[Sigia-l] Usability Profession Increasingly Under Scrutiny?

[Eric Reiss]

This is a funny group. We’re quick to dismiss the usability “clowns”
who read “half a dozen books” and then proclaim themselves experts.
Honestly, I’ll take my hat off to anybody who even bothers to read
“half a dozen” usability books. They’re often our strongest allies in
the corporate arena.

A few years ago, I wrote an introductory book, Practical Information
Architecture, which has been effectively trashed by the established
IA community. It may come as a surprise, but I didn’t write it for
you – I was appealing to the many other people in the world who are
called upon to make IA decisions in their daily work. These are
people who’ve never heard of Lou and Peter – or even seen a librarian
since high school. Happily, some of them are reading books – and
every IA and usability specialist should be very grateful indeed.
Let’s stop being so elitist and work WITH these people.

And let’s stop harping on standards and certification at the risk of
defining ourselves out of an interesting job.

Best regards,
Eric

Principal,
E-Reiss and Associates
Copenhagen, Denmark

www.e-reiss.com

P.S. Come tell Eric in person what a jerk he is at the First Annual
IA Slam – a cost-effective preconference in Austin, TX on February
27, 2004. More info at www.asis.org.