Pure Visibility, 201 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Wednesday, April 25th, 6pm
Usually the last system to be implemented, but many times the most important lifeline for the customer, is the software help system.
Ideally, your software system is perfectly understandable and problem-free from lots of user testing and software iteration, but that’s usually not the case. Your customers may get frustrated and leave the site, and may even complain about their crappy experience to others. Providing your customers with effective Help is the last chance you have to turn a frustrating experience into a meaningful one.
As a User Experience professional, what Help strategies should you consider? What content do you need? How do you find an appropriate Help Authoring Tool for your software product? There are many vendor systems out there that offer many features. What do you really need? Attendees will learn about help system considerations such as: how to connect the help system to your software, content management features, content strategy, localization, statistics, and more, which will assist you in finding a solution that helps your frustrated customers become happy customers.
About Our Speaker
Elaine Meyer is a User Experience Specialist at ProQuest, an electronic and microfilm publisher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With over 4 years experience managing, implementing, and producing content for user assistance systems, she has a good grasp on where and when users might need a little extra help. Elaine has implemented the ProQuest platform software user assistance (Help) system from it’s infancy, customized it to suit the platform, populated it with content, and localized that content into 18 other languages.
Before her role at ProQuest, Elaine was an application engineer for a manufacturing company. In her role, she made it her mission to provide pertinent information for her customers 24 hours a day through implementing and populating content for an online FAQ user assistance system.
Elaine earned her MSI degree in human-computer interaction (HCI) and Library and Information Services (LIS) from the University of Michigan School of Information in 2009, and is an avid cyclist, dog walker and veggie enthusiast.
When
Wednesday, April 25th
6:00 PM — Networking
6:45 PM — Announcements
7:00 PM — Speaker
8:30 PM — Wrap up and more networking
Location
Pure Visibility, Ann Arbor
Google Map
Parking is available nearby, including the Fourth & Washington parking structure.
Cost
Current students $5
Usability Professionals’ Association members $10
All others $20
Register
Register online at Guestlist so we know who’s coming and how to plan for refreshments. We’ll also take payment (cash or check) at the door. Questions? Email events {at} michiganupa dot org.
Posted on March 29th, 2012
Posted in Fresh, MiUPA Events | No Comments »
Thursday, December 8, 2010, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
The Michigan UPA invites you to another evening of networking and fun on Thursday, December 8th at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti and/or Dublin Square in East Lansing. Enjoy the networking aspect of our meetings? Feel like the speaker or panel gets in the way of the good stuff? This is your chance to skip the speaker and enjoy the company of fellow usability professionals. Missing people who are at the other location? Share the conversation via twitter #miupa11. This will be the fifth year we have done this event, and it has been a great experience each time.
The Corner Brewery is located in Ypsilanti, near historic Depot Town. There is abundant parking, great drinks, and great atmosphere.
Dublin Square is an Irish pub located in East Lansing near MSU. There are multiple parking structures nearby and parking next to the restaurant for a fee. Also has tasty food and drink with a festive atmosphere.
This is a free event and a great opportunity to catch up with other people in the field and meet new people. We hope to see you there! In order to give an approximate head count to the restaurants host/hostess, please rsvp via Guestlist
Which city will have the larger crowd? Do you want to have a gather in your area as well? Contact the Director of Events to have your city added.
When
Thursday, December 8, 6:00PM to 9:00PM – come and go as you wish
2 Locations
Corner Brewery
720 Norris St
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Map
327 Abbot Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517)351-2222
Map
Cost
Free admission! (except for any drinks or additional food that you choose to order)
Please rsvp via Guestlist
Posted on November 16th, 2011
Posted in Fresh, Uncategorized | No Comments »
How would you like the opportunity to steer the direction of the Michigan chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association? We have just the opportunity for you: run for one of our board positions or volunteer for one of our committees! We have five leadership opportunities:
- President
- Vice-President
- Treasurer
- Events Director
- Secretary
and two volunteer committees:
Election Details
- Chapter elections will be held in November.
- Terms are 13 months and run from December 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
- You must be a Usability Professionals Association member prior to running for election (note: Michigan UPA sponsors the membership of its board members).
- As an officer, you will commit to an average of five to fifteen hours each month.
- If you’re interested in running for a board position, submit a brief biography, photo, and statement (500 word maximum) and tell us why you are the best candidate for the position. Submit your nomination to secretary@michiganupa.org by October 31, 2011.
- Have questions about running for the board? Contact Michael Beasley or any Michigan UPA officer.
Volunteer Committees
Volunteers are critical to the success of our outreach and events. As a volunteer, you’ll:
- Work with board members
- Gain valuable experience while maintaining a lower level of commitment
- Commit one to five hours each month
Ready to volunteer? Contact Michael Beasley or any Michigan UPA officer. Note: you don’t have to be a Usability Professionals Association member to become a Michigan UPA committee volunteer.
After elections, we’ll get our committees organized and ready to go for 2012.
Officer Role Descriptions
Below are the duties of specific board positions. Board members are expected to have a position on one or more of the committees, such as Events. In addition to the specific activities listed below, officers attend a board meeting once a month.
President
- Ensure smooth operation of chapter by delegating tasks (including any of the following) and following up
- Be the primary point of communication with UPA and other professional organizations
- Complete annual chapter report
- Call officer meetings
Vice President
- Fill the president’s role when the president is unavailable or incapacitated
- Prepare to fill the presidency in a future term
Treasurer
- Oversee chapter funds
- Complete annual chapter financial report
- Develop chapter budget
- Report financial status of chapter to board
Events Director
- Coordinate the Events for MI UPA with the assistance of the Events Committee
- Coordinate and run the Events Committee and post minutes on the wiki
- Communication for events
- Post events to the Google UX calendar
- For each event, the Director and Committee members:
- Find a Speaker
- Find a Host
- Find a Sponsor (hopefully the Host) for food
- Prepare description of the event with assistance from the Speaker
- Promote the event by posting on MI UPA website, sending out announcements, posting of public forums, coordinating mailings with the secretary
- Create online registration for the event (currently using Guestlist)
- Prepare for the event by printing nametags and attendance lists
- Attend event and assist with setup and take down, which can include room arrangement, speaker setup of computer/projector, food, and sign in.
- Send out follow up thank you messages to host(s) and speaker(s), update website posting
Secretary
- Ensure chapter’s compliance with chapter and UPA bylaws
- Propose changes to bylaws to reflect changing chapter needs
- Take and post notes for monthly board meetings
- Manage email newsletter. Design, write, test and publish three newsletters each month
- Maintain social media presence on Twitter and LinkedIn with regular postings and engagement on usability related news, activities and MI UPA events
- Manage MI UPA website (oversee Outreach committee members). Upgrade as needed, review posts, update and maintain information.
Immediate Past President
- Provide advice to board members
- Ensure continuity of organizational memory
Committees
Each committee consists of a chair either from the ranks of the board or a chapter member appointed by the board, and one or more committee members from the board and the chapter membership.
Events
- Plan and coordinate events (more details described in Event Director responsibilities)
Outreach
- Update and maintain website
- Public relations
- Manage email newsletters, write content, create newsletter, publish newsletter
Posted on October 7th, 2011
Posted in Fresh | No Comments »
We’re glad to announce Michigan State University will hold their seventh World Usability Day event, Making Social Media Work For You, on November 10, 2011 in East Lansing, Michigan. This year’s event focuses on the usability of social media and social networking, and the role they play in website and product development.
Speakers and Topics
- Return on Investment of Social Media: Marcel Santilli, Social Media and Marketing Strategist, IBM
- Usability and Social Media Design: Mary Henige, Director of Social Media & Digital Communications, General Motors
- The Adventures of @DMC_Julian: How a Hospital System Uses Social Media to Reach People: Julian Bond, Social Media/Marketing Manager, Detroit Medical Center
- Using Social Media in the Research & Development of Products: Betsy Weber, Chief Evangelist, TechSmith
- Usable Social Media Analytics: Making Sense of Metrics (Workshop): Constantinos Coursaris, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
World Usability Day is the largest gathering of industry professionals, world-class academics, government leaders, and students facilitating the progression of usability, user experience, and user-centered design. Last year, 150 events in more than 40 countries celebrated World Usability Day.
Details
- Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011
- Time: 8:30am to 3:00pm (speakers, lunch and workshop)
- Registration: 8:30am
- Morning program begins: 9:00am
- Afternoon workshop: 1:30pm to 3:00pm
- Cost: $30 (includes lunch)
- Location: Michigan State University Union, East Lansing, Michigan
Register online at the Michigan State University website. (You’ll need to Click “Add to Shopping Cart” and then “Check out.”) Michigan State University employees can login with their MSU ID. Non-MSU employees must click on the “Account Creation” link and follow the instructions to continue.
Questions about the registration process? Contact JoDee Fortino or call at 517-353-8977.
Posted on October 5th, 2011
Tags: world usability day, wud
Posted in Fresh, Other Usability Events | No Comments »
