Description
The University Research Institute of Applied Communication and the New Technologies Laboratory in Communication, Education and the Mass Media of the University of Athens on the occasion of the World Usability Day will organize between 10 and 14 of November 2008 a series of events which include: conference, workshops, case studies, publications, instructions, good practices, dissemination of conclusions, etc.
These events will cover the whole range of Usability and Accessibility issues, and will focus on Transportation, since this is this the theme of the World Usability Day 2008 (www.worldusabilityday.org 
).
In this era which is characterized by constant acceleration in every aspect of our lives, by an oversupply of competing products and services, and access to ample amounts of content, Usability appears to be a necessary condition for survival.
Usability, inseparable from Accessibility, are the two elements that can determine whether a project, a product or a service is successful, thus attributing to them added value and massive response in the market.
“Let’s make life easier” is the motto in a world that wishes to, and ought to, leave behind the awe caused by the complexity of new technologies and their applications and move forward to the freshness of friendliness, simplicity, effectiveness and user-consumer satisfaction.
More specifically, during Usability and Accessibility Days 08, the following issues will be addressed:
a) Concepts and applications of Usability and Accessibility in Greece and around the world. Why is Usability so valuable but often overseen? Why is Accessibility necessary for our society? Which are the expected benefits of the implementation of Usability and Accessibility for users and producers?
b) Usability of products and services. Systems ergonomics issues. User-centered information design and architecture.
c) Usability and Accessibility in Transportation. Their importance as far as information flow and transportation of the public is concerned. The issue of signing big cities, highways, different premises. Case studies on specialized software. Systems for distance vessel navigation.
