User Experience conference at Chambre de commerce
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
Few months ago when one discussed of User Experience in development, it was interpreted as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) discussion!
The main domain of use was Fat Client Applications as Swing in Java or equivalent.
Time has changed. I was to a conference named Ergonomy for Web Interfaces.
It was introduced by Patrick Maruejouls and Aurélien Visa from the Nextedia Communication Agency.
It took place in the amazing building of Chambre de Commerce de Paris. You should definitively visit 
The user experience context was quite huge: web applications, institutionnal websites, marketing websites done in Flash.
Of course we discussed of Benchmarks, personas, storyboards and even Fitts law.
But the context was also interesting. Whereas the speakers try to follow their presentation map, the audience asked them interesting questions which were not related to user experience (Search engine optimization, RSS, Buzz tracking, etc). That made me think: as web technologies grow more complex and teams expand with more and more specializations, communication will only increase. Today, if I say, Confirmation Page, I maybe mean a pop-up window, but you maybe understand a new layer in the current page.
Today, possibilities are huge and as for web standards: there are rules but you can also do it in other ways. There are somwhat Traditional Methods or Modern Methods. Those methods are so close to brand new technologies internet offers (Web2.0, flash, etc) that all concepts available and relevant today have to be reevaluted tomorrow.
Thus, issues our speakers suggest are Best Practices based on experiences.
Conclusion : Ergonomy in web interfaces always begins today and “User Experience” begins with User so the internet user is the main part of the story.
My Waoooo Effect Trophy goes to Microsoft Surface… strange isn’t it?