[Sigkm-l] Maine event: Steve Krug & others at Maine tech conference - Dec 6th 2006

[Susan Doran]

Are you up for a mid-week excursion to Maine?

                ...or maybe you're already nearby!

Whatever your situation, just wanted to let you
know about Maine's amazing technology conference
happening **next week* Wednesday - Dec. 6th
(South Portland, Maine).

This year's theme:
  "Maine 2.0: we *can* get there from here"
   http://www.mesda.com/ac2006/index.aspx

Details follow.

------------------
~*Highlights*~

Eric Miller from 3WC will keynote -- followed by a
day of sessions on UI design, usability, UX, IA, etc.

Steve Krug will be presenting!!

4 other top-knotch speakers and practitioners!
- Beth Loring (Director, Bentley Design and Usability Center)
- John McGrath, co-founder, Squirl
- Gessica Silverman, Senior Consultant, User Experience, Molecular
- Tim Spalding, founder, LibraryThing

http://www.mesda.com/ac2006/ac2006tracks.aspx

to register:
http://www.mesda.com/ac2006/ac2006register.aspx
------------------------------

Yup, this is short notice! but think of it as an opportunity
to see some first-rate speakers up close, in a more intimate
setting than usual...not to mention a fab after-party with
open bar and more snacks n treats than you can shake
a stick at...

------------------------------

MORE DETAILS:
Steve Krug wrote the book on designing for interaction, yet his principles
cross beyond the web and usability. Meet the author of "Don't Make Me Think"
at MESDA's Annual Conference. Come early and learn more about design and
usability and how they apply across all customer experiences. Other
presenters include Molecular, Library Thing, Squirl, and Bentley College.
http://www.mesda.com/ac2006/ac2006tracks.aspx


SCHEDULE:
Session I      10:30-12:00          Social Networking
Web 2.0 represents a significant r/evolution--both technological and social.
In making the shift from the formerly "read-only" web, to the 2.0
"read/write" paradigm, anyone can participate in creating and remixing
images, text, sound, video, and ideas into something slightly or radically
new. As part of this shift, social networking tools allow people to interact
online at new levels of spontaneity, flexibility, and complexity. Come
explore the implications of usability and user-centered design in the realm
of new and emerging social networking tools!

Speakers:
John McGrath, Co-ounder, Squirl
Tim Spaulding, Founder, LibraryThing

.......................

Session II      1:30-3:00           Horizon Scanning
In the competitive 2.0 environment, companies must understand the critical
importance of the entire user experience -- every touch point with the
customer from first contact with the brand, through usability of the
product, to interactions with customer service and the quality of
documentation. Illustrating her points with case studies from business, Beth
Loring discuss the evolution from design to usability to the user
experience. She will also discuss the increasing overlap between marketing
research and user research, and the key drivers behind convergence toward a
user experience model. Gessica Silverman will show us how leveraging the
benefits of rich internet applications (RIA) and user-centric design
principals can help companies reap the rewards of increased customer
satisfaction and ROI.

Speakers:
Beth Loring, Director, Bentley Design and Usability Center
Gessica Silverman, Senior Consultant, User Experience: Molecular

.......................

Session III      3:15-4:45         Innovation
In the Web 2.0 era the stakes have never been higher for companies to link
their futures and fortunes to usable web sites, products, and systems. This
session reaches beyond usability "best practices" to…innovations. Join the
man sometimes described as "design god," Steve Krug, on a tour of some of
the most exciting emerging trends and innovations in interface design. Come
and learn "advanced common sense" troubleshooting tips for typical usability
problems. All this delivered with humor, practical advice, and to-the-point
examples!

Speaker:
Steve Krug, Advanced Common Sense - Author, Don't Make Me Think

..........................

- Susan

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