- Adaptive Path Wants to Buy You, Lou, and Steve a Beer
- Mike’s Essay: “User Expectations in a World of Smart Devices”
- Peter is keynoting the About, With and For conference, Oct. 17 & 18
In this week’s newsletter, we’re buying you a beer, Mike talks about expectations, and Peter’s talking in Chicago.
AP wants to Buy You, Lou, and Steve a Beer
With our good friends Lou Rosenfeld and Steve Krug in town, AP thought we’d buy a couple of rounds at a local pub. Come have a beer with us, talk shop, and get to know Lou, Steve, and their seminar attendees. “Final Final” is just a few blocks from the seminar location, The Palace of Fine Arts. If you have any questions, please drop a note to info@adaptivepath.com.
October 20, 2003 at 5:30 p.m. The bar is “FINAL FINAL,” 2990 Baker Street (at Lombard Street).
Also, Lou and Steve are offering a seminar discount to folks who get the AP Newsletter:
On October 20, Lou Rosenfeld’s workshop “Enterprise Information Architecture” will tackle the challenge of getting a large, politically charged organization produce a unified, user-centered Web site. Then on October 21, it’s “Don’t Make Me Think: The Workshop,” with Steve Krug expanding on the topics in his bestselling Web usability book.
The early registration discount ends September 22. When registering, note that you’re a “Friend of Adaptive Path” and you’ll get an additional $50 discount per seminar.
User Expectations in a World of Smart Devices by Mike Kuniavsky
As hands-on consultants we spend most of our time thinking about the day-to-day challenges of our practice. We refine and perfect our techniques for the benefit of our clients, and sometimes we share those lessons here.
However, I recently decided to take a step back from the nuts and bolts and do a little thinking about ‘what it all means.’ I considered how the trends I see today may affect our business — and our world — five years from now. Lately my thoughts have turned to the effects of ubiquitous computing, which is likely to be the next big user experience revolution.
Read more of Mike’s latest essay »
Peter is keynoting the About, With, and For conference in Chicago
Peter Merholz will be keynoting the About, With, and For 2003 conference on October 17 & 18, talking about the user models we use to inform our strategy and design.
From Peter’s presentation:
In my work in developing models of user behavior it’s been important to acknowledge my inspirations. A range of influences inform my practice, including archaeologist James Deetz’ work with gravestones, depictions of social networks, and Hugh Beyer and Karen Holtzblatt’s work models. In turn, a good model inspires in two ways. The model inspires the researcher in their analytical efforts, becoming a fecund source of good ideas. By clearly presenting the findings meaningfully, the model inspires the researcher’s audience to act.
I have had the fortune of working with colleagues to develop synthetic models that directly inform strategy and design. The mental model is a simplified form of task analysis that presents behavior in such a way that it becomes clear how to support the user. The thematic model is tool to develop narratives that address users’ psychologies. These models have proven suitable to a variety of different circumstances.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Sign up to receive essays, appearance dates, and other news from Adaptive Path.