The NU Tech WebAppDev Group is the applications development professionals at the University of Nebraska. The group has members from information technology groups across the four campuses and meets to collaborate on ideas regarding web development technology and its application. The NU Tech WebAppDev Group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 11:30 - 1:00pm at the UNL City Union. For more information and how to join the group, go to http://nutech.unl.edu. Agenda: Web Usability - How to define usability? How, when, and where can you improve it? Why should you care? Also, will show the results of testing done on UNL and CASNR websites. Usability is the ease with which people can perform a pertain task on an object or system to achieve a particular goal. Whether it’s making coffee in a coffee machine or finding information on a website, does the interface allow people to do what they need to? Usability testing allows us to observe what users do, where they succeed, and where they have difficulties with the user interface. Feedback from this testing can be used to improve designs and interfaces for better user experiences. Lana attended a 4-day Usability Conference with the Nielsen Norman Group in June, 2008. Using information learned from this conference, usability testing was conducted at the State Fair to test the UNL, CASNR, Extension and IANR websites and at Husker Harvest Days to test the Water website. Lana will discuss web usability, explain the procedures for testing UNL web sites and will also release the usability studies done on the UNL and CASNR websites. The study tasks included finding: • an individual’s phone number • an application form for UNL • how to finance an education • finding a major • a departmental webpage • buildings on the UNL map • signing up to have a recruiter call them • phone number to arrange a visit to campus See www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html for an introduction on usability from the master, Jakob Nielsen.

The English Department presents a panel discussion on "The Art, Craft, and Ethnics of Biography and Autobiography" featuring Pulitzer-Prize-Winning biographer Debby Applegate and faculty and students from the departments of English and History

"Can Systems Biology and the Computer Protect Mmankind From Killer Viruses" presented by Dr. Michael Katze, University of Washington

"Chasing Gravitational Waves" by Dr. David Reitze, University of Florida, Gainesville

Lecture: 4:00pm, Brace Lab 211
Refreshments: 3:30pm, Brace Lab 201

Abstract can be found at: http://physics.unl.edu/news/colloquium.shtml

For further information please call the Department of Physics and Astronomy at (402) 472-2770 or email paoffice@unl.edu

The History Department presents the 7th Annual Carroll R. Pauley Memorial Lecture "Religion, Sex, and Politics: The Reverend Henry Ward Beecher and Nineteenth-Century American Culture" by Pulitzer-Prize-Winning biograhper Debby Applegate. Co-sponsored by the English Department and Nineteenth-Centuy Studies.

The University Singers will give a recital in Kimball Recital Hall. Tickets: General admission $5, student/senior $3, available at the door approx. one hour before the performance.