Welcome
The Scottish UPA is a Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association that started in June 2004. We are welcoming members who would like to broaden their knowledge of usability and contribute to this fascinating subject.
Our next meeting is on the 23rd July at Microsoft Scotland, Edinburgh. This event will focus on accessibility, with a talk by David Sloan (Digital Media Access Group, University of Dundee) on The 'other' accessibility guidelines - Authoring Tools and Accessibility in a Web 2.0 World. David will discuss what we mean by 'authoring tool accessibility', why is it so important these days, and consider how well current authoring tools support accessible web content creation.
Read more about our forthcoming events and find out how to sign up.
What is the UPA?
Whether you develop leading edge software or write technical manuals, the UPA can help you achieve your goal: the development of usable, efficient, effective and economic products.
Our members are usability professionals employed in a wide
variety of fields, including hardware and software design,
financial services, computer sciences, retail, telecommunications,
public sector, research and consulting. UPA members solve complex
product design problems in highly competitive business environments
and are committed to raising the awareness of the usability
professional's role in the global marketplace, as well as in
education and government. Regardless of industry or discipline, UPA
members are in pursuit of common goals: better products, better
working and better living through usability.
Why a Scottish UPA?
There is a large body of usability knowledge in the businesses, government bodies and universities of Scotland, and we would all benefit from greater collaboration and sharing of knowledge. By creating a Scottish UPA we hope to create a core network of people who can share knowledge, experience and best practice locally and provide a united voice for usability issues affecting Scottish businesses. The Scottish UPA will complement the UK UPA, based in London, and provide a convenient alternative for those in Scotland.
Members of related organisations such as the Scottish Usability Forum from ScotlandIS, and local members of the British HCI Group are welcome to join. Find out more about the benefits of joining the UPA.