First Usability Sprint for Free/Libre/Open Source Software -- Developers and Activists Gather to Make Open Source Software More Usable and Accessible

Aspiration, dedicated to better software for a better world, and Blue Oxen Associates, a think tank focused on improving collaboration, are sponsoring the first-ever Free / Libre / Open Source Software Usability Sprint in San Francisco, California on February 18-20, 2005 (www.flossusability.org.) The event is the first in a series of usability sprints focused on making free/libre/open source software more useful for nonprofits and activists.

(PRWEB) January 15, 2005 -- Aspiration, dedicated to better software for a better world, and Blue Oxen Associates, a think tank focused on improving collaboration, are sponsoring the first-ever Free / Libre / Open Source Software Usability Sprint in San Francisco, California on February 18-20, 2005 (www.flossusability.org.)

The event is the first in a series of usability sprints focused on making free/libre/open source software more useful for nonprofits and activists.

In a hands-on clinic format, usability practitioners will work with open source developers and users to make software more intuitive and user-friendly. A number of free/libre/open source (FLOSS) projects, including several nonprofit e-advocacy applications, will be part of the working sessions, putting usability principles to the test.

FLOSS software can save organizations money in licensing fees and maintenance contracts. It can also be customized and adapted to meet specific technology needs such as those of nonprofit and activist organizations. Yet, the usability of FLOSS applications often lags behind proprietary counterparts.

Blue Oxen Associates Executive Director, Eugene Eric Kim, says, "One reason open source usability is so poor is that developers never get the chance to interact with usability specialists or watch real people use their software. We're bringing all three groups together to work on real projects. Not only will this improve the tools, it will strengthen the ties between the open source and usability communities so that improvements are ongoing."

The usability sprint aims to focus on end users. Allen Gunn, Co-Director of Aspiration, says, "Amazing FLOSS tools are being developed for advocacy and campaign work, but they're rarely intuitive to use. The Usability Sprint will provide a chance to look at the design of these programs through the eyes of end users, which just doesn't happen early or often enough when we build these platforms to power communication for social change."

The usability sprint will result in an improved set of select FLOSS tools and documented understanding of how to increase FLOSS usability. It will grow relationships between users, programmers, and usability specialists as they collaborate on specific software applications.

Aspiration and Blue Oxen are seeking to attract FLOSS projects and individuals to the event. Developers, designers, users, and others passionate about improving the quality of the FLOSS user experience for specific projects are welcome to apply at http://www.flossusability.org.

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