[wac] Reminder: usability/accessibility lab meeting today, November 15, 2 PM, Digital Union

[Ken Petri]

Dear WAC list membership,

I need to urge you to come to this critical meeting to discuss the
creation of a usability and accessibility lab and demonstration area
at the Digital Union, today at 2 PM. At this stage in planning,
expression of interest is absolutely essential to realizing a lab.

If done right, I believe a lab at the Digital Union could have a
profound effect on the culture and philosophy of development, design,
marketing, and deployment of software, hardware, web, and other media
at OSU.

Four other Big Ten institutions have usability labs, and two of those
have significant facilities for accessibility. However, the open and
communal atmosphere and high visibility of the DU present an
opportunity for creation of a lab and demonstration area that is
uniquely integrated into the technology culture at OSU.

Additionally, I believe the lab and demonstration area could play a
significant role in forwarding the academic missions to continually
improve the quality of the teaching and learning environment, to help
foster a welcoming atmosphere to increase the diversity of the
university, and to facilitate outreach and engagement.

I urge you to come and share your wishes, ideas, and concerns.

Details:

2 PM, Digital Union, Science and Engineering Library.

The Digital Union is on the 3rd floor of the Science and Engineering
Library. The DU is immediately across from the elevators. Here is a
link to the campus map: http://www.osu.edu/map/building.php?building=005

Vicky Getis, Director of the Digital Union, will be running the
meeting/forum. I have some time on the agenda to present potential lab
set-up, technologies, uses, and staffing. The majority of the time is
for feedback and open discussion.

A tentative agenda follows:

1. Introductions: Interest in a prospective usability lab.
2. Initial details of a proposed pilot lab and full-scale lab (which
would follow within a year of the pilot). Discussion of technologies,
functions, staffing, uses.
3. Question of assessment of demand for a lab.
4. Question of location of the lab. (That is, should it be in the
Digital Union?)
5. Open discussion.
6. Handout of demand and use assessment questionnaire.

Thanks! (and apologies for cross-postings),
ken
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  Ken Petri
  Program Director
  OSU Web Accessibility Center
  102D Pomerene Hall
  1760 Neil Avenue
  Columbus, Ohio  43210
  Phone: (614) 292-1760
  Fax: (614) 292-4190
  mailto:petri.1 at osu.edu
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