User Experience Standards Missing from Web 2.0 Designs

User Centric, Inc, a Chicago-based user experience research firm, has just released a white paper urging usability professionals to be more involved with the development of Web 2.0 tools that allow users to contribute, create and collaborate online. The white paper, entitled "Web 2.0 Needs to Include the User Experience Perspective," provides an overview of the business strategies and current standards of Web 2.0 technologies, as well as recommendations from the end user's perspective to facilitate the adoption of these technologies.

User Centric's team of user experience professionals found the user experience perspective is sometimes overlooked because design guidelines originate from a business strategy perspective. Without guidance from the user experience perspective, developers and users are creating ad hoc design and interaction standards on their own, often without regard for usability. By combining advice from business strategists and technologists with the user experience perspective, Web 2.0 implementations will have a better chance at success.

"It's amazing that more hasn't been done to develop Web 2.0 usability guidelines," says Robert Schumacher, Managing Director at User Centric."There is a genuine need to establish standards based on solid research and analysis - and soon - or the users will have to adapt to a myriad of interaction styles."

While acknowledging the expertise of business strategists and developers in their fields, the white paper identifies fruitful opportunities for further research and analysis that would benefit user-minded businesses.

For a free copy of "Web 2.0 Needs to Include the User Experience Perspective" email Pamela Stoffregen-Gay at pstoffregen@usercentric.com.

Associated Link: User Centric

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.