaker: Josh Corringham
Dues Policy somewhat fragmented bookkeeping Genius Design vs. User Centered Design
system; a system currently
SpeedReading People
As the new maintained on the back of a TGI
Chapter Friday’s napkin. Speaker: Polly Maglio, VP
SpeedReading People Inc.
Treasurer, I am racked by guilt and
have a confession to make. For the Far more important than dues
past two years, dues and expenses amount, or the method of collecting EyeTracking Demo
have never been an issue. What a dues, is how we plan to utilize an Speaker: Jennifer Jennifer Knodler
dreadful statement for a treasurer to infusion of funds. As I hinted at SensoMotoric Instruments, Inc.
make! Plainly, I cannot anticipate above, the officers are currently
being asked to participate in brainstorming some new initiatives
Advanced Card Sorting
President-Elect Obama’s Council of and some unique programs and Techniques
Economic Advisors (but if asked I opportunities that may require
Speaker: TBD
would serve). financial resources greater than we
have expended in the past. Now you
The main reason for this happy state probably think I’m going to drop Topic TBD
of affairs is, quite simply, that our some teasers to whet your appetites, Speaker: from Human Factors
past and present leadership is so right? Nope. . . that will have to International
resourceful, and so well-connected, wait until the next newsletter.
that they have attracted several local
authorities in our “usability” Keep alert. An Email will be
disciplines at minimal expense. It’s winging itself to you shortly. If I
nice to have influential friends. don’t see you at the December
Indeed, it appears that our major meeting have a wonderful and
budget item for the past two years joyous Holiday. Remember, dues
has been pizza. By the way, if you will be requested in January and the
are one of our “lurker” members, way it is shaping up only 500 empty
and have not attended any of our soda can or beer bottle returns will
programs, it really is worth coming be needed to cover your whole year.
just for the pizza. Get out there and start collecting.

But, I digress. Is this any way to run - Paul Linton, Treasurer CT UPA
a Chapter? Actually, no. As the
Chapter matures and we explore
new program initiatives and creative
ways to serve our membership, it is
necessary that we become more
fiscally responsible. Starting in
January 2009 our dues will be raised
to $5,000 per year per member. Just
kidding; wanted to see if you were
actually reading this. No, dues are
not being raised, but a new dues
policy is being put together by the
officers right now and will be
announce shortly. Going forward,
dues will be assessed on a calendar
year basis and all members will pay

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CONNECTICUT CHAPTER OF USABILITY PROFESSIONALS NOVEMBER 27, 2008

RECAP: members offered their opinions

OCTOBER
MEETING
Despite stormy
weather the
October meeting
of the CT UPA
held at Pitney
Bowes’ Shelton
campus was a big
success. We had a
chance to hear from Charlie
Kreitzberg, the founding editor
of the UPA’s User Experience
magazine, the brain behind
LUCID (the framework for
interaction design) and the
principal of Cognetics
Corporation, a New Jersey web
design firm. In addition to
Charlie, we also heard from
Anne Paulker Kreitzberg, an
expert on creative
strategies for
corporate
collaboration,
performance
and change
management
and a member
of the faculty at
the Wharton
School of the
University of
Pennsylvania.
Both Charlie and Anne were
speaking informally, allowing
for free-flowing discussion and
lots of questions from our
members. The main topic of
the talk was the value of user
centered design in the era of
on how to retain new talent in
companies where User
Centered Design is still in the
process of being fully
understood and adopted as the
main driver for business
success.
Read more on
- Charlie’s concept of
Web 2.0, where usable design “Evolving Web” http://
should no longer be perceived www.leadersintheknow
as a tactical process, but as a .biz/Portals/0/
core business competence. Publications/The-
Charlie drew on his several Evolving-Web.pdf
years of experience in user - Anne’s thoughts on
centered design and offered collaboration
actionable advice on how to http://
overcome management www.leadersintheknow
resistance by establishing a .com
clear user experience ROI. - Charlie’s Web 2.0
Tutorial http://
www.leadersintheknow
.biz/Portals/0/
Publications/
Web-2andYou.pdf
- Aneta Ha$, Secretary CT UPA
The latter part of the
discussion led to the topic of
young usability professionals
and how they can develop or
improve a culture of user
centered design at companies
they work for. Several

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