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Special Events
Newcomer Reception, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Opening Reception, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Poster Reception, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 30
If you are new to the UPA conference, join us for a newcomer's reception on Wednesday June 30, from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. prior to the opening reception. UPA board members will be on hand to greet you and answer questions.
As always, we'll have an opening reception to kick off our annual conference. Sample the variety of cuisine while greeting old friends and meeting new ones.
Then, beginning at 7:00 p.m., learn about late-breaking results in our poster session. Presenters will be on hand to discuss their posters with you in this informal setting.
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, July 1
The Jokake Inn will be the site for this year's special event. Mingle and meet with new and old friends and enjoy food and beverages with this night's Native American theme. The Keynote Address, presented by Brenda Laurel, will be one of the highlights of the evening.
The Jokake Inn is a historic gem of Camelback Mountain. Early in the 1900s, a small frame house stood alone in the desert splendor at the tabs of Camelback Mountain. Through the eyes and inspiration of Jessie Benton Evans, a passing artist, it was envisioned as an elegant abode. Believing in the vision, he purchased the property and began its reconstruction. This home's site expanded over the years until it was spacious enough to visit for tea and, eventually, overnight guests, at which time it became the Jokake Inn. The Jokake Inn stands by the entryway of The Phoenician, signaling a blend of the old Southwest with the sophisticated elegance of today.
Balancing values in design
Dr. Brenda Laurel
As "usability professionals" we share the goal of making things that are comfortably usable by the people for whom they are designed. But in the course of our work, we encounter diverse sets of values that often seem incompatible. When we are trying to learn about people, we need to value scientific objectivity and open-mindedness. In business, we are charged with creating value for our investors. As humanists, we also have an interest in how the things we design impact the quality of life and how we are shaping popular culture. Because all our enterprises are situated in a larger environmental context, we must ultimately strive for harmony with the natural world. This talk will explore how we may navigate and balance the diverse value systems that come into play in the process of design.
Brenda Laurel has worked in the personal computer industry since 1976. In 1996 she co-founded and became vice president for design of Purple Moon, a transmedia company devoted to preteen girls. Purple Moon evolved from a research project regarding gender differences involving technology and play, directed by Laurel at Interval Research Corporation beginning in 1992. In 1993 she co-designed and produced a groundbreaking VR installation, "Placeholder" at the Banff Centre for the Arts. In 1990 Laurel co-founded Telepresence Research, Inc. to develop virtual reality and remote presence technology and applications. She has worked as a game designer, producer, and researcher for companies including Atari,
Activision, and Apple. She holds an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in theatre from Ohio State University. Laurel is editor of the book The Art of Human-Computer Interface Design [Addison-Wesley, 1990], author of Computers as Theatre [Addison-Wesley, 1991,1993], and author of Severed Heads [http://www.tauzero.com/Brenda_Laurel/]. She co-founded and served on the board of the Computer Game Developers' Conference from 1989 to 1991 and has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Communication Research Institute of Australia since 1992.
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