Interfaces evaluated must be accessible from the classroom using the Pentium laptop computer with Windows and MicroSoft Office and with access to the UMBC network and the World Wide Web.
All reports must be unique, and "reservations" for a specific interface will be made on a "first come, first served" basis. As soon as you feel you know what interface or set of WWW pages that you want to evaluate, email the instructor in order to confirm your reservation. Reservations must receive confirmation from the instructor before class Tuesday, October 16th (which means the request should be submitted in time to receive a response before the class; lateness will negatively impact the evaluation of the actual report).
The report should be approximately 7 word processed pages (12 point font, standard margins, double-spaced).
This report is an analysis and description, along with a proposed usability study, of the interface you have chosen.
This assignment will use material from throughout the textbook and the course.
I. ANALYSIS
-- Describe the intended audience
-- Describe the purpose for the site
-- What task knowledge should the user of this site possess?
-- What computer skill level is expected?
-- Describe the organization (decomposition) of the site from the global
(universal) through the collections and aggregates to the atomic (see pp.
567 - 568)
-- In relation to the above question, draw the site hierarchy
II. DESCRIPTION
-- What style(s) of interaction are used?
-- How do the style(s) chosen fit the intended purpose?
-- How are graphics used? Other multimedia?
-- Apply each of the four stages of the Foley and VanDam model to the
interface.
-- Applying the OAI Model, provide a high level description of the
interface to include the OBJECTS and their inherent ACTIONS and how these
come together to form the INTERFACE and how the INTERFACE is affected by
the ACTIONS and the resultant change in the OBJECTS. Draw the reviewer's
attention to how the interface objects and actions do or do not reflect
the task objects and actions.
-- There is some overlap between the "Eight Golden Rules of Interface
Design" on pp. 74 - 75 and the "List of considerations for WWW page design"
on pp. 558 - 559 of your text. Describe how the interface does or does
not exhibit a good application of each of these "rules" (provide reference
to both lists).
-- Chapters 2, 7 and 11 have numerous other guidelines including menuing
structure, message design, error handling, use of color and effects, and
others. Guideline issues are also summarized in list form in Chapter 3
on pages 100 & 101. As you see fit, describe and evaluate the interface
in accordance with these guidelines.
III. USABILITY
A Usability Study involves subjects, questions, collection of responses
and evaluation of data collected. The purpose of a Research Plan is to
specify the subjects, setting, variables, collection techniques, method
of evaluation and plan for applying results.
Provide detailed, statement-form responses to the following:
-- How many subjects would you have and what would be the demographics
-- Describe the characteristics of your target subject population
-- Where will you conduct your study (setting)
-- When will you do your study (time of day, day(s) of the week, number
of days
-- What aspects of your site will you evaluate
-- How will you isolate these aspects
-- How will you focus your user on these aspects (verbal questions,
written form, etc.)
-- How will your subjects respond (verbally, written, etc.)
-- How many questions will you ask
-- Provide some samples of your questions
-- Describe the type of hands-on interaction your subjects will conduct
-- How will you collect the data about specific aspects
-- How will you collect data about overall reaction/response
-- How do you plan to evaluate the data collected
-- How do you plan on presenting the data
-- How will you apply the data to your conclusions
IV. EVALUATION
After a thorough critique and evaluation of the interface, offer suggestions
for improvement. If the interface is so incredibly well done that no improvements
could possibly be made, then fully justify this opinion using what you
know about good design.
In paragraph form, briefly summarize your usability research plan (how many participants, number and type of questions, hands-on interactions, collection techniques, planned presentation of results).
Conclude with some overall suggestions for modification/enhancement/improvement of the interface.
Linking between this page and your IFSM 303 Coursework Page has already been accomplished; however, assure that the link back to the IFSM 303 Page is attractively placed, labeled and distinguished from any other links that may appear on your page.