Dr. Bowie specializes in user-centered design, web 2.0 media–especially podcasting–feminist research, web design, and research in technical communication and related fields. Much of her work focuses on intersections between these various interests. She teaches classes including electronic writing and publishing, digital rhetoric, document design, web usability, business writing, and user-centered design. Her dissertation focused on sex and gender differences in the use of websites, especially examining the navigation methods used. Her findings suggest the need for design that accommodates the universe of users.

More recent work includes a chapter on the “universe of users theory”, several presentations on podcasting in technical compunction and computers & writing, assessment research on podcasting in the writing classroom, an analysis of the research requirements in technical communication programs, and a study of the digital histories and narratives of late Generation X women.

Dr. Bowie is on the editorial board of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy, and of Programmatic Perspectives: Journal of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication. She is a Co-Chair of the CCC Committee on Computers in Composition and Communication Task Force. She has a professional blog and podcast, Screen Space (www.screenspace.org), on users, texts, and technology. For more information see her website: http://www.rhetcomp.gsu.edu/~jbowie/index.htm.

Selected Publications:

“Beyond the Universal: The Universe of Users Approach to Usability Testing.” Rhetorically Rethinking Usability: Theories, Practices, and Methodologies. Edited by Susan Miller and Shelley Rodrigo. New Directions Series, Hampton Press. Forthcoming Spring 2009 (Peer reviewed).

“Landmarks, Links, and Search Engines: Designing Websites for Sex and Gender Navigation Differences.” Proceedings of Experiencing Technical Communication, Society for Technical Communication. Seattle, WA, 2005: 260-264.

 “Open Systems and Citizenship: Designing a Departmental Web Site as an Open System.” Computers and Composition 20.2 (2003): 168-193. With Clay Spinuzzi, Ida Rodgers, and Xiangyi Li.

“Student Problems with Hypertext and Webtext: A Student-Centered Hypertext Classroom?” Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy 6.2 (2001). http://english.ttu.edu/kairos/6.2/binder2.html?coverweb/hypertext/jonesbowieaustin/index.htm.

“Gendered Statements, Gendered Perceptions: A Study of Perceived Gender Statements.” Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy 5.2 (2000). http://english.ttu.edu/kairos/5.2/binder.html?coverweb/bowie/abstract.html.