All posts by Todd

Monthly Meetings

Diving Deep: Uncovering Hidden Insights through User Interviews

  • Susan Mercer, Experience Research Director, Mad*Pow
  • Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 6:30pm
  • At Constant Contact, 1601 Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA 02451

lane

Abstract

User interviews are a great technique for getting to know your target audience. However, sometimes people don’t feel comfortable answering a researcher’s questions with complete honesty. Other times they may not know exactly how to articulate what they need, want, or feel.

We will examine findings from psychology and market research to understand techniques for interviews to help you uncover insights beyond people’s surficial answers. We’ll explore conversation theory, projective techniques such as image associations, collaging, sentence completion, and others to uncover hidden, actionable insights to fuel your designs. Continue reading Diving Deep: Uncovering Hidden Insights through User Interviews →

Monthly Meetings

Re-Centering Human Centered Visualization

  • Lane Harrison, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 6:30pm
  • At IBM Research Cambridge, 1 Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA

lane

Abstract

Data visualization is making strides in delivering new tools, techniques, and systems to people engaged in data analysis and communication. Providing more options can lead to a paradox of choice, however — how can people creating data visualizations understand the tradeoffs between available designs? One promising approach towards addressing this problem is to better understand and quantify the role of the human in data visualization. In this talk I’ll share some of our recent results ranging from quantifying low-level perceptual processes in visualization, to modeling higher level concepts like engagement and aesthetics. Re-centering visualization on the human not only aids people in designing data visualizations, but also leads to new opportunities for next-generation visualization tools, techniques, and systems.

Continue reading Re-Centering Human Centered Visualization →

Boston Interactions

Boston Interactions Winter Party 2016

BostonCHI, UXPA Boston, and other usability and interactions groups of Boston, invite you to join us for our annual winter party at The Asgard, 350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA between Central Sq and Kendall Sq.

Please join us on Tuesday, January 26th, in a private room at The Asgard, a pub restaurant in Cambridge, from 6:00-10:00 PM.

Food and Drink: Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. There will be a cash bar.

Continue reading Boston Interactions Winter Party 2016 →