Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 12:50:14 -0400 From: "Purchia, Barbara" Subject: Boston SPIN Meeting Announcement - Tuesday October 15, 2002 6:00 PM Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) Meeting Announcement Topic: Improving Software Usability through Better Process Speaker: Larry Constantine When: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 6:00pm-8:30pm 6:00-6:45 Networking and Round Tables 7:00-7:10 Announcements 7:10-8:10 Presentation 8:10-8:30 Questions and Answers Who: Everyone (Industry, Government, Academia) Location: The MITRE Corporation, 202 Burlington Rd. (Rt. 62), Building S, Bedford, MA 01730 NOTE: Because of security concerns, you'll need a Picture ID and any large items you bring will be opened and inspected when you arrive. NOTE: The earliest arrival time is 5:15pm. No one will be admitted prior to that time. The building is secured at 9pm. All attendees must have left the building by that time. Info: See our web page for information and directions, Note: Boston SPIN meetings are free. No RSVP is necessary. Abstract: Improving Software Usability through Better Process Conventional usability engineering and user-centered approaches to software usability rely heavily on testing and user feedback. Unfortunately, testing and feedback often come too late in the cycle to yield substantial improvements in usability. Better outcomes are possible with up-front design processes that model and track user requirements all the way through to software objects. Usage-centered design is a flexible, model-driven approach that can be incorporated into virtually any software process. About the Speaker: Larry Constantine, one of the pioneers of software design, has contributed numerous concepts and techniques forming the foundations of modern practice in software engineering and applications development. His current work on usage-centered design continues a long tradition of technical innovation and professional leadership. He is an award-winning designer specializing in visual and interaction designs for software and Web applications, and his innovations include several patents in human-machine interaction. Constantine has keynoted numerous major international conferences and has taught in 17 countries around the world. He is a prolific writer and a widely read columnist. Among his publications in both the computer sciences and human sciences are over 150 articles and papers plus 16 books, including the award-winning Software for Use (Addison-Wesley, 1999), written with Lucy Lockwood; The Peopleware Papers (Prentice Hall, 2001); and the software engineering classic, Structured Design (Prentice hall, 1979), written with Ed Yourdon. Constantine is Director of Research and Development for Constantine & Lockwood, Ltd., and Adjunct Professor of Information Technology at the University of Technology, Sydney (Australia). He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. About the Roundtables: Roundtables are focused group or "birds-of-a-feather" discussions, with a facilitator, to stimulate and moderate discussion. Roundtables are held during the Networking portion of the SPIN meeting from 6:00 to 6:45. See our web page, to see details on the following topics: Process Improvement Forum: Cultural Change - How Do You Make It Happen? Leader: Judi Brodman Software Testing Forum: Features of a Good Bug Tracking System Leaders: Barry Mirrer & Richard Powers Hiring Initiative Forum: How to Ace the Interview Leader: Karl Heinemann &Paul Edelman Improving Software Estimates, Continued from 9-17-02 Facilitator: Donna Johnson Directions: Coming from 128 South or North 1. Take Exit 32A onto Route 3 North. 2. Proceed two miles on Route 3 North and take the first Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 3. Go down the ramp to the traffic signal. 4. You may either proceed to the main entrance to the MITRE campus on Route 62 or enter through the side entrance on Crosby Dr. 5. To enter through the main entrance, at the end of the ramp turn right on Route 62. 6. At the first set of lights, take an immediate left into MITRE. 7. Bear left and follow the drive to the end. 8. Turn right and follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 9. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. OR 5. To enter through the side entrance, at the end of the exit ramp (traffic signal) continue straight across Route 62 onto Crosby Drive. 6. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 7. Follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 8. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From New Hampshire or Points North on Route 3 1. Take Route 3 South to Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 2. At the end of the exit ramp, at the traffic signal turn Left on Route 62. 3. To enter through the main entrance, go under Route 3 and proceed to the second traffic signal. 4. Take an immediate left into the main entrance to the MITRE campus. 5. Bear left and follow the drive to the end. 6. Turn right and follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 7. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. OR 3. To enter through the side entrance, Go under Route 3 and proceed to the first traffic signal. 4. Turn left onto Crosby Drive. 5. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 6. Follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 7. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From Logan Airport 1. Go through tunnel to Route 93 North. 2. Take Route 93 North eleven miles to Exit 37B (Route 128 (I-95) South). 3. Take Route 128 (I-95) South six miles to Exit 32A (Route 3 North). 4. Follow the instructions above, "Coming from 128 South or North". Cancellations (including weather cancellations): We will notify the membership via email to the SPIN distribution list, post the notice on the SPIN web page, and send the cancellation announcement to Channel 7 TV and radio, WRKO AM 680 starting at 3pm. SPIN Sponsors: MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA, Raytheon Corp., Lexington, MA, Edelman & Associates, Quality Search, Inc., Danvers, MA, We thank the Computer Science department of UMass-Lowell for providing support and hosting our web page.