If Postal Service did put a 5 cent tax on email, it wouldn't be end of Internet. There are a number of ways to communicate without using email.

Prior to Internet groups used Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) to communicate and trade files by dialing into a central computer and establishing a connection over a phone line. Yahoo Groups and Topica Groups are basically doing same thing now, but over Internet. These BBS systems allow people to trade messages without use of email.

Something I'm looking into for my ezine is Really Simple Syndicator (RSS). The idea behind this is to post headlines on my website and a program running on your computer would read these when they're available. No email needed. With problems of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) blocking email, even from trusted sources, in future it may be a necessity for ezine publishers to continue to publish.

I know it's old fashioned, but there's always option of using Fax and Phone to communicate.

Finally there's possibility of a private Internet that bypasses government involvement altogether. Most of you that work for a company of any size are using an intranet - a company-wide Internet that is only accessible to people who work for your company. An extranet is an intranet that allows access from people outside company. By connecting extranets, it would be possible to create a private Internet.

Applications for self-aware systems: Why would we need conscious shoes? Pepperell, R

On-Line Consumer Behavior and Culture by Ghada R. El Said

Mobile Group Music Improvisation: Bryan-Kinns, N

QOC matrices: An alternative practical notation for design space analysis, Englefield, P and Tibbits, M

The Ethics of Engagement: Knight J and Pandir, M

Industrial design: Engaging with, and incorporation of emerging technologies, Thompson, S

Conference Themes: Affective computing, Digital media, E-Learning, E-Retail, Games, HCI, Interactive arts, Mobile devices and ubiquitous computing, Public access kiosks and interactives.

For more information and how to book for event, visit: http://www.uce.ac.uk/web2/releases/3328.html

This press release in available in PDF, plain text and Word formats. Photographs are available of User-Lab team. The media spokesperson for User-Lab is John Knight, Usability Engineer.

About User-Lab: http://www.user-lab.com

User-Lab is a non-profit making organisation based at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design http://www.biad.uce.ac.uk/. The lab is part of Institute’s Research Department and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in digital media design, human-computer interaction, psychology and software engineering.

The lab comprises three purposely built testing and design labs that are equipped with latest technology for conducting behavioural, physiological and psychological research. The lab has two related functions: to carry out research into digital experience and, based on results of this work, to develop an innovative commercial service.

In two years since its inception, lab has been involved in a number of collaborative projects with RDAs, FEs, charities and public and private sector. The outcomes of these projects range from assisting start up businesses to training, as well as lab’s core business of user-centred design services.

User-Lab runs Web Accessibility Training with Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) http://www.rnib.org.uk/ and ECOTEC an international research and consultancy organisation http://www.ecotec.com/.

----Contact----

Elemental PR:

Rachel Hawkes, Account Executive, Elemental PR Email: user-lab@elementalpr.co.uk

Direct Telephone: +44 (0)870 745 9292, Mobile: +44 (0)7930 375663, Fax: +44 (0)870 745 9293, Website: http://www.elementalpr.co.uk

Address: Second Floor, 145 -157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, England, UK

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