UN Survey Results: Using the Newsletter (if you know about it)

We asked you 'Do you subscribe to the UsabilityNews electronic newsletter?'

The UNAP survey on accessibility resulted in 151 responses from all over the world. The majority of responses were from the UK (45%), America (26%) and Europe (18%). Other responses were received from Canada, Asia, Australia as well as Finland, Egypt and China. Read more about these accessibility findings in UN story: Accessible Update to UN creeps In. This story deals with some of the other things we found out in conducting the survey.

Of respondents, 80 had signed up for the newsletter that goes out roughly once a fortnight (that's every two weeks) and 67 hadn't, while 4 chose not to answer.

Various reasons were given for this. Of the options that people could choose, the breakdown went as follows: 25 'do not wish to add to the amount of email' they get, while 5 say they are worried about spam and 2 prefer not to give out their email address. Another 22 prefer to view the website and a further 9 subscribe to the HCI mailing list and 'assume the information is the same' (It's not, actually). Rather more rejected the categories on the questionnaire and put their own reasons. Clearly there should have been a section to tick if you were one of those who had never heard of it for that accounted for another 14 answers – so much for our promotional abilities! Another group all added 'not got round to it'.

If you want to subscribe, follow the 'subscribe' link on the website. You will get a mailing no more often than once every two weeks and it is always a summary of the last few days' news to the site, as well as a short editorial note from the editor, and events, jobs and call for papers listings.

Of those who did know about it, an overwhelming majority felt that once a fortnight to three weeks was the right frequency for receiving it, with about an equal number wanting it more often and less often.

And there was a lobby from overseas that picked up on the occasional use of 'fortnight' and 'fortnightly' – that cropped up in the survey meaning 'every two weeks'. Yes, it's a regional (ie British) term but I am loathe to give it up because it's succinct.

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.