2-week Course on Human Factors

When: Jul 27 – Aug 01, 2009 and Aug 03 – Aug 07, 2009
Where: Ann Arbor, MI

The University of Michigan is again offering a 2 week course on human
factors at the end of July. If you are interested in human factors,
ergonomics, human-computer interaction, or usability, this course will
give you the opportunity to get some excellent training from experts
in the field.

This two-week human factors course, now in its 50th year, concerns the
design of systems, products and services to make them easier, safer
and more effective for human use. The first week of the course
focuses on human factors concepts and is a broad survey of human
factors topics important to designers and researchers. Human-computer
interaction is the focus for week two of the course and presents an
overview of major topics and issues in human-computer interaction
through workshops on selected concepts, methods, and procedures that
provide the foundation for design of effective human-computer systems
and web applications.

To find out more, visit http://interpro.engin.umich.edu/proed.htm?
id=57

2009 Officer Elections

The summer is upon us, and that means chapter elections for the Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association! The 2008-2009 term was a great year for our chapter, with meetings across the state, and exciting events like World Usability Day and Internet User Experience 2009.

With the 2009-2010 term year upon us, the MIUPA needs your help! You now have the opportunity to get involved in shaping the direction of our chapter, to help organize interesting meetings, and to network with other professionals. We are looking for both people for formal officer positions and for volunteers. If you have any questions about the duties involved or what it is like to work with the MIUPA, please feel free to contact the current president, Mike Beasley, at president@miupa.org.

Board Members

MIUPA board members have the largest impact on the chapter’s growth in the next year. There are currently five officer positions that will determine the direction of MIUPA. You can make a difference!

To run for a position on the MIUPA board:

  1. Ensure you are an active member of the Usability Professionals’ Association in good standing (renew or join at http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org)
  2. Submit a brief bio and statement of intent (include who you are, your background, and how you will grow MIUPA) to president@miupa.org by Friday, May 29.

Volunteers

Member volunteers are critical to run MIUPA events and activities smoothly. When you volunteer, MIUPA works with you to leverage your expertise, or to help you build new skills!

To volunteer your talents with MIUPA:

  1. Send an email to vicepresident@miupa.org stating your desire to volunteer along with any expertise or specific duties that you would prefer to handle.
  2. You will be contacted directly by a UPA officer to work out your role.

Rules

  • Entries for board positions must be received by Friday, May 29, 2009.
  • UPA members in good standing are allowed to vote.
  • Officers are determined by number of votes.
  • Specific officer and volunteer positions are worked out by those elected.
  • Have fun!

Expand your role as a UPA member by becoming an officer or volunteer with this award-winning chapter!  With your help, MIUPA can continue to provide training, networking and job awareness to our members and other participants, and to raise the bar for UPA chapters.

Planning the Year Ahead

Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 6-8:30PM

Palermo Pizzeria and Restaurant in Canton, MI

Do you have a subject you’d like the Michigan UPA to cover in a meeting? Have a great idea that you’d like to see put into action? Your chance has arrived!

The Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association is hosting a meeting on Tuesday, May 12, to plan meetings for the next year. We will discuss what topics we will pursue, speakers to recruit, and possible venues. This is a great chance to get a program that interests you on the agenda, meet your MIUPA officers, and to get involved! This meeting is free and open to all who are interested, whether they are UPA members or not.

WHEN:

Tuesday May 12, 2009
6:00PM to 8:30PM

WHERE:

Palermo Pizzeria & Restaurant
44938 Ford Road
Canton, Michigan 48187
Map to location

Making Hospitals Safer

Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 6-8:30PM (Food and networking at 6, Program at 7)

VA National Center for Patient Safety in Ann Arbor, MI

An engaging talk on the role of human factors engineering in making medical devices safer and a tour of the National Center for Patient Safety’s hands-on museum of medical devices. Brought to you by The Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association and the University of Michigan student chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Often, healthcare professionals develop clever and creative workarounds when devices, equipment or architecture are not quite suitable. In other words, they become accustomed to making the hand fit the glove rather than demanding that the glove be designed to fit the hand. The VA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) has a hands-on collection of medical devices and equipment that came about to help convince clinicians that they didn’t have to accept these faulty designs. It provides an understanding of the principles that support designing systems for the way humans are built and how we function cognitively and physically.

Linda Williams will talk about how human factors engineering guides the NCPS approach to patient safety and will lead a tour through the hands-on collection.

If you come to this meeting you’ll leave determined never to enter the hospital because your sense of the risk involved will have been heightened. You’ll also leave reassured that through the application of principles of human factors engineering, real changes are being made.
About the Speaker

Linda is a member of the team at VA National Center for Patient Safety, serving initially as computer specialist, now part of program operations with the central focus of development and implementation of
patient safety curriculum for physicians. Linda teaches an introductory human factors engineering session at faculty development workshops and is co-director of the patient safety fellowship program. She also is involved in the practical application of usability principles to medical devices and software. Linda holds an
undergraduate nursing degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and an M.S.I. degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Information, a degree tailored to medical informatics with emphasis
in human computer interaction. http://www.patientsafety.gov

WHEN:

Thursday March 4, 2009
6:00-8:30PM (Food and networking at 6, program at 7)

WHERE:

National Center for Patient Safety

24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby M
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Map the location:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=24+Frank+Lloyd+Wright+Drive+ann+arbor+m

From US-23, take exit 41 for Plymouth Road. Turn left (east) and then turn left at Earhart Road. Turn left onto Frank Lloyd Wright Drive.

COST:

HFES Chapter Members – No Charge
Michigan UPA Members – $10
Full-time students – $5
People actively job seeking – $5
All others – $20

REGISTER:

Please RSVP to events@miupa.org

Making Hospitals Safer

Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 6-8:30PM (Food and networking at 6, Program at 7)

VA National Center for Patient Safety

Ann Arbor, MI

An engaging talk on the role of human factors engineering in making medical devices safer and a tour of the National Center for Patient Safety‘s hands-on museum of medical devices. Brought to you by The Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association and the University of Michigan student chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Often, healthcare professionals develop clever and creative workarounds when devices, equipment or architecture are not quite suitable. In other words, they become accustomed to making the hand fit the glove rather than demanding that the glove be designed to fit the hand. The VA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) has a hands-on collection of medical devices and equipment that came about to help convince clinicians that they didn’t have to accept these faulty designs. It provides an understanding of the principles that support designing systems for the way humans are built and how we function cognitively and physically.

Linda Williams will talk about how human factors engineering guides the NCPS approach to patient safety and will lead a tour through the hands-on collection.

If you come to this meeting you’ll leave determined never to enter the hospital because your sense of the risk involved will have been heightened. You’ll also leave reassured that through the application of principles of human factors engineering, real changes are being made.

About the Speaker

Linda is a member of the team at VA National Center for Patient Safety, serving initially as computer specialist, now part of program operations with the central focus of development and implementation of patient safety curriculum for physicians. Linda teaches an introductory human factors engineering session at faculty development workshops and is co-director of the patient safety fellowship program. She also is involved in the practical application of usability principles to medical devices and software. Linda holds an undergraduate nursing degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and an M.S.I. degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Information, a degree tailored to medical informatics with emphasis in human computer interaction. www.patientsafety.gov

Location

VA National Center for Patient Safety
20255 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby M
Ann Arbor, MI
48106