New British Accessibility and Usability Pressure Group Launched

The British Web Design and Marketing Association (BWDMA) has set up a working group for accessibility and usability. Professionals from both the blind and deaf communities have already joined, and the call has attracted members across the digital economy.

The BWDMA is a "broad church", inclusive organisation, open to all companies and individuals that have an interest in the new media sector. BWDMA is influence-driven rather than membership-driven. It deliberately takes an ethical line in attempting to improve e-business standards through sharing knowledge and understanding, and proliferation of best practice.

Aiming to devise practical initiatives to remedy social exclusion from the Internet, the working group has attracted scientists, academics, and industry professionals. But, according to Jodie White, BWDMA relationship manager, it is the participation of people with disabilities that make the composition unusual.

Acting Chair for the working group, BWDMA member Léonie Watson, was a creative designer and programmer who went from 20:20 vision to absolute blindness. She now works as a fulltime Usability and Accessibility Consultant assisting local government, corporate and academic organisations for human-centred design company Nomensa.

According to Watson, the working group's industry-wide composition gives it gravitas: 'Since the evolution of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) usability and accessibility have become hot issues and inevitably there are those that jump on the bandwagon. I am so very encouraged however, by the commitment of people that obviously have a real passion for usability and accessibility. We already have some very interesting initiatives to consider that could make a significant difference.'

The BWDMA working group will hold its inaugural meeting in October and will continue to seek contribution from across the digital industry. Meetings are being planned in London, Bristol and Manchester.

To join the Usability & Accessibility Working Group, visit the website below.

Associated Link: The BWDMA website

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.