Description
Design brief
• Choose a consumer electronic product to test its usability from the following options: please write about Car navigation app (e.g., Apple Maps, Waze, etc.)
• Select a situation where usability is deemed critical for users’ experiences with the product.
• Develop a plan for heuristic evaluation and related materials.
o Formulate a set of heuristics and their corresponding meanings that are tailored to the situation, considering the
following criteria:
Relevance
Comprehensiveness
Distinctiveness
Note: You can refer to existing sets of heuristics widely applied in practice (e.g., Nielsen & Molich’s 10 heuristics and
Ben Shneiderman’s 8 golden rules). However, you cannot use them verbatim (i.e., copy & paste)
Criteria attached below, please only answer situation selection and heuristics parts
Unformatted Attachment Preview
DEA 4700/6700 Applied Ergonomics Methods
Assignment 2: Developing a usability evaluation plan
Tue, Feb 22—Tue, Mar 12 (at 11:59 pm)
Design brief
•
•
•
•
•
Choose a consumer electronic product to test its usability from the following op7ons:
o Car naviga7on app (e.g., Apple Maps, Waze, etc.)
o Smart speaker (e.g., Google Nest, Amazon Echo, etc.)
o Electric exercise equipment (e.g., Peloton bike, treadmill, ellip7cal, etc.)
Select a situa7on where usability is deemed cri7cal for users’ experiences with the product.
Develop a plan for heuris7c evalua7on and related materials.
o Formulate a set of heuris7cs and their corresponding meanings that are tailored to the situa7on, considering the
following criteria:
§
Relevance
§
Comprehensiveness
§
Dis7nc7veness
o Note: You can refer to exis7ng sets of heuris7cs widely applied in prac7ce (e.g., Nielsen & Molich’s 10 heuris7cs and
Ben Shneiderman’s 8 golden rules). However, you cannot use them verba7m (i.e., copy & paste).
Create a workbook or template for par7cipa7ng evaluators.
o Consider the usability of the workbook being developed.
o Formulate guidelines that help evaluators understand the heuris7cs and use them in a structured way for their
analysis.
o Test and argue the effec7veness and usefulness of the workbook.
§
Conduct a pilot test with at least two poten7al evaluators.
Recommend modifica7ons for the generated heuris7cs and the workbook.
o Explain how the modifica7ons would address the main issues iden7fied during the pilot test.
Deliverable
•
•
A wriXen report with a maximum of 1000 words, describing the process of developing the heuris7cs and workbook.
Heuris7c evalua7on workbook.
Rubrics for assessment
Criteria
High grade descriptor
Situa4on Selec4on (20 pts) The chosen situa?on is highly relevant, specific, and demonstrates
a deep understanding of scenarios where usability is cri?cal. The
explana?on shows a clear link between the situa?on and the
overall user experience with the product.
Heuris4cs
Are detailed, well-structured, and tailored to the selected product
(20 pts)
and situa?on. Each heuris?c is clearly defined with relevance,
comprehensiveness, and dis?nc?veness.
Usability of
Workbook/Template (20
pts)
Recommenda4ons for
modifica4ons (20 pts)
Overall presenta4on
quality
(20 pts)
Is well-designed, intui?ve, and tailored for the research. Includes
clear guidelines for evaluators, and its effec?veness is
demonstrated through a pilot test. Feedback from the pilot test is
thoroughly analyzed and used to argue the workbook’s
effec?veness.
Provides detailed, insighSul recommenda?ons for modifica?ons
based on pilot test findings that can be applied to improving the
research materials.
Presents clear, concise, and coherent arguments throughout.
Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of usability
evalua?on principles, crea?vity in approach, and cri?cal thinking in
applica?on
Low grade descriptor
The situa?on is generic, poorly defined, or irrelevant.
There is liJle to no explana?on of how the situa?on
impacts usability or the user experience.
Are vague and lack structure. The heuris?cs are poorly
defined, directly copied from exis?ng sources without
modifica?on, or irrelevant to the selected product and
situa?on.
Is poorly designed with significant usability issues. It
lacks clear guidelines for evaluators. LiJle evidence of
tes?ng or considera?on of feedback.
Recommenda?ons are generic, irrelevant, or missing.
LiJle connec?on between the recommenda?ons and
the issues iden?fied during the pilot test.
Lacks coherence, is poorly structured, or is difficult to
follow.
DEA 4700/6700
Applied Ergonomics Methods
Session 5-1: Contextual design and heuristics analysis
Jay Yoon [email protected]
Jeremy Faulk [email protected]
Department of Human Centered Design
Meta Design and Technology Lab
Design and Environmental Analysis
Meta Design and Technology Lab
Today’s agenda
– Contextual design—from users’ perspectives
– Heuristic analysis—from experts’ perspectives
Contextual design
A human-centered design method that identifies users’ fundamental intents, desires, and
drivers shaped by the context by going out in the field and talk with them.
The method was developed based on theories from several disciplines, including
anthropology, psychology and design.
https://bit.ly/3HUdVkS
Why Contextual Design?
Any product, technology or system is always situated in a larger environmental context.
Introduction of new solutions invariably changes the environment for its users.
Context of product use: All factors that influence human-product interaction
White light
Getting older
Sleepy
Sound of water running
Fresh scent
Routine—Washing face
afterward
Hurry
Tiny objects on the sink
Etc.
Contextual Design Principles
Design must support and extend users’ practice.
The complex and detailed sets of behaviors,
attitudes, goals and intents that characterize
users in a particular context.
e.g., as a father, as a teacher, as a driver,
as a ski enthusiast, etc.
Contextual Design Principles
– Design must support and extend users’ practice.
– Be systemic: Consider the entire system, rather than treating each part as its own
independent problem to be solved.
Designing a barbecue for a specific
target group and then prototype and
use it, to avoid burning one’s own
hands
Looking at the experience and cultural
meaning of making food outdoors,
and considering the barbecue’s effect
at wider scales, including the
environment and related health
issues.
Focusing on a product in isolation
Experiences of using a product in
particular contexts
Contextual Design Principles
People are experts at what they do – but are often unable to articulate their own work
practice.
Work practice is complex and varied, and that useful design
data are hidden in everyday details.
Details that are not consciously available to users when they
are not engaged in the ongoing work.
Contextual interviews in different life contexts: work, home, and car.
Interviews and observations are conducted wherever the practice of
interest take place.
Contextual Design Principles
People are experts at what they do – but are often unable to articulate their own work
practice.
Contextual interviews in different life contexts: work, home, and car. Interviews
and observations are conducted wherever the practice of interest take place.
Contextual Design Principles
• How does the context in which the question is asked affect the response?
Ecological validity
• The test environment should be comparable to (or representative of) what will be experienced in real life.
• The test environment can be physical or conceived by imagination (through written scenarios, videos,
etc.).
• The appropriateness of the consumption context can have a significant effect on how the product is
conceived
Contextual Design Principles
• How does the context in which the question is asked affect the response?
Inquiry in the context
These are not traditional question and answer interviews.
Instead, a contextual interviewer observes users as they work, and inquires into the users’
actions as they unfold to understand their motivations and strategy.
Respondent characteristics
• How do the characteristics of the respondent(s) affect the results?
Product users versus non-users
• A user of a product tends to like the product and experience positive emotions more frequently and
intensely from it.
• A non-user is likely to dislike the product and feel negative emotions more frequently and intensely
from it.
• Frequency of product use should be collected as an explanatory variable in the research.
Contextual Design Principles
Be systemic: Consider the entire system, rather than treating each part as its own
independent problem to be solved.
Heuristic analysis
Oxford dictionary of English
– Enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves: a ‘hands-on’ or
heuristic approach to learning
Product usability
– A heuristic is a broad principle on usability that should be common properties in
usable interfaces.
– A method of identifying usability problems by involving experts (domain experts (e.g.,
cooking, driving, etc.), users as the experts of the experiences)
Heuristic analysis
– A heuristic analysis is one where experts walk through a product and compare it to
the heuristics and make their own assessment
– Used frequently throughout the design process, it supports the next iteration.
– Feedback is often constructive and often focuses on the usability of the prototype by
identifying problems to be addressed.
The curve shows the proportion of usability
problems in an interface found by heuristic
evaluation using various numbers of
evaluators.
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html
How to conduct your own heuristic evaluation
Select tasks to evaluate.
Specify goals of using the product and related tasks that you
want to evaluate.
Establish an appropriate list of heuristics.
Determine which aspects should be assessed.
Select your evaluators.
Usability experts and domain expertise (at least 5 participants)
Brief your evaluators.
Ensure the evaluators receive the same instructions;
otherwise you may bias their evaluation—demonstration,
consultation
Evaluate.
Let evaluators use the product freely. Guide them to apply the
chosen heuristics to evaluate the product and document
problems as detailed and specific as possible.
Debriefing session.
Guide evaluators to collate their findings and establish a
complete list of problems. Encourage them to suggest
potential solutions on the basis of the heuristics.
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
Nielsen and Molich’s 10 Heuristics
Visibility of system
status
Keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback.
Mapping
Use familiar language and metaphors rather than system-oriented terms.
User control and
freedom
Provide good defaults and a clearly marked “emergency exit” to leave the unwanted state.
Consistency and
standards
Use consistent interface and language. Follow platform standards.
Error prevention
Help users avoid making mistakes. Present a confirmation option before a user action.
Recognition rather
than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load. Make information (objects, actions, and options) easy to
discover and retrieve.
Flexibility
Provide advanced options for experienced users to increase efficiency of use. Allow users to
tailor frequent actions.
Aesthetic design
Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information. Provide only necessary information in an
aesthetic way.
Recovery from errors Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Help and
documentation
Provide proactive and in-place hints to guide users. Make information searchable
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
https://
developer.apple.co
m/design/humaninterfaceguidelines/applepay
https://
developer.apple.co
m/design/humaninterfaceguidelines/in-apppurchase
https://
developer.apple.co
m/design/humaninterfaceguidelines/
augmented-reality
Ben Shneiderman’s 8 golden rules
Strive for consistency
Employ consistent sequences, identical terminology, and commands in similar situations.
Enable frequent users to
Satisfy user’s desires to reduce the number of interactions.
use shortcuts
Offer informative
feedback
For every operator action, provide system feedback.
Design dialog to yield
closure
Communicate sequences of actions in an organized and informative way.
Offer simple error
handling
Detect errors and offer simple, comprehensible ways to handle them.
Permit easy reversal of
actions
Enable to undo errors in order to encourage exploration of unfamiliar options.
Support user control
Design the system to make users the initiators of actions rather than the responders.
Aesthetic design
Minimize the amount of information users need to remember by providing clear and
visible cues, instructions, and reminders.
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/shneiderman-seight-golden-rules-will-help-you-design-better-interfaces
https://media.nngroup.com/media/articles/attachments/Heuristic_Evaluation_Workbook_1_Fillable.pdf
https://media.nngroup.com/media/articles/attachments/Heuristic_Evaluation_Workbook_1_Fillable.pdf
Car-audio controls
Primary heuristics
– Learnability
– Effectiveness of tasks
– Comfort/satisfaction
– Flexibility
Learnability
– Good consistency: All buttons have uniform size and
labelling
Learnability / Comfort / Effectiveness of tasks
– Menu button is a little small and awkward and does
not react enough when operated
Advantages
Limitations
– A quick, simple, and low cost usability
assessment that requires minimal training
– Limited validity, comprehensiveness (i.e.,
limited to the chosen heuristics)
– Can be applied to any form/stage of the
product
– Subjective
– Output highlights design problems
– Limited representation of novice endusers
– Requires very few resources
– Can be used repeatedly throughout the
design process
– Questionable consistency
Discuss and refine your evaluation process
– What are the usability of tasks/interfaces you want to evaluate?
– Why do they matter?
– What are the heuristics you want to employ in the evaluation?
– Who are the participants you will recruit? Why are their contributions critical?
– How are you going to recruit the participants (introducing the goal of the study, their
roles and rights, estimated time, time and place, etc.)?
– How are you going to help the participants internalize the terms and meanings of the
heuristics?
– What kind of product are you going to employ along with the product to redesign?—
check the tasks to evaluate.
– What are the steps to follow in the evaluation and debrief session?
– What are the materials you will use in each step of the evaluation?
– etc.
Recommendations process
– When used throughout the design process, even low fidelity prototype evaluations
can make later tests more effective
– Heuristic principles will become more intuitive and usability problems easier to detect
with more iterations
Number of ideas
Prototypes pull a
specification
Inspiration
A specification
pulls prototype
Evolution
Validation
Time
Low-fidelity
High-fidelity
Recommendations process
– There are little oppo
