Introduction to Volume 15, Issue 1

We are delighted to publish an essay by Carol Barnum titled “The State of UX Research.” The author discusses the current trends towards faster, informal research studies. She reviews the current state of UX education and questions whether short UX courses are providing students and professionals with the necessary rigor. She also takes a look […] [Read More]

Invited Essay: The State of UX Research

Introduction I have been a UX researcher for 25 years. I did not come up through the usual degree programs available at the time, such as cognitive psychology and human factors. Rather, I came to the field from technical communication, seeing that there was a role for technical communicators to play in advocating for the […] [Read More]

Championing HCI Education to CS Undergraduates at a Grassroots Level: A Case Study in Egypt

Abstract There is an increasing global interest in developing inclusive technologies that contribute to the social welfare of people in emerging economies. Egypt, a country facing socio-economic challenges, has been investing in an increasingly growing ICT infrastructure and human capital. The current ICT workforce is technically-oriented due to the increasing interest in global outsourcing. However, […] [Read More]

Designing with Personas

Abstract Understanding users is crucial to designing delightful experiences for them. This paper provides a case study on how we gained a better understanding of our users before we redesigned Quotient’s (formerly Coupons Inc.) user experience. Before identifying personas at Quotient (www.coupons.com), we never truly explored the behaviors and needs of our consumers other than […] [Read More]

SMS-Based Agricultural Information System for Rural Farmers in Ethiopia

Abstract Agriculture accounts for the majority of the Ethiopian economic structure. Despite the strength and volume of agriculture related information and training available through Ethiopia’s vast public extension system, ensuring farmers receive up-to-date data and knowledge in a timely, complete, and quality manner remains a great challenge. The current practice for delivering agricultural information to […] [Read More]