[Sigia-l] UML - still not fit for the UCD?

[Stewart Dean]

I'm after peoples experiences of UML as I'm wondering if I've given it too 
hard a time in the past. I personally have had classes on UML and have used 
it to communicate ideas to technical teams but is it true that some folks 
use use cases as a main deliverable within user centered design?

I have found that use case often take the focus off what the user wants to 
do and instead focuses upon how technically things are going to be done 
with servers being given equal status to some degree to users, i.e. 
actors.  Defining technical solutions before defining the user needs I 
consider working against user centered design. Can UML really be use to 
define user interaction that isn't fraught with technical domination?

My caution was echoed by this article in Usability news

"The Usability and UML seminar in Scotland this month concluded that basic 
UML (User Modelling Language) is seriously restricted, and restricting, in 
modelling complex, collaborative human activities involving computer-based 
systems...."

full story.
http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article272.asp

I'm interested in peoples war stories related to UML.  How have people 
adapted UML or over come technical encroachment of people attempting to 
empose UML?

Regards

Stewart Dean