At PTG Global, we
make technology work by getting the design right the first time.
Hi!
First
of all, don't forget to visit us, learn about IT blueprint, and
test out the eyetracker
at CeBIT (Stand O30)!
As
you have heard, we have had a lot of success employing
psychologists at PTG Global - certainly one way to fill the IT
skills shortage! So this month we focus on psychology: from how it
helps in IT, to how to interview when you're gathering
requirements. We also start a two part series on how people
learn...Don't overload me, please!
Back
at the ranch, Erin, one of our newest employees, was Employee of
the month in April! Congrats Erin! She'll give you an intro to
herself a bit later in this edition.
By
the time our next Intuitive newsletter goes out we should have an
active Blog on our website - somewhere for us to let off steam!
Oh,
we need to name our Blog!
To win a year's
subscription to Australian
Anthill, the fantastic new magazine on Australian innovation,
please send me your suggestions for the name of our blog by the
end of May!!
Have
a fun month!
Cheers,
James
Breeze
General
Manager and Psychologist
jamesb@ptg-global.com
or 02 9251 4200
The
Economist Intelligence Unit Best Practice Article - Users Rule,
OK?
Author:
The
Economist Intelligence Unit
We all know that IT
projects are renowned for failure. The Economist describes the
statistics as 'depressing'. However, PTG Global's user-centred
methodology has grabbed the attention of these IT professionals.
Maybe PTG Global has the answer?
Read
more about Users Rule, OK?
White
Paper: Cognitive Load Theory Part 1
Author:
Paul Ginns, Claudia Pitts, Craig Errey
How do you
make things easy to learn? PTG Global's white paper
Cognitive Load Theory shows us how to reduce the load caused
by poor design of learning materials. Discover how we
process information and the role our memory has to play in
learning. This paper provides an overview to cognitive load
theory and its role in guiding user interface design.
Read
more about Cognitive Load Theory
White
Paper: Better interviewing for better requirements
Author:
Zoe Soon and Craig Errey
Good
interviewing is very difficult for most people. Psychology and the
specific areas of counselling and clinical psychology have a lot
to say about good interviewing, especially in terms of identifying
the real issues someone is experiencing, as well as the causes and
consequences, in order to determine requirements for change.
However, the interview should not turn into a counselling session,
writes Craig Errey and Zoe Soon.
Read
more about Better interviewing for better requirements
White
Paper: IT Psychology - Shrink for your IT system
Author:
James Breeze
Why
on earth would a psychologist work in IT? Does IT have mental
health problems? Many IT projects fail because end users (that is,
us) have usually been forgotten or, worse, ignored. The design
process is usually trial and error, not a rigorous science. In
this paper we'll explain why psychologists (scientists) are in
fact extremely useful members of your IT project team.
Read
more about IT Psychology
Interesting
Stuff
The
Long Tail - Approximately 90% of the time people spend on your
website is not on the homepage
Author:
James
Breeze
How many times have
you or your clients spent money testing and retesting homepage
concepts? Or tweaking the graphics to get it just right for that
'so and so' upstairs? Well it's time to use the economic theory of
'The Long Tail' to sort it out once and for all!
Read
more about The Long Tail
Conferences
and Workshops
CeBIT
Exhibition
Date:
9-11/05/06 10am-6pm
Location:
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
CeBIT Australia is
Australasia's leading Information & Communications Technology
(ICT) event for the business marketplace. PTG Global will be there
in association with the NSW Department of State and Regional
Development.
Read
more about CeBIT
Web
Accessibility Workshops
Date
& Location: 2/05/06 (Sydney), 15,16/05/06
(Canberra), 1/6/06 (Melbourne)
These
full day workshops provide a thorough overview of accessibility
issues and how to address them.
Read
more about Web Accessiblity Workshops
Writing
for the web workshop
Date:
1/06/06
Location:
Sydney
This workshop
focuses on improving the usefulness, usability, and accessibility
of online content. It introduces techniques for clear and
effective online communication and re-inforces these with a series
of hands-on excersizes.
Read
more about the Writing for the web workshop
Meet
Erin Turner
Which
three words best describe you and why?
Modest
- I'm not a fan of these sorts of questions!
Focused -
When I set a goal, I make it a priority.
Organised -
Everything has its place and I really like to plan things in
detail.
In my freetime, I like
to...
Swim, play the
piano and try my hand at photography. When I finish studying I
plan to have a whole lot more time to continue to learn Japanese,
take ballroom dancing lessons and pick up where I left off nine
years ago with piano lessons!
I most admire...
My parents because
of their hardworking attitude.
I hope to
be/do/achieve...
Be a great
psychologist, do a lot of travelling, and achieve a balanced
lifestyle.
How do you feel about
working in an office full of psychologists?
I am one!
What is the most
treasured item on your desk?
My 'to-do' list. It
keeps me organised and I like being able to cross off the tasks!
Missed
your last copy of Intuitive?
Not
a problem! You can view previous editions here.
Please visit our
website for more
papers and usability
news
PTG Global Contact
Details
You can contact us
by email or call us on 02
9251 4200 or 1300 660 973 for further information.
Our
head office in Sydney is located in the
Maritime
Trade Towers
Level
16, 207 Kent St
Sydney,
NSW 2000
Directions
to Sydney office
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