CS 213 MIDTERMS

interaction

to accomplish a goal within an application domain. They take place between the user and the system

Input language

is translated to the system’s core

language as operations to be performed

Goal

desired output

Tasks

operations to be performed to manipulate the domain. must be articulated within the input

language

Task Analysis

identification of the problem space for the user in

terms of domain, goals, intentions, and tasks

System

refers to the computer-based system

Core language

language of the computer-based system

User

refers to the person, formulates a goal and a task to achieve that goal

Task language

User’s language

Frameworks

are meant to be means of judging overall usability of an interactive system

Controller-display relationships

• CD relationship

• Sometimes called mappings

• Relationship between what a user does and how the system responds

• Should be natural, seamless, efficient, and intuitive

Types of mappings

• Spatial

• Gain and transfer functions

• Latency

• Property sensed and order of control

Transfer function

nonlinear relationship between C and D

CD gain and transfer function

Ratio between movement of the controller and movement of the display.

Latency

Delay between input action and corresponding display

Human actions

touching, tapping, grasping, moving, pushing, flicking, squeezing

Property sensed by controller

position, displacement

Modes

A functioning arrangement or condition

The mobile context

Introduced many different forms of interaction that were previously not available for desktops

Usability

An approach to product development that incorporates direct user feedback throughout the development cycle to reduce costs and create products and tools that meet user needs.

User experience

Individual’s entire interaction with the thing, as well as thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that result from that interaction

Metric

Way of measuring or evaluating a particular phenomena or thing.

Usability metrics

Reveal something about the user experience. Measure something about people and their behaviors and attitudes

Formative studies

• What aspects of the product

work well for users? What do

they find frustrating?

• What are the most common

errors and mistakes that the

users commit?

Summative studies

• Did we meet the usability goals of the product?

• How does the product compare against that of competitors?

Performance

Relates to what the user

does with the product.

• Time to perform a task

• Number of clicks

• Number of errors

Satisfaction

What the user thinks

about his/her interaction

with the product

• Visually appealing

• Trustworthy

• Confusing

• Frustrating

Completing a transaction

Can the user complete a

transaction?

• Examine

• Task success

• Drop off rate

• Issue severity

Comparing products

How does your product

compare against the

competition’s?

• Examine

• Task completion

• Efficiency

• Satisfaction

Evaluating frequent use of the same product

How easy is it to use an

everyday product over

and over?

• Examine

• Task time

• Learnability

• Number of steps

Evaluating navigation or information architecture

Can participants find a

piece of information?

• Examine

• “Lostness”

Participants aware of a feature or

a new piece of information?

Examine

• Number of interactions with

the new element

• Participants’ recall of the new

feature

• Eye-tracking

Problem discovery

What are the major

usability issues of the

product?

• Examine

• Issues that arise during

the use of the product

Maximizing usability for a critical product

Can the possibility of

error be eliminated?

• Examine

• Number of errors made

while performing a task

• Task success

Creating an overall positive user experience

Is the product engaging?

• Examine

• Satisfaction

• Exceeding expectations

• Physiological metrics

(levels of arousal)

Evaluating subtle changes

What effect do subtle design changes have on the user experience?

• Examine

• User feedback

• Differences in behavior among groups exposed to slightly different versions of

the same software

Comparing alternative designs

Which design works

best?

• Examine

• Issues arising from the

use of one design over

another

• Performance

• Satisfaction

Personas

• Gamer vs non-gamer

• Literate vs non-literate

• Blue collar worker vs white collar worker

• Stroke patient

• People with dementia

• People with autism spectrum disorder

• OFW

• Working student

User profile

Describe your user in a way that is relevant to the task.

Single-room

• Test monitor has close contact

with participant

• Sense of teamwork

• Test monitor can provide

encouragement

• Test monitor’s behavior can

affect the test

• Limited space for observers

Modified single-room

• Test monitor is more free to move

about, take notes, etc.

• Remains within visual proximity to the

participant

• Participant not isolated

• Setup encourages participant to think

aloud

• Loss of proximity

• Participant can feel uneasy

• Limited space for observers

Electronic observation room

• All the advantages of single-

room setup

• Observers get to view the test

without worrying about

interfering

• Test monitor can affect the

participant

• Logistically difficult

Classic laboratory setup

• Unobtrusive data collection

• Testing staff can communicate

freely

• Many observers

• Very impersonal

• Limited view of screen

• Not suitable for exploratory tests

Test monitor

• In charge of the actual test

• Oversees testing

• Greets, interacts, and debriefs the

participant

• Compiles and communicates test

results

Data logger

• Classifies critical activities and events

of a test into coded categories

• Assigns codes to expected activities of

interest

• Makes sure that actions are easily

identifiable

Timers

• Keep track of the beginning and

ending time

• Often performed by the camera

operator

Video recording operators

• Adjusting and operating the camera

• Ensuring test materials are visible

Product experts

• Familiar with the product under

review

• Can intervene if there are technical

problems

Test observers

Anyone who attends