World Usability Day was founded in 2005 as an initiative of the Usability Professionals’ Association to ensure that services and products important to human life are easier to access and simpler to use. Each year, on the second Thursday of November, over 225 events are organized in over 40 countries around the world to raise awareness for the general public, and train professionals in the tools and issues central to good usability research, development and practice.
The local Israeli chapter will host the day’s events at the Open University campus in Raanana (see the UPA website for more information; discount price for registering until November 4th).
Each year holds a special theme and then every local event focuses lectures and other initiatives around the subject. This year’s theme is transportation. This follows the Public Transportation Day held in September.
Since transportation has a vast impact on the environment it was decided to raise awareness through a personal challenge.
The Global Transport Challenge is an easy way for you to understand how YOU USE transportation every day and the impact it has on our environment.
You will be able to:
• MEASURE your everyday transportation usage
• MONITOR your personal carbon travel footprint and compare yourself to others around the world.
• MINIMIZE your energy usage through alternative transportation choices, carbon offsets, and simple travel changes thereby maximizing the impact on our world.
By taking the Global Transport Challenge you will be actively making a difference in your life and in the lives of others. The information you will receive will help you make simple changes in the way you travel each day that will save energy, and have lasting impact on you, your community, and the world. It’s fun, It’s easy, It’s important!
The challenge starts on World Usability Day 2008, November 13, 2008 by entering information about your average day into our Personal Transport Tracker. You will then receive your personal carbon travel footprint and be able to see how you rate, and compare yourself with others around the world.
There will be information on:
• How to make simple travel changes and minimize your footprint
• How to connect with others to explore transportation alternatives
• How to purchase carbon offsets, and more.
Lea Aharonovitch is the Director of Events, UPA Israel.
Photo Credit: Christopher Chan
I am so glad to see this news. I founded World Usability Day with the UPA over four years ago and am so inspired by all the people I have met around the world- working on making our technology, products and services easy to use.
I am particularly glad to see Isreal and the Middle East take part in our activities. I know that the Israel Usability community has been active in World Usability Day from the beginning.
I urge you to visit our website and take the Global Transport Challenge.
Elizabeth Rosenzweig
Founder and Director, World Usability Day