Web Design Competition Launched

A new UK web design competition supported by the British Computer Society and aimed at 18-23 year olds has just been launched. Developed by UK Skills (an independent charitable body that promotes excellence in vocational skills, training through skills competitions, and national awards) with FE and HE input, entry will be by nomination by a college or similar institution.

The competition takes place at SkillCity at Salford Quays near Manchester, on 13th - 16th November 2002. The expected audience is likely to be over 50,000 young visitors, with visiting VIPs, government opinion formers and many large corporate organisations. Web design will be one of many different skills on show.

The contest is open to competitors up to the age of 23 (specifically born on or after 1 January 1981). It is hoped that a competitor will be selected from this national competition to go forward to represent the UK at the World Skills Competition to be held in St Gallen, Switzerland in July 2003.

The competition will test competitors' expertise in HTML, Image, Moving Image, Applying CGI Source, and the Design Process. Usability and accessibility are not mentioned specifically, and the British HCI Group has raised this with the organisers.

UK Skills and the BCS say they will be developing the competition for future years and promotion will be much wider. At present the criteria for the UK competition reflect those chosen for the international tournament, but the British contingent is keen to add usability and accessibility as expertise criteria for the successful competitor in the future.

If you know of any suitable student candidates for the competition in November, the person to contact is Anna Duckworth at the BCS, email: ADuckworth@HQ.BCS.ORG.UK

Associated Link: Further details of SkillCity

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.