"Usability Evaluations of Digital Libraries"
   Dr. Robert Williges, Professor, Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering
			  September 29, 1998

                  Computer Science Graduate Seminar
                          CS 5944 Index 9743
                        Tuesday 3:30 - 4:45 pm
                  Newman Library 6th Floor Boardroom

			    Sponsored by:
			    	Department of Computer Science
				Information Systems
				University Libraries
				Digital Library Research Laboratory
				Internet Technology Innovation Center

Abstract: 
Iterative design is postulated as an efficient procedure for developing
user interfaces for digital libraries.  Both formative and summative
evaluations are central to the iterative design process.  A variety of
techniques for conducting usability assessment are described. 
Usability evaluation methods and laboratory research issues that are
appropriate for digital libraries are discussed.


Biographical Sketch:
Robert C. Williges is the Ralph H. Bogle Professor of Industrial and
Systems Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University. He is also a Professor of Psychology and Computer Science. 
He is the Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory and
Director of the Usability Methods Research Laboratory. He has over 30
years experience in managing and directing over $3M of human factors
engineering research dealing with topics including human-computer
interaction, computer-based training procedures, and human factors
research methodology. Before joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Dr.
Williges was on the faculty of the Department of Psychology at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and associate head of the
Aviation Research Laboratory. He received the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in
engineering psychology from The Ohio State University and the A.B.
degree in psychology from Wittenberg University. He is a fellow of the
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and the American Psychological
Association and is a member of the Institute for Industrial Engineering
and the Association for Computing Machinery. He has served as president
of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and as president of
Division 21 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Williges is
a past editor of Human Factors. He has over 275 scientific publications
and has made over 190 technical presentations at national and
international scientific meetings. His current research interests
include developing methods for usability evaluation, improving
hypermedia information presentation, designing computer-based assistive
technology for computer users with disabilities, human factors
engineering in manufacturing, and emerging human-computer interfaces
involving visualization and computer-based conferencing.

   williges@vt.edu     phone: (540) 231-6270