Recent developments in web applications, commonly referred to as Web 2.0, have taken advantage of existing technologies in new and sometimes surprising ways. This has allowed web developers to take a more sophisticated approach to the usability of their applications. Many lessons have been learned along the way. Sarah B. Nelson and David Verba will discuss the current state of web applications and provide new ways to keep users in the center of your work.

The evening will be divided into two parts: first, a presentation that introduces concepts and design principles associated with Web 2.0; second, a discussion of how these principles can be applied in technical communication.

Presentation

Sarah and David will cover both general principles and lessons that can be learned from the most recent round of web applications making the news today. You should leave with a language and vocabulary both to discuss and to understand several specific design issues.

After starting with a broad discussion of Ajax, Sarah and David will move on to other Web 2.0 topics. They will present four principles for interaction design, providing examples from current applications and showing why these principles make for better user experience. Digging deeper, they will present the common threads in Web 2.0 applications that can be applied to wider and different contexts, with an emphasis on the display of information.

Discussion

Next we will turn our attention towards the application of interaction design principles within the world of technical communication. Linda Urban will lead a discussion with David, Sarah, and the audience that will focus on how technical communicators can apply these principles to their work and ways that technical communicators can become more involved in interaction design.