Module 5 - Interactive System Design

What is Interactive System Design?

The process of creating systems and interfaces that facilitate effective interaction between users and technology.

What does Interactive System Design focus on?

Usability, user experience, and ensuring that the design meets users' needs and expectations.

What is Usability Engineering?

A systematic approach to improving and ensuring the usability of interactive systems and products.

How is usability defined in Usability Engineering?

The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals effectively, efficiently, and satisfactorily in a given context of use.

What are the key attributes of usability?

Effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, learnability, and memorability.

What does effectiveness in usability refer to?

The accuracy and completeness with which users can achieve specific goals.

What is meant by efficiency in usability?

The resources expended in relation to the accuracy and completeness of goal achievement, typically including the time required to complete a task.

How is satisfaction defined in the context of usability?

The level of comfort and acceptability of using the product, from the user's perspective.

What does learnability refer to in usability?

How easily a new user can accomplish basic tasks when they first encounter the system.

What is memorability in usability?

How easily a user can re-establish proficiency after not using the system for some time.

Why is Usability Engineering important?

It leads to systems that are easy to learn and use, require less training, allow users to complete tasks more quickly and accurately, and prevent costly redesigns.

What is the Usability Engineering Lifecycle?

An iterative process that integrates usability activities at different stages of the development lifecycle.

What are the key stages of the Usability Engineering Lifecycle?

User and Task Analysis, Setting Usability Goals and Requirements, Early Design and Prototyping, Usability Testing and Evaluation, Iterative Design, Final Implementation and Follow-Up.

What is involved in User and Task Analysis?

Identifying users, their goals, tasks, and the context in which they will use the product.

What methods can be used for User and Task Analysis?

Interviews, surveys, contextual inquiries, and ethnographic studies.

What is the purpose of developing user personas?

To represent different types of users and how they will interact with the product.

What are usability goals?

Specific measurable criteria for effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, learnability, and error tolerance.

Give an example of a usability goal.

Users should be able to complete task X in under 2 minutes with an error rate of less than 5%.

What is the significance of early design and prototyping in usability engineering?

To create initial versions of the product that can be tested and evaluated for usability.

What is Usability Testing?

A process of evaluating a product by testing it with real users to identify usability issues.

What is iterative design?

A design process that incorporates feedback from usability testing to refine and improve the product.

What should be considered in the final implementation and follow-up stage?

Ensuring that the product meets usability goals and gathering user feedback for future improvements.

What is a scenario in the context of User and Task Analysis?

A narrative that describes how a user will interact with the product in a specific context.

What are some user goals for an online shopping platform?

Customers want to find products quickly, compare prices, and make purchases smoothly.

What is the role of context in User and Task Analysis?

Understanding the environment and conditions under which users will interact with the product.

How can user demographics influence usability design?

Different demographics may have varying preferences and abilities that affect how they use a product.

What is the benefit of addressing usability issues early in the design process?

It prevents costly redesigns later in the development lifecycle.

What is the maximum time users should take to log a workout?

60 seconds

How many clicks should it take to navigate to the weekly workout report?

Under 3 clicks

What percentage of users should rate the app's ease of use as 4 or 5?

At least 85%

How long should new users take to set up their profiles?

Under 3 minutes

What is the maximum number of errors users should experience per task during testing?

Fewer than 2 errors

What is the purpose of creating early design prototypes?

To explore design solutions and gather feedback

What types of prototypes can be used in early design?

Low-fidelity (sketches, wireframes) and high-fidelity (interactive mockups)

What is the benefit of early testing with paper prototypes?

It helps identify major usability issues before substantial development costs are incurred

What should low-fidelity prototypes focus on?

Core user flows such as checking account balance and making transfers

What tools can be used to create wireframes?

Figma or Balsamiq

What is a high-fidelity prototype?

An interactive prototype that simulates the experience of making a payment

What is the purpose of conducting quick, informal tests with paper prototypes?

To see if users understand how to navigate the app and locate key functions

What are the goals of formal usability tests?

To observe user interactions, identify issues, and gather quantitative and qualitative data

What is the Think-Aloud Protocol in usability testing?

Users verbalize their thought processes while interacting with the product

What is Task-Based Testing?

Users perform representative tasks while observers record performance and issues

What is Remote Usability Testing?

Conducting tests remotely using screen-sharing tools

What types of quantitative data can be collected during usability testing?

Task completion rate, average time to complete tasks, and error rates

What is qualitative data in usability testing?

User feedback collected through post-task interviews or surveys

What is the iterative design process?

Refining the design based on test results and developing improved versions

What should be done after usability testing reveals issues?

Refine the design and test the new version with users

What was a major finding from Round 1 Testing in iterative design?

Users struggled to find the 'Book Now' button due to clutter

What changes were made based on user feedback in iterative design?

Moved the 'Book Now' button to a more prominent location and simplified the homepage

What is the goal of Round 2 Testing in iterative design?

To see if changes resolve issues found in the first round

What is the main focus of usability testing for a ride-hailing app?

To observe how users book a ride and identify any confusion or errors

How can remote usability testing benefit the testing process?

It allows testing across different locations and devices

What is the significance of collecting both quantitative and qualitative data?

It provides a comprehensive understanding of user experience and satisfaction

What is the first step in the usability engineering lifecycle?

Implement the final design and monitor usability through surveys, feedback forms, and customer support inquiries.

What should be done after launching an educational platform?

Continue to collect feedback through user surveys and support tickets.

What is the purpose of a Continuous Improvement Plan in usability engineering?

To address ongoing usability issues and adapt the design as new requirements arise.

What is heuristic evaluation?

A usability inspection method where experts evaluate the interface based on a set of usability principles (heuristics).

What are Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics?

A set of principles used in heuristic evaluation, including consistency, feedback, and error prevention.

What does a cognitive walkthrough analyze?

The system's ease of learning by stepping through representative tasks from a new user's perspective.

What types of data are collected during usability testing?

Quantitative data (task completion time, error rates) and qualitative data (user feedback, observations).

What is the System Usability Scale (SUS)?

A standardized questionnaire used to collect subjective usability ratings from users.

What is task completion rate?

The percentage of users who successfully complete a task.

What does time on task measure?

The time taken to complete a task, with shorter times indicating better efficiency.

What is the significance of error rate in usability metrics?

It measures the number of errors made during task performance, indicating usability issues.

How is learnability assessed in usability metrics?

By measuring the time taken for new users to reach a predefined level of proficiency.

What is cognitive load in usability studies?

Assessed through secondary task performance or subjective scales to understand user mental effort.

What is the primary purpose of a usability study?

To evaluate a product's ease of use, efficiency, and overall user satisfaction.

How can usability studies be conducted?

At different stages of product development to ensure alignment with user needs and expectations.

What is the benefit of identifying usability problems early?

It reduces the need for costly redesigns, shortens training time, and improves product acceptance.

What is the role of surveys in usability studies?

To gather information about user preferences, behaviors, and experiences through structured questions.

What is a focus group in usability studies?

A group of users discussing their experiences and needs regarding a product or service, guided by a facilitator.

What is the importance of user feedback in usability engineering?

It helps adapt the design to meet user needs and improve overall usability.

What are common usability metrics used to measure user satisfaction?

Post-task or post-test questionnaires that provide insights into user satisfaction.

What is the significance of monitoring key usability metrics?

To ensure that the platform evolves with user needs and improves usability over time.

What is the expected outcome of a usability study?

To understand how well users can perform their tasks and gather feedback for design improvements.

What is the relationship between usability studies and product acceptance?

Effective usability studies lead to user-friendly products that are more readily accepted in the market.

What is the role of customer support inquiries in usability monitoring?

To gather insights on usability issues and user experiences post-launch.

What is the focus of continuous improvement in usability engineering?

To introduce design tweaks or larger updates based on ongoing user feedback.

What is contextual inquiry?

A method where researchers observe users in their natural environment while interacting with a product, conducting interviews for real-time feedback.

Give an example of contextual inquiry.

Observing medical staff using hospital management software in a busy healthcare setting to uncover workflow issues.

What are ethnographic studies in usability research?

A method where researchers embed themselves in the user's environment for an extended period to observe behaviors and understand product engagement.

Provide an example of ethnographic studies.

A researcher follows farmers using agricultural technology over a farming season to identify pain points.

What are field studies in usability research?

Field studies involve observing users in their real-world environment without direct interaction or interviews.

Give an example of field studies.

Observing office workers using new project management software during a regular workday.

What is the main objective of usability testing?

To identify usability issues, understand user behavior, and gather qualitative and quantitative data for design improvement.

What questions does usability testing aim to answer?

Can users complete tasks easily? What usability issues do they encounter? Which parts of the interface cause confusion? How satisfied are users?

Provide an example of task-based testing.

Users are asked to find a specific product, add it to the cart, and check out on an e-commerce site.

What is the think-aloud protocol?

Users verbalize their thoughts and decision-making processes while performing tasks, helping researchers understand their navigation choices.

Give an example of the think-aloud protocol.

A user interacting with a mobile banking app expresses uncertainty about a button's function, revealing a labeling issue.

Provide an example of remote usability testing.

Participants from different countries perform tasks on a travel booking website while their interactions are recorded remotely.

What is A/B testing?

A method that compares two or more versions of a feature to see which performs better, commonly used for design comparisons.

Give an example of A/B testing.

Testing two versions of a 'Buy Now' button on an e-commerce site to determine which color results in more purchases.

What are eye-tracking studies?

Studies that use technology to track where users look on the screen, identifying visual focus areas and potential confusion.

Provide an example of eye-tracking studies.

Using eye-tracking to see if users are drawn to a call-to-action button or if they overlook important information on a landing page.

When is heuristic evaluation typically conducted?

Before formal usability testing to catch obvious issues early.

What is acceptance testing?

A critical phase in the software development lifecycle that verifies whether a product meets specified requirements and is ready for deployment.

What is the primary goal of acceptance testing?

To evaluate the system's readiness for delivery by determining if it meets both functional and non-functional requirements.

What happens if acceptance testing is successful?

The product is deemed ready for release.

What happens if acceptance testing fails?

The development team must address the issues, retest, and go through the acceptance phase again until the system meets the acceptance criteria.

What is User Acceptance Testing (UAT)?

Testing performed by end-users or customers to validate that the system meets their needs and works as expected in real-world scenarios.