Overview of Symposium
As technologies evolve and cultures change, the contexts in which individuals access and use information shift in often unexpected ways. This situation means what constitutes usable designs and what constitutes usability is also in a continual state of change. Such factors influence – and are influenced by – practices in technical communication and localization, for the three fields (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.
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 and approaches to re-thinking and addressing current and prospective challenges affecting how we approach usability based on its relationship to technical communication and to localization.