Many of you may recall the spirited discussion that we had before SIGCHI
about the Lucid Computing Movement.  The Lucid Computing Movement was a
call to action based on the concern that after 15 years of UI research and
activity, software is still badly designed, confusing and frustrating.

There was a great response from many UI professionals and it seemed as if
the next step should be a face to face meeting.  So an informal SIG was
hastily put together at SIGCHI.  Response was great!  Although we were too
late to get into the program, about 35 people showed up at the meeting.
Here is a summary of the main points:

1. There is definite interest in moving forward with the Lucid Computing
Movement concept.  There seems to be a clear feeling that it is time for
the UI community to raise its voice and make its case to the larger
information processing community.

2. The group felt that we should have our own list server for Lucid
discussion.  We do have a list server now.  I will announce the address
shortly, after we work out a few technical kinks.  I will plan to post
summaries and news here from time to time, to encourage people who are not
subscribed to Lucid to participate and also to keep the UI community
informed of our activities.

3. The clear mission of Lucid, as defined at the meeting is to serve as a
public relations and educational outreach effort for the UI community.  Our
main target is the software development community and its management.

4. An important goal of Lucid will be to make certain that UI professionals
are well positioned as corporations re-invent the software development
process.

5. Lucid will operate, for now, as SIGs (informal or formal) at SIGCHI and
UPA.  This will allow us to work within the existing professional
societies.  It will also provide us with an opportunity to meet face to
face, twice a year at the conferences.  There is no intent to suggest that
membership in wither SIGCHI or UPA is a pre-requisite for participation in
Lucid.

We have identified a number of projects which we want to get underway.  I
think the right model is to establish working groups who can communicate by
means if the listserver for each of the projects.  Among the projects we
are launching are:

- an effort to add usability language to government software RFP's
- an effort to create a movement for usability in ACM through the ACM code
of ethics
- an effort to accumulate success stories for the media and interested
corporations.
- an effort to create a series of usability-oriented tutorials.

I will post more information about these projects in the future.

I have also established a mailing list of those of you who emailed me so
that we can issue periodic progress reports to interested individuals, even
if they do not participate on the lists.

I realize that we all are very busy but hope that many of you will
participate in Lucid.  I think that it is an important effort for the UI
community.


Charlie Kreitzberg
[log in to unmask]

The Lucid Website is: <http://www.cognetics.com/lucid>

[Note: Copies of this message are posted on UTEST and CHI-announcements.
My apologies to those who receive two copies. -- Charlie]

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 oo\                            Charlie Kreitzberg
(__)\      _                    President
  \  \    .' /`.                Cognetics Corporation
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    \  '"        \              PO Box 386
     .       (  ) \             Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
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        | |  | | \  '.          Charlie @ Cognetics.com
       c__; c__;  '-..'>.__     <http://www.cognetics.com>
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