|
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Workshops and What are Tutorials?A tutorial is an intensive instructional session, typically a full day, conducted by an expert in the field. Tutorials are usually, but not always, oriented towards introductory or intermediate material. Anyone may register for a tutorial. A workshop is an exploration of open issues in the field, conducted by someone who has a particular interest and expertise in the issue. Workshops are small, closed highly interactive working sessions; it is not unusual for a workshop to result, eventually, in a book or other major publication. In order to participate in a workshop, you must submit an application or position paper describing your interest and experience in the specific issue to be discussed. These go to the workshop organizer, who will select the participants. Workshops are usually, but not always, oriented towards more experienced people. See each workshop description for information about submitting position papers. If the workshop organizer does not ask for specific content for the paper, then a one to three page paper describing your interest and experience in the area would be appropriate. What are the Tutorial Waiting Lists about?Some of the tutorials may sell out before registration is closed. We try to provide enough seating for everyone, but we can't always do that. If a tutorial is sold out, the online registration will offer you the chance to ask to be on the waiting list for that tutorial; if a seat does open up, it may be offered to you. In general, it's not a safe bet that a seat will be available for a tutorial that offers a waiting list. If there is another tutorial at the same time that interests you, you should sign up for it in addition to making your wait-list request. If a seat becomes available later, it isn't automatic that you'll get that seat; you will be contacted and will have a chance to change your registration. What is a SIG? For that matter, what is a BOF?A Special Interest Group ("SIG" for short) is a gathering of a group of people interested in a particular topic. A Birds of a Feather session ("BOF" for short) is more or less the same thing. Some conferences provide both, with SIGs generally being planned a little more in advance, and perhaps listed in the conference program. A BOF may mean something informal, almost spontaneous, and where the idea for the session is proposed during the conference itself. The UPA conference provides up to eight SIG sessions on Thursday evening. See the section of the program on SIGs for more information. What if I need to cancel my reservation?To change or cancel your registration, contact Cara Marlin (cara@prestigeacc.com, telephone +1 800 321 6338 or +1 714 957 9100). A processing fee of $100 will be assessed to all cancellations received before June 7, 1999. Refunds will not be granted for any cancellations received after this date. You will need to cancel your hotel reservation directly with the hotel. Call the Phoenician at (800) 888-8234 (or +1 602 941 8200 for international callers). Is there anything I can use as a worksheet for my conference expenses?It is a fact of life that many of us need to have our expenses pre-approved. Whether you plan to register online or by mail or fax, you can use the online registration to prepare a list of your expenses, with totals. The registration summary form will track all your selections and organize them for you. If you are using the online registration for this purpose, simply stop the process when you have selected what you want, print the summary page, and do not continue with the payment process. If I bring my family, what does the UPA provide for them?Your family is welcome at the UPA conference and at the Phoenician hotel. Several conference events are open to family, including all of the tours and the Special Events. Just remember to buy tickets for them during the registration process. In addition, the hotel and the conference provide child care and the UPA Kids program. I have never been to a UPA conference. Why should I go?If you are a already a usability professional, or are thinking about integrating usability in your organization, this conference is for you. You will learn useful information about how veterans integrated usability and processes into different types of organizations. You will hear inspiring talks from invited speakers. You will learn some useful usability methods and techniques that people are using today. Best of all, you will meet people who will help answer your specific questions about the situation you are in today. There are other people out there who share the same types of challenges and experiences as you--meet them and learn how they have improved their organization and products through usability. I stopped going to the conference--why should I start going again?UPA is growing. The membership is becoming more diverse, and more advanced. The presentations are reflecting this, as more business case studies and more advanced topics are scheduled to be presented this year. Additionally, people that belong to UPA and attend the conference are the same people who have been advancing usability as a field. You can be one of those people if you stay involved. The more you read, present, write, and yes, even attend the conference, the more the field of usability will be accepted and advanced worldwide. We have come a long way as a profession, but we still gave a long way to go. Be a part of this exciting, growing community.I'd like to volunteer. How do I do that?The UPA is a volunteer organization; we'd love to have your help. You can contact the conference committee through either Marie Tahir at marie_tahir@intuit.com or Kara Coyne at Kara_Coyne@lotus.com to help with the conferences. We can always use people to do planning work, review submissions, arrange various activities, and much more. For non-conference work, please contact Mary Beth Rettger at mrettger@mathworks.com. Volunteer work is a great way to establish new contacts in the usability community, and to experience the diversity of people who work as usability professionals and of approaches to usability in different environments. All help will be very much appreciated. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Usability Professionals' Association |
