June 2007 Contents

Localization. It's Big in Japan

How do you carry out usability research in a country where you don't speak the language and where the customs are very different from you own? How can you perform a study where you need to largely rely on an interpreter for communications between you and your participants? And most importantly, how do you translate research findings into a design that is culturally appropriate and yet in alignment with corporate directives?

By Casey Malcolm

Persuasive Design and Usability: What is our role as Usability Professionals?

I first came across Persuasive Design back in 2003 when I read the book Persuasive Technology - using Computers to Change What We Think and Do [1]. In his book, B. J. Fogg defines persuasive technology "as any interactive computing system designed to change people's attitudes and behaviors". This definition immediately grabbed my attention. Changing people's attitudes and behaviors for the good could help us to make this world a better place. And turning this world into a better one is one of the key drivers for most of the usability people I know. Most of them don't advocate usability for the money; they want to help make things and consequently life easier.

By Silvia Zimmermann

Thumbnail: Susan Dray

Susan Dray was one of the first women in the field of usability. Since then, she's started her own company, published and spoken extensively, done important work with a number of professional organizations, and carved a niche for herself in field work and international usability. Through it all, though, her philosophy has remained the same: "If the user can't use it, it doesn't work." ©

By Cliff Anderson

NH UX Gathering!

Come out and join other UX professionals in the Seacoast NH, Southern NH, and Southern ME regions for drinks and networking!

By Kyle Pero