early software prototyping for usability tests using low cost tools for teaching purposes
DESCRIPTION
In Proceedings of the INTED2011 (International Technology, Education and Development Conference) held in Valencia (Spain) on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March, 2011.TRANSCRIPT
Early Software Prototyping forUsability tests using low cost toolsfor teaching purposes
Benedikt SalzbrunnMichael TesarKerstin StöckelmayrRobert Pucher
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Contents
Introduction– Motivation, teaching Usability & UCD
Centerpiece– Classification of prototypes, prototyping tools, practical
example
Conclusion– Experiences, future directions
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Motivation
Users refuse to use software designed from a solely technical point of view
Examples like iPhone® or iPad® are suitable to convince a large community that it is not the technical solution by itself
Difficult to use products get into troubles immediately when essentially easier to use products show up
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Teaching Usability Engineering and UCD
Bachelor programs– Computer Science
4th semester: User Centered Design 5th semester: Software Usability (elective course)
– Business Informatics 5th semester: Software Usability (elective course)
Master programs– Game Engineering and Simulation
3rd semester: Human Computer Interfaces and Usability
– Multimedia and Software Engineering 2nd semester: Software Usability Basics (elective course)
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Classification of prototypes
Low- vs. high-fidelity prototypes
Horizontal vs. vertical
Characterization besides fidelity– purpose of the prototype, product type, project type and
phase of the project– visual refinement, breadth of functionality, depth of
functionality, richness of interactivity and richness of data model
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Prototyping tools
Commercial vs. non-commercial software solutions Office-suites
– OpenOffice, iWork® and Microsoft® Office® Programming environments
– Microsoft® Small Basic®– Microsoft® Expression Blend®
Graphical tools– GIMP– Inkscape
Special usability software
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Practical Example
Project goals– Development of a user interface for text and video
communication via television– Make video calls, join videoconferences, read on screen
messages, simple calendar function– Target group of potential users: senior citizens who want to
stay in contact with their friends, relatives and families Team
– 11 students (8 bachelor’s degree students and 3 master’s degree students)
– 2 lecturers from the Department of Computer Science
User Profiling
Ensuring user friendliness and adequacy of the user interface
Women and men above the age of 60 years Capability of reading (in order to follow on-screen
instructions) Understanding of the system language (German) Possible physical or mental limitations Disease(s) which affect the use of technical equipment Technology-remote users
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User Centered Design Process
Explorative / Iterative approach
Existing interface was never shown
List of required features
Design of multiple paper prototypes in small groups
Repeated presentation and review
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User Centered Design Process
Radial and constantly present menu emerged as a central control
number of menu levels was set to a maximum of two
sub-menu concepts have again been designed in small groups
proposals were transferred into Microsoft® PowerPoint® slideshow with over 300 individual images
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User Centered Design Process
Review of the low-fidelity computer based prototype– Tests with five subjects out of the designated target group
aged between 61 and 68 years– Some design elements and wordings have been revised
Prototype redesign and finalization– Microsoft® Small Basic® for
interactivity– Pop ups, error messages and event
simulation– Remote control design
CallMedication
Call lists
Messages
Welcome
1 new message3 missed calls
Call
CallBack
Family & Friends:
Karli
Meinrad
Anneliese-Maria
Nachrichten
Hang up Accept
Sonjacalling
Addcontact
Sonja
Hang up
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Final Usability evaluation
Tests with a total of twelve people; all tests were performed in senior living communities
Tests were conducted on a laptop and an LCD TV Participants were faced with the challenge to complete four
main tasks
The overall impression of the prototype was positive The simple design of the remote control was received well Linguistic arrangement, neutral wording and the selected
symbols were considered suitable
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Project experiences
Iterative development process
High level of quality throughout the whole project lifetime
Detailed user profiling is crucial
Two steps of usability evaluation turned outadequate and necessary
Choice of appropriate test environments is important
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Conclusion and future directions
Teaching students UCD and Usability Engineering in Computer Science degree programs is mandatory
Large choice of cost efficient and easy to useprototyping tools
Solutions vary in terms of prototype functionality, design and later software integration
Importance of prototyping tool choice needs to be taught– Integration of Usability prototyping into current courses– Development of new courses for additional degree programs
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Thank you for your attention
If there are any questions please
do not hesitate asking them
Benedikt Salzbrunn
Department of Computer Science
University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
www.technikum-wien.at