The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Website
Doug Griffith, dkgriffith@erols.com
After many months of warnings that the site was still under construction, an updated version of the website of the national Human Factors and Ergonomics Society has emerged. This website is quite important. Not only does it reflect upon the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, but it also reflects upon the entire Human Factors and Ergonomics profession. Consequently, it merits special scrutiny. To the extent that visitors to the website are frustrated, the entire profession will suffer.
I believe that several types of evaluation are warranted. A technical evaluation in terms of the structure and functioning of the website is indicated. Many members of the ITG are well qualified to conduct such a review. Indeed, one approach here is to solicit reviews of the national website from ITG members. Another approach is for the ITG to form a committee that would conduct a formal review. Of course, these approaches are not mutually exclusive; both could be undertaken.
In addition to a technical review, however, I believe that surveys need to be done of website visitors. There are four distinct populations that can be identified.
One population is defined by the HFES membership. It would appear that one of the primary objectives of the website is to support the HFES membership.
A second population is defined by the technical savvy website user. In this population there are system developers who are potential employers of HF/E professionals. If they are frustrated during their visit, this employment potential will significantly dimension.
A third population is defined by visitors who are not technically savvy. These are individuals who might not be using the latest browser or equipment. What kinds of problems will these people suffer?
A fourth population is defined by people with special needs (visitors who are blind or visually impaired, for example). Do these visitors have any problems? Any shortchanging of these special visitors constitutes a special kind of hypocrisy.
Of course, these categories are not mutually exclusive, but I believe that we must have a good understanding of the experiences with and feelings toward the national website by all these groups to understand fully the adequacy of the national website. I am calling upon the ITG to initiate such an activity.
Share with us, and with the world, your opinions about the HFES website, what works, what doesn't, how it can be imporved, how its usability can best be assessed.
Send your suggestions to Doug Griffith (dkgriffith@erols.com) or Anthony J. Masalonis (Masalonis@cua.edu).
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Last update: September 8, 1998
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