CFP for The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design
Call for Participation/Proposals
The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design
(Done in collaboration with Louisiana Tech University)
31 March-1 April 2023 in Strasbourg, France
Symposium Theme: Re-thinking Usability and Design: Examining Connections to Technical Communication and Localization
Proposals Due: Monday, 9 January 2023
Location: University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Symposium Website: https://usability-conference.unistra.fr/
Overview of Symposium
As technologies evolve and cultures and societies change, the contexts in which individuals access and use information continually shift in new and often unexpected ways. This situation means what constitutes usable designs and what constitutes usability is also in a continuous state of change. Such factors influence – and are influenced by – practices in technical communication and localization, for the three fields of usability, technical communication, and localization are closely interlinked. For these reasons, we need to continually review, reflect on, and – if needed – revise our approaches to these areas. Such processes should include regular examinations of how these fields overlap and how each influences and is influenced by the others.
Objectives of Symposium
The focus of the Symposium is “Re-thinking Usability and Design: Examining Connections to Technical Communication and Localization,” and the objective is to bring together researchers in usability, technical communication, and localization in order to
— Discuss the current state of research in these areas
— Present the results of recent (i.e., within the last year) research in these areas
— Collect comments and suggestions on ongoing or future research projects
— Explore opportunities for research partnerships with colleagues working in these areas
— Map prospective research trends in these areas
— Plan trajectories and discuss conference and publication venues for participants’ work
By examining such ideas, attendees can devise new frameworks for and approaches to re-thinking and addressing current and prospective challenges affecting approaches to usability based on its relationship to technical communication and to localization.
Submitting a Proposal
Individuals interested in delivering an individual (1-person) or joint (2-person) presentation at the Symposium are invited to submit a 250-300 word proposal to give a 15-20 minute talk relating to the Symposium’s theme and related objectives.
Proposals for both individual and joint presentations should include
— The title of the proposed presentation
— The name(s) and affiliation(s) of the presenter(s)
— The overall topic/focus of the proposed presentation
— The approach the proposed presentation will take to examine this topic
— The connection of the proposed presentation’s focus to the theme of the Symposium
— The methods attendees can use to apply ideas from the proposed presentation to research, teaching, or other (e.g., product development) practices
Proposals should be submitted as .doc files emailed to kirk.stamant@gmail.com, and the subject line of the related message should read “Strasbourg Symposium.”
Proposals are due on 9 January 2023
Topics for Presentations
The Symposium is open to a number of areas relating to usability as it relates to technical communication and localization, and topics to consider include
— The methods we should use to conduct research on usability and design
— The theories that should guide our approaches to usability and design
— The contexts we study when doing research on usability and design
— The methods we use to test or apply prior research in usability and design
— The variables we should consider when evaluating aspects of usability in different contexts
— The topics we should focus on when researching usability and design
— The ways culture, language, and society affect our understanding of usability and design
— The ways social, economic, and other trends can affect perceptions and uses of items
— The ways new and emerging technologies are approaches to usability and design
as well as other topics connected to the Symposium’s overall theme.
Details on the Symposium
Registration for the Symposium is free to all presenters and attendees, and additional details on travel and lodging for the Symposium will be posted to an event-related website later this autumn.
Questions on the Symposium
Should individuals have questions on or wish to discuss any aspects of the Symposium (or on prospective topics for a presentation), feel free to email the Symposium chair, Kirk St.Amant, at kirk.stamant@gmail.com
