SIGIA-L Mail Archives: SIGIA-L: UPA Media Release (fwd)
SIGIA-L: UPA Media Release (fwd)
From: Andrew Dillon (adillon_at_indiana.edu)
Date: Sun Nov 19 2000 - 14:38:41 EST
HI
I know most of us are sick of the election issue, but this is a press
release from the Usability Professionals Association which some of you
will probably find interesting (if for no other reason than it is
motivated by a concern with educating people about the importance of
design). Press release by SIGIA anyone?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION November 14, 2000 Cindy
Clark,Executive Director
312-596-5298
Office_at_UPAssoc.org
Palm Beach Ballot Design Problems Could Have Been Avoided, Say Usability
Professionals Adherence to Simple Usability Assessment Procedures Should
be Routine
CHICAGO, IL-- The Usability Professionals Association (UPA) today stated
that simple usability practices could have significantly reduced or
possibly eliminated the problems that caused some 19,000 ballots in Palm
Beach County, Florida, to be disqualified in the November 7th presidential
election. Usability professionals are specialists in designing forms,
software, electronic and other products so they are easy for consumers to
use.
*Election ballots may be the single most important user interface in a
democratic society, and usability problems with voting procedures have
become widespread,* said Elizabeth Rosenzweig, UPA president and usability
manager at Eastman Kodak Company. *In Palm Beach County a procedure known
as usability testing could have demonstrated the extent of the problem
before the butterfly ballot was finalized and alerted officials to the
need for changes to the ballot.*
In a usability test, volunteers simulate the actions of voters.
Volunteers selected on such factors as age, gender, and educational level
fill out ballots in various ways while usability specialists observe
through one-way mirrors or video. Problems then can be noted and the
ballot redesigned and re-tested.
The UPA believes that appropriate usability procedures should be part of
every election and other high-stakes government activities. *In any
voting society, usability is a way to insure that everyone has an equal
opportunity to vote and for their vote to be counted,* said Rosenzweig.
The Usability Professionals' Association is an international, non-profit,
professional association with more than 1500 members in the US and 35
other countries. Members are specialists in evaluating and designing
products that are easy to learn and use. Many usability professionals hold
advanced degrees or training in psychology and related fields. The
organization provides its members with a wide variety of professional
services. Through outreach the UPA: * Communicates and shares
information about skills and skill development, methodology used and/or
proposed in the profession, tools, technology, and organizational issues.
* Presents the viewpoints of the profession to the public and other
interested parties. * Educates the general public about the profession.
For more information, visit the UPA web site at http://www.UPAssoc.org or
call the UPA headquarters in Chicago at 312.596.5298.
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