in this issue

Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design

Four Modes of Seeking Information and How to Design for Them

The Myth of the Genius Designer

Modeling and Analysis of Information Technology Change and Access Controls in the Business Context

A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users

Open educational resources in a global context

Bill Buxton

Review:

Books that have proposed bringing design into HCI are aplenty, though books that propose bringing software in to Design less common. Nevertheless, Bill manages to skilfully steer a course between the excesses of the two approaches and offers something truly in-between. It could be a real boon to the innovation business by bringing the best of both worlds: design and HCI. --Richard Harper, Microsoft Research, Cambridge
 

Exciting News!

We have received a large number of submissions and inquiries concerning the upcoming 2007 PCD Awards from organizations with more innovation, application, improvements and return-on-investment than ever before! The flurry of activity around the Semantic web, Web 2, software factories, extreme metatagging, code-free enterprise development, social networking and the general demand for usability, convenience and pleasure in our software applications have clearly pushed the PCD envelope.

Last year we received entries from IBM (MAGIC - Metadata Automated Generation for Instructional Content) and DLE (Dynamic Learning Experience), and BriteSoft Corp's BriteWorks - an environment for building enterprise-class systems without coding! And SI International's ITAPS solution, which rearranges itself graphically to reflect the point of view of the maintenance technician for shipboard troubleshooting - truly an outstanding performance-centered innovation. These tools and solutions are turning the phrase "Just enough, just in time, just for me" from cliché to solid reality.

This year the Training Tech Solutions Conference (www.trainingsolutionsconference.com) has scheduled four sessions to showcase the 2007 PCD Awards, so we are extremely pleased about the volume of inquiries and the anticipated quality of submissions. What kind of tools and solutions qualify? First, tools and solutions that are in production or at a pre-release, working prototype or proof-of-concept stage are all acceptable. Past entries or existing solutions that have undergone revisions and show evidence of further performance improvement are eligible. From small, focused, effective, innovative job aids, to large performance support solutions for enterprise system rollouts - all are good candidates for PCD Awards. And don't forget innovative products that provide convenience, save time and are a pleasure to use. If your innovation improves knowledge acquisition, improves process or enhances usability - or any combination of the three - then you have a great candidate for a PCD Award.

The deadline is approaching: August 1, 2007. We look forward once again to receiving your exciting entries and sharing your accomplishments with greater fanfare to the performance support community at large. Visit us at www.epsscentral.info/knowledgebase/awardssamples/ for entry guidelines and past award recipients.

Best Regards,
 

Gary J. Dickelman