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Get a high-level overview of the UIE Web Application Design Summit.

Register
Register online for the Summit and arrange payment.

Agenda
Get a full, detailed description of the design summit.

Speakers
Learn about these web application development pioneers.

Pricing & Policies
Everything you need to know to register.

Hotel & Travel
Plan your hotel and travel arrangements.

Exhibitors
Learn how your company can exhibit at the Technology Showcase.

Agenda

All events to be held in the Cambridge Marriot Hotel, Cambridge, MA.

Monday, January 27, 2003 Showcase Reception
6:00 - 8:00PM

This will be your first opportunity to meet with the leaders and pioneers in developing web applications. We'll get you registered and settle you with a drink and some delicious appetizers, while you get a chance to mingle with fellow web application developers. You'll also have your first opportunity to explore our technology showcase, where we're highlighting some of the tools that can make a difference in web application design.

Tuesday, January 28, 2003 Summit Program

7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast/Technology Showcase

8:00 a.m.-8:55 a.m.
The State of Web Applications: Where Are We?
Jared M. Spool
Founding Principal, User Interface Engineering

One of the biggest changes in the last few years is the appearance of browser-delivered, platform-independent applications. What industry used to only relegate to travel sites and e-commerce checkout applications is now showing up in every possible institution.

This new mechanism introduces its own set of challenges. The stateless characteristics of HTML, the limited controls, and the issues surrounding browser independence and standards compliance are just the start of what application designers have to deal with every day.

In this entertaining and informative presentation, Jared will talk about what it's like for users and designers in this new world of interactivity. He'll talk about the obstacles we face and the promise of the future. It will be the perfect start of what looks to be an information-packed day.

8:55 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
User Interfaces Evolve Beyond The Web
Harley Manning, Research Director at Forrester Research, Inc
Forrester Research, Inc.

The Web drove consumers and businesses to the Net. But browser-based applications deliver subpar user experiences.

Nearly 20 years after Apple Computer popularized powerful, easy-to-use software with the Macintosh, more than 65 million North American Web users only get dumbed-down interfaces, lobotomized PCs, and absentee standards.

The web flies in the face of a central principle that helped drive the Macintosh's UI success: "The user must be in control." Web sites take control away, limiting the user to pointing and clicking.

Recent studies show that computer users say a faster processor and more memory are the most compelling reason they'd upgrade to newer equipment. But the web wastes the investments in processors and memory, leaving 2 GHZ machines idling on the desktop. When a user wants a function, they are forced to make a server call - and wait. And wait.

Apple, Microsoft, and other software vendors publish UI standards and then bake controls that comply with these guidelines into development tools. But the only official standards for the Web come from the W3C--a group that doesn't focus on usability. Designers who care about issues like consistency often just "do what the other sites do." Unfortunately, many of these untested de facto standards simply institutionalize bad practices.

9:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Break & Technology Showcase

10:15 - 11:05 a.m.
Developing Enterprise Applications for the Web
Janice Rohn , formerly Senior Director of User Experience
Siebel Systems

Janice Rohn has years of experience with developing browser-based enterprise software. Contrary to the relatively high availability of research and advice available for developing usable web sites, there is very little information available on developing usable enterprise applications. Additionally, developing highly interactive web applications is much more challenging than web sites.

Although some of the information on web-site development can be applied, most of the difficult and challenging questions are not addressed in this body of work.

Here are some of the challenges Janice will discuss:

How creating an interactive software application on a technology built for text and links is extremely hard
How creating acceptable levels of performance, stability, and interactivity takes a great deal of work
How consumer applications can behave more like web sites, but enterprise applications require a greater level of interactivity, information density, and response time

11:05 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fresh From the Lab: The Skinny on Web Applications
Will Schroeder, Chief Science Officer
User Interface Engineering

User Interface Engineering is world renowned for our research-based insight into key design issues. In this informative session, Chief Science Officer, Will Schroeder will share some of the latest research, hot from the laboratory.

Recently, there has been a plethora of published guidelines for producing usable web applications. However, the guideline publishers rarely supply any supporting research to say how they derived the guidelines or the context in which they will be effective. In this presentation, Will will discuss the results of our efforts to determine which guidelines are most effective.

In addition, he will also explore our in-depth research into e-commerce checkout processes. Because thousands of e-commerce checkout implementations exist, they become an ideal laboratory rat for studying how simple applications work. You'll learn about the latest findings from this state-of-the-art research.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Technology Showcase

1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
The Role of Flash In The Future of Web Applications
Chris MacGregor
Flazoom.com

HTML, even with it's latest W3C enhancements, is extremely limited when it comes to producing effective applications. Because of this, there is a crying need for a browser-independent mechanism for full interactivity.

Macromedia's Flash™ is trying to step up to the place to meet this need. We've invited the entertaining and informative Chris MacGregor, editor of Flazoom.com and author of The Flash Usability Guide, to share with us his insights into Flash and it's role in building web applications.

Flash offers several advantages over HTML:

It's powerful client-side scripting capability gives designers control and reduces server load.
It provides a more 'application-like' interaction model, allowing data to be uploaded to the user without the loss of state common in HTML implementations.
It's platform-independent player delivers a consistent interface, whether on a desktop or a PDA.

Chris will demonstrate several state-of-the-art applications, walking through the challenges that Flash overcomes and discussing where Flash succeeds and where it falls short.

2:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
A Rich Internet Application Case Study: Broadmoor.com
Jim Whitney
Webvertising, Inc.

At the recent Macromedia Developer's Conference, Jim Whitney's demonstration of how they built the Broadmoor.com reservation system dazzled us so much, we just had to invite him to show you what he's done.

The folks at Webvertising have built an amazing suite of tools that allows them to deploy new applications in just a few days. Jim will demonstrate the reservation system from both the guest's perspective and the perspective of the application developer.

3:10 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
Break & Technology Showcase

3:40 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
When Accessibility and Applications Collide
Mary Frances Theofanos
National Cancer Institute

Recent lawsuits have reinvigorated the need to ensure that web sites are accessible. Web applications are not immune to this and prevent their own set of challenges.

Moving beyond descriptive alt tags, the interactive nature of applications puts special requirements on designers trying to match compliance to Section 508. Yet, the 508 rules only has this to say about Web-based applications:

When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.

What do we know about going beyond this vague statement to build usable applications for everyone, including people with disabilities? In this presentation, we'll explore recent work conducted at the National Cancer Institute and the US Department of Health and Human Services about just this problem.

4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
News from the Front: A.G. Edwards' Deployment of Financial Applications
Patrick Malecek, Usability Manager
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Pat Malecek and the team at A.G. Edwards just completed the deployment of web applications to more than 7,000 financial services consultants. And they lived to tell us about it.

Pat endured great trials and tribulations as his team migrated an entire suite of applications to a platform with which the company had very little previous experience. He built a usability team from scratch and turned it into a recognized and integral part of ongoing development.
This is his story.

5:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Perspective: What Have We Learned
Jared M. Spool, Founding Principal
User Interface Engineering

As we wrap up this information-packed day, we'll summarize the key points that came out of the day, to ensure that you have a the full perspective and know exactly how to achieve your objectives.

Top of page

If you have comments or questions about this web site,
please send e-mail to webmaster@uie.com.

We can also be reached by phone at (978)-777-9123, by fax at
(978)-777-9894, or by mail at 4 Lookout Lane, Unit 4D
Middleton, MA 01949, USA.

UIE.com home

Summit Overview Get a high-level overview of the UIE Web Application Design Summit. Register Register online for the Summit and arrange payment. Agenda Get a full, detailed description of the design summit. Speakers Learn about these web application development pioneers. Pricing & Policies Everything you need to know to register. Hotel & Travel Plan your hotel and travel arrangements. Exhibitors Learn how your company can exhibit at the Technology Showcase.		Agenda All events to be held in the Cambridge Marriot Hotel, Cambridge, MA. Monday, January 27, 2003 Showcase Reception 6:00 - 8:00PM This will be your first opportunity to meet with the leaders and pioneers in developing web applications. We'll get you registered and settle you with a drink and some delicious appetizers, while you get a chance to mingle with fellow web application developers. You'll also have your first opportunity to explore our technology showcase, where we're highlighting some of the tools that can make a difference in web application design. Tuesday, January 28, 2003 Summit Program 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast/Technology Showcase 8:00 a.m.-8:55 a.m. The State of Web Applications: Where Are We? Jared M. Spool Founding Principal, User Interface Engineering One of the biggest changes in the last few years is the appearance of browser-delivered, platform-independent applications. What industry used to only relegate to travel sites and e-commerce checkout applications is now showing up in every possible institution. This new mechanism introduces its own set of challenges. The stateless characteristics of HTML, the limited controls, and the issues surrounding browser independence and standards compliance are just the start of what application designers have to deal with every day. In this entertaining and informative presentation, Jared will talk about what it's like for users and designers in this new world of interactivity. He'll talk about the obstacles we face and the promise of the future. It will be the perfect start of what looks to be an information-packed day. 8:55 a.m.-9:45 a.m. User Interfaces Evolve Beyond The Web Harley Manning, Research Director at Forrester Research, Inc Forrester Research, Inc. The Web drove consumers and businesses to the Net. But browser-based applications deliver subpar user experiences. Nearly 20 years after Apple Computer popularized powerful, easy-to-use software with the Macintosh, more than 65 million North American Web users only get dumbed-down interfaces, lobotomized PCs, and absentee standards. The web flies in the face of a central principle that helped drive the Macintosh's UI success: "The user must be in control." Web sites take control away, limiting the user to pointing and clicking. Recent studies show that computer users say a faster processor and more memory are the most compelling reason they'd upgrade to newer equipment. But the web wastes the investments in processors and memory, leaving 2 GHZ machines idling on the desktop. When a user wants a function, they are forced to make a server call - and wait. And wait. Apple, Microsoft, and other software vendors publish UI standards and then bake controls that comply with these guidelines into development tools. But the only official standards for the Web come from the W3C--a group that doesn't focus on usability. Designers who care about issues like consistency often just "do what the other sites do." Unfortunately, many of these untested de facto standards simply institutionalize bad practices. 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. Break & Technology Showcase 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. Developing Enterprise Applications for the Web Janice Rohn , formerly Senior Director of User Experience Siebel Systems Janice Rohn has years of experience with developing browser-based enterprise software. Contrary to the relatively high availability of research and advice available for developing usable web sites, there is very little information available on developing usable enterprise applications. Additionally, developing highly interactive web applications is much more challenging than web sites. Although some of the information on web-site development can be applied, most of the difficult and challenging questions are not addressed in this body of work. Here are some of the challenges Janice will discuss: How creating an interactive software application on a technology built for text and links is extremely hard How creating acceptable levels of performance, stability, and interactivity takes a great deal of work How consumer applications can behave more like web sites, but enterprise applications require a greater level of interactivity, information density, and response time 11:05 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Fresh From the Lab: The Skinny on Web Applications Will Schroeder, Chief Science Officer User Interface Engineering User Interface Engineering is world renowned for our research-based insight into key design issues. In this informative session, Chief Science Officer, Will Schroeder will share some of the latest research, hot from the laboratory. Recently, there has been a plethora of published guidelines for producing usable web applications. However, the guideline publishers rarely supply any supporting research to say how they derived the guidelines or the context in which they will be effective. In this presentation, Will will discuss the results of our efforts to determine which guidelines are most effective. In addition, he will also explore our in-depth research into e-commerce checkout processes. Because thousands of e-commerce checkout implementations exist, they become an ideal laboratory rat for studying how simple applications work. You'll learn about the latest findings from this state-of-the-art research. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Technology Showcase 1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m. The Role of Flash In The Future of Web Applications Chris MacGregor Flazoom.com HTML, even with it's latest W3C enhancements, is extremely limited when it comes to producing effective applications. Because of this, there is a crying need for a browser-independent mechanism for full interactivity. Macromedia's Flash™ is trying to step up to the place to meet this need. We've invited the entertaining and informative Chris MacGregor, editor of Flazoom.com and author of The Flash Usability Guide, to share with us his insights into Flash and it's role in building web applications. Flash offers several advantages over HTML: It's powerful client-side scripting capability gives designers control and reduces server load. It provides a more 'application-like' interaction model, allowing data to be uploaded to the user without the loss of state common in HTML implementations. It's platform-independent player delivers a consistent interface, whether on a desktop or a PDA. Chris will demonstrate several state-of-the-art applications, walking through the challenges that Flash overcomes and discussing where Flash succeeds and where it falls short. 2:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. A Rich Internet Application Case Study: Broadmoor.com Jim Whitney Webvertising, Inc. At the recent Macromedia Developer's Conference, Jim Whitney's demonstration of how they built the Broadmoor.com reservation system dazzled us so much, we just had to invite him to show you what he's done. The folks at Webvertising have built an amazing suite of tools that allows them to deploy new applications in just a few days. Jim will demonstrate the reservation system from both the guest's perspective and the perspective of the application developer. 3:10 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. Break & Technology Showcase 3:40 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. When Accessibility and Applications Collide Mary Frances Theofanos National Cancer Institute Recent lawsuits have reinvigorated the need to ensure that web sites are accessible. Web applications are not immune to this and prevent their own set of challenges. Moving beyond descriptive alt tags, the interactive nature of applications puts special requirements on designers trying to match compliance to Section 508. Yet, the 508 rules only has this to say about Web-based applications: When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. What do we know about going beyond this vague statement to build usable applications for everyone, including people with disabilities? In this presentation, we'll explore recent work conducted at the National Cancer Institute and the US Department of Health and Human Services about just this problem. 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. News from the Front: A.G. Edwards' Deployment of Financial Applications Patrick Malecek, Usability Manager A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Pat Malecek and the team at A.G. Edwards just completed the deployment of web applications to more than 7,000 financial services consultants. And they lived to tell us about it. Pat endured great trials and tribulations as his team migrated an entire suite of applications to a platform with which the company had very little previous experience. He built a usability team from scratch and turned it into a recognized and integral part of ongoing development. This is his story. 5:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Perspective: What Have We Learned Jared M. Spool, Founding Principal User Interface Engineering As we wrap up this information-packed day, we'll summarize the key points that came out of the day, to ensure that you have a the full perspective and know exactly how to achieve your objectives.

		Register online or by calling 1-800-588-9855 (outside the U.S. call 1-978-374-8300)

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Top of page		Copyright ©1997-2002 User Interface Engineering. All rights reserved. If you have comments or questions about this web site, please send e-mail to webmaster@uie.com. We can also be reached by phone at (978)-777-9123, by fax at (978)-777-9894, or by mail at 4 Lookout Lane, Unit 4D Middleton, MA 01949, USA.