Berkeley Chapter
Society for Technical Communication

The latest change to this website was made on Sunday, August 17, 2008.

The October 2007 Chapter Meeting

Date:

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Times:

6:00 p.m. Networking
6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:15 p.m. Announcements
7:30 p.m. Presentation
9:30 p.m. End

Location:

Highlands Country Club,110 Hiller Drive, Oakland, California

Topic:

Lessons Learned from Web Applications and User Centered Design

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.

Speakers:

Sarah B. Nelson and David Verba

Sarah B. Nelson is a design strategist for Adaptive Path She has ten years of experience in interactive media, designing kiosks, mobile and online experiences for clients in a variety of industries. Sarah has a particular passion for practice development, conducting research into methods for improving collaboration, supporting creativity, and encouraging innovation.

David Verba is Director of Technology for Adaptive Path, a leading user experience company. His many years of technical leadership and architecture experience cover a broad range of projects and strategies.

Monthly Chapter Meetings

The Berkeley chapter meets the second Wednesday of the month.

Continuing in October, 2007 we will regularly meet at the Highlands Country Club in Oakland, CA.

RSVP
Fees
Agenda
Location and Directions
Program Ideas

RSVP

RESERVATIONS FOR THE OCTOBER 2007 MEETING
Use the Berkeley Chapter's online storefront to make reservations now for the October 2007 meeting.

Chapter Meeting Fees

For the meeting and dinner, reserved on the Chapter's website in advance:

Members: $18

Non-members: $21

Student members: $15

For the meeting and dinner at the door:

Members: $21

Non-members: $24

Student members: $18

Note: If you do not reserve dinner in advance, dinner may or may not be available on a walk-in basis. We order dinner for the number of reservations plus a few walk-ins.
To attend the program only:

Members and non-members: $12

Non-STC-Members: $15

Students: $10

NOTE ONE: Non-members are always welcome to STC meetings.
NOTE TWO: All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings at the member price.

If you wish to pay by cash or check, send email to that effect to treasurer@stc-berkeley.org, and then bring payment to the meeting.
If you wish to pay be credit card, please reserve using our online storefront.
Interested in becoming a member?

Chapter Meetings Agenda

6:00 -- Networking, conversation

6:30 -- Buffet served

7:15 -- Chapter business, announcements, jobs available*

7:30 -- Formal program

8:30 -- Conversation, off-line questions for the speakers, follow-up on job announcements

9:30 -- Clear the room, move conversations to the sidewalk

*Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions. Please bring job listings for distribution. Recruiters may introduce themselves, but may not describe open positions in detail. Save that for one-on-one after the program.

Location and Directions
Highlands Country Club
110 Hiller Drive
Oakland, California
Directions to Highlands Country Club
NOTE: The club's parking lot is for members only. Please park on the street. (There's typically plenty of on-street parking right along Hiller Drive.)

From San Francisco

Cross the Bay Bridge to I-580 Eastbound. Remain in the right lane, until Highway 24 Eastbound (toward Berkeley and Walnut Creek). Continue eastbound until the Tunnel Road off-ramp. Ext will loop around to the west, crossing back over Highway 24. Turn left at the stop sign. Follow Tunnel Road/Caldecott Lane to traffic signal. Veer to the right, and follow Hiller Drive halfway up the hill. Highlands Country Club will be on the right-hand side of the street.

From Walnut Creek

Take Highway 24 Westbound through the Caldecott Tunnel. Stay in the right-hand lane, taking the first exit after the tunnel ends, the Tunnel Road exit, going towards Berkeley. Follow Tunnel Road to the complex intersection and stop light, at Tunnel Drive, Hiller Drive, and Highway 13. Veer to the right, and continue halfway up the hill on Hiller Drive. Highlands Country Club will be on the right-hand side of the street.

From I-80 and Berkeley

Take Ashby Avenue to the Highway 13 exit. Ashby becomes Tunnel Road at the Claremont Hotel. Continue on Tunnel Road (through the split-level section) to the stoplight just before the Highway 24 overcrossing. Remain in the left lane and make a sharp left U-turn around the Firestorm Memorial Garden, on to Hiller Drive. Continue halfway up the hill. Highlands Country Club will be on the right-hand side of the street.

From Hayward

Take I-580 Westbound to Highway 13 north. Continue on Highway 13 past the overcrossing of Highway 24. At the stoplight, turn right, then left, onto Hiller Drive. Continue halfway up the hill. Highlands Country Club will be on the right-hand side of the street.

Chapter Meeting Program Ideas?

If you have a suggestion for a meeting topic you'd like to hear more about or if you'd like to be a presenter, send an email to Linda Urban and Mary Ann Campbell, our co-VPs of Programs.

Please email webpage corrections or webpage comments to:

Jim Dexter (internet@stc-berkeley.org)

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