This paper describes an experiment on the usability of a new personal information management system on internet (PIMI). The goals are to evaluate its usability, and to assess user tailoring as an evaluation technique. Thirty users participated to the study : a first part consisted in a standard user test (SUT) and a second part was a usability test with tailoring by users (UTT). Overall, a total of 51 usability problems were diagnosed. Among those, 32 resulted from SUT, and 19 from UTT. Part of the latter (11) are additional to the ones identified during SUT, and to those diagnosed previously by usability inspection (UI with Ergonomic Criteria). The active involvement of users through customization scenarios appear to provide additional cues for usability assessment, and for design (new generic usability recommendations).

Due to the large diffusion of social networks, these media offer a huge platform where users share judgements, comments and opinions that organization could exploit for achieving information on consumers’ preferences and market trends, with benefits for the development of more effective marketing strategies.

In this paper we describe the project “Private Assisted House”. The project is intended to contribute to the diffusion of a new culture of smart home concept, that is not strictly linked to domotics in its traditional meaning, by placing the home user at the centre of the technological solutions developed. We have discussed about the reference context and about objectives and goal of the project. Finally, important question about the eco-sustainability and domotic coherence are developed. In conclusion we referred to the SWOT analysis – a strategic planning instrument employed for the assessment of project Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Remote-access of computer systems can significantly enhance the laboratory for electrical engineering education. This paper presents our practice of remote-access of laboratory by using the remote desktop, one standard feature of Microsoft Windows and Virtual Private Network (VPN). The remote access has substantially enhanced the experiments of students in the course “microprocessors and systems”.

User privacy protection is of the utmost importance. We show that privacy has been acknowledged as a human right that is beneficial not only to each individual but also to society as a whole.