Usability evaluation - Essay Example

?Usability Evaluation Introduction Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is a recognized branch of computer engineering which defines various standards toensure a safe, effective, efficient, appealing and enjoyable user experience while interacting with a computer application or surfing over the internet. Closely related to HCI is the field of usability engineering which ensures user friendliness through effective and efficient Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) or Web Interfaces. Carroll has narrated the aims and objectives of HCI in these words, “HCI is the study and practice of usability. It is about understanding and creating software and other technology that people will want to use, will be able to use, and will find effective when used” (Carroll, 2002). The intelligent web design is an inevitable business necessity in this age of e-commerce. More often than not better and efficient web design is a matter of existence for businesses. Carey has pointed out the importance of user-friendliness in web applications, “Businesses must pay attention to the functionality and usability of Internet-based tasks, because the young consumers of tomorrow’s markets will insist on doing business on the Internet and will be intolerant of dysfunctional and unusable systems.” (Carey et. al., 2003, p.360). Usability Evaluation Methods The methodical approach is a mandatory requirement for evaluating web pages. Heuristic Evaluation, Think-aloud and Performance testing are few among these evaluation methods. Each of these methods uses predefined rules to evaluate the website for its ease-of-use and other usability characteristics and have its relative accuracy in evaluating web sites usability. We can also employ a blend of these methods for evaluation purpose which may give us better insight into various met and unmet evaluation standards. This report will use a discounted heuristic method blended with think-aloud method where needed. The discounted heuristic blended with think-aloud will result in a protocol which will assess the website resources for a predefined set of heuristics and the same set of heuristics may be questioned from the naive users of think-aloud method. Usability Evaluation 1. Resource-I (http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/) a) Consistency of presentation and controls i. The home page of Sentencing Council is loosely consistent. The hovering effect of various controls is not consistent, on top level links of Home, Contact us etc. it is simple underlining with same text displayed as the feedback to the user the effect is background color change in menu controls like “About the Sentencing Council”, “About Sentencing”, etc. Similarly, the punctuation is not consistent at the site. ii. Blue and Gray colors are used consistently but there are used interchangeably i.e for headings and subheadings. iii. The overall impact of the color scheme and the text is consistent. Font size and style remained consistent over the home page. iv. Image used on home page is not tightly linked with the theme of the site. A keyboard with papers on it does not present a sentencing council perfectly. v. A quite large image of interrogation sign used at home page is a bit misleading it does not take you anywhere and creates a sort frustration for the user. b) Adequate Feedback i. There is not enough feedback provided to the user on home page. ii. Hovering is used to show the expected next click of the user but it is not clearly told where this click may navigate the user. iii. The hovering screen tip text is same as that of the label so it does not provide any additional information to the user. c) Natural organization of the information i. The information on the page is well managed ii. A clear page heading, subheadings, labels and menu bar, title heading are provided to clearly define various sections of information. iii. Each section of site provides only related information d) Contextual navigation i. There is enough contextual navigation available on the home page but without any feedback. e) Efficient navigation i. Use of navigation is effective and efficient ii. Local Navigation links are provided for presumably every section of the site iii. Search navigation is also provided to locate a desirable section of the site iv. Local and External Navigation are provided separately v. User can quickly navigate back to home page by clicking at the logo. vi. Site map also provide efficient navigation. f) Clear and meaningful labels i. Labeling is not concise and descriptive e.g. “We would like to hear from your views” is not a concise label. g) Robustness i. The home page loads in a quick fashion ii. Local navigation is quick and robust iii. The search link also provides robust access to a page in the depths of hierarchy. h) Flexibility i. The structure of website is non-hierarchical which provides better flexibility for navigating around the site. ii. Despite being flexible the user is not lost in the information and various options are available to him for moving back to a desired location. iii. The use of contextual navigation is adding flexibility to the site. i) Functionality i. The website is providing enough functionality. ii. Additional functionality does not add complexity and the site retains its character of ease-of-use and simplicity. iii. Searching provides better usability. iv. The external links also add on an important functionality and give user the liberty of navigating away from the site. 2. A summary of analysis The site for Sentence Council is a relatively simple website. The overall theme of the site is simple and information is presented in a straight forward manner. The most important feature of searching makes the navigation easy and affordable. The design and consistency requirement are not of highest standard however they include a purposeful use of controls while ensuring some level consistency. Feedback helps and guides the user through various steps required for completing a task. The site has used the natural organization of information intelligently. The contextual navigation is also used effectively to provide immediate additional links that may be local or external. 3. Recommendations The website is providing sufficient functionalities and is designed with cool colors. Some consistency lapses are required to be addressed. Manu font style and size should be different and prominent then the running text in the body of the web page. Meaningful graphic should be added at home page to enhance its appeal. Usability Evaluation 1. Resource-II (http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/compensation-schemes/index.htm) a) Consistency of presentation and controls i. The home page of Justice is poorly consistent in its presentation. There are various font sizes used at the interface. Consistency is used where it should have been avoid e.g. all the bulleted list have same bullet which does not create a good impression. ii. The font color of some headings is gray while for others it is black. iii. The use of colors is not appropriate as site is intensely grayed out. Even the logo does not stand out on the home page. iv. The overall impact of the color scheme and the text is consistent. But it does not engage user and have less appeal. v. The images used at home page are over stressed. vi. The controls are largely consistent. b) Adequate Feedback i. The home page does not provide much feedback to the user. ii. Icons are not labeled iii. No screen tips are provided. iv. Too much information with minimum feedback creates confusion and frustration. c) Natural organization of the information i. Most of the space is occupied by images ii. Most of it information is only visible after scrolling down the page. iii. Page is not organized in a familiar fashion. iv. Only search can help effectively to find a desired location. d) Contextual navigation i. Enough contextual navigation is available on the home page. e) Efficient navigation i. Use of navigation is effective and efficient ii. Local Navigation links are provided for presumably every section of the site iii. Extended Search navigation is also provided to locate a desirable section of the site. User can search a specific section of the website. iv. External Navigation links, like a link to the YouTube, Facebook etc. are also provided for easy external navigation v. Other useful external links are provided separately under the section “On this website” vi. User can quickly navigate back to home page from anywhere in site by clicking at the Justice logo. vii. The absence of Site map is intensely noticed. f) Clear and meaningful labels i. Labels are used purposefully ii. No obvious theme or objective statement is introduced for the site. iii. Labeling is concise and clear g) Robustness i. The home page loads with a delay of few seconds and this create botheration. ii. Local navigation is quick and robust iii. The search link also provides robust access to a page in the depths of hierarchy. h) Flexibility i. The structure of website is non-hierarchical which provides better flexibility for navigating around the site ii. Absence of site map is a great navigational lose. iii. Search or home page navigation. iv. A-Z listing extend flexibility v. The use of contextual navigation is adding complexity to the site. i) Functionality i. The website is providing enough functionality as far the depth of the subject is concerned ii. The additional functionality does not improve the overall structure and the site retains its character of complexity. iii. The searching is an important functionality that is available at site. The extended search uses partitioning approach for better usability. iv. The external links also add on an important functionality and give user the liberty of navigating away from the site. 2. A summary of analysis The Justice site has several issues of design, robustness and feedback. The design is not very effective and various sections of the site are not structured to enhance the usability. However the navigation, labeling and functional support of the website is relatively better and can be further improved. Unambiguous and purposeful labels are very important in web designing. Labels have tones and these tones should follow the theme of the site. Labels are used effectively at the site. Today, the response time for web page is diminishing to seconds and if a web page is not uploaded or displayed quickly there are only fewer chances of user tolerance. Heavy objects especially at home page should be avoided to ensure robustness of the website. 3. Recommendations The website is required to be more robust and stress on the graphics is required to be rationalized. The flash movie at home page either should be removed or its quality should be improved to ensure its quick uploading and robustness. The graphics should be provided at linked page instead of displaying them at home page. The color combination at site is required to be revisited to incorporate some aesthetic touch at the website. Usability Evaluation 1. Resource-III (http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1) a) Consistency of presentation and controls i. The website is fairly consistent in its presentation. The headings, labels and section labels are consistent in their appearance, size, color etc. ii. All section are consistent is their rectangle areas and bulleted lists b) Adequate Feedback i. Most of the links to other pages are underlined when hovered. ii. Screen tips are not utilized for feedback. c) Natural organization of the information i. The information on the page is well managed and grouped ii. Information are clearly divided into panes iii. Each pane has a consistent data organization. iv. Each section of site provides only related information d) Contextual navigation i. On-the-spot navigation to related information is used where appropriate ii. No external links are available at the site. iii. Backward navigation is possible within site which is a good example of pair navigation. e) Efficient navigation i. Use of navigation is effective and efficient ii. Local Navigation links are provided for presumably every section of the site iii. Search navigation is also provided to locate a desirable section of the site iv. A complete “Sitemap” is provided to locate information. v. User can quickly navigate back to home page from anywhere in site by clicking at the Local Government logo. f) Clear and meaningful labels i. Labels are clear and meaningful ii. Labeling is concise and descriptive e.g. “Working together”, “Features” etc. g) Robustness i. Despite having many images home page loads quickly. ii. Local navigation is quick and robust iii. The search link also provides robust access to a page in the depths of hierarchy. iv. Sitemap also speeds up searches h) Flexibility i. The structure of website is non-hierarchical which provides better flexibility for navigating around the site. ii. Despite being flexible the user is no complexity is noted in the finding the required information. Various options are available to moving around through sitemap, search, home page navigation or other local links. iii. Contextual navigation also adds flexibility to the site. i) Functionality i. The website is providing enough functionality that a user may require. ii. The additional functionality does not add complexity and the site retains its character of ease-of-use and simplicity. iii. The searching is an important functionality that is available at site. The extended search provides better usability. iv. Sitemap provides search and navigation freedom. 2. A summary of analysis The site for Local Government is a good example of user friendly websites. The site is fairly large with an enormous amount of information to be presented by the site. However, the information is organized in such a manner that provides utmost flexibility to the user. The site is aesthetically beautiful and appealing. The organized presentation of information engages the user attention and further exploration keeps him interested. User finds it extremely easy to find a required piece of information using the excellent site navigation. The ease-of-use in accessing and finding information is supported by the search and indexing functionality. Contextual navigation is used intelligently to ensure instant exploration of required information, Kalbach has pointed the same, “Contextual Navigation does not support known-item seeking well, it support exploration and may point people to new information. From a business standpoint contextual navigation provides opportunities for up sell.” (Kalbach, 2007, p.93). 3. Recommendations The website requires the addition of some extended functionalities and usability techniques to ensure even better user experience. Menu bar is static and it can be converted into a dynamic menu bar to contain dynamic objects. For example “Political groups” may contain a list of these groups to navigation directly to the detail view of the group. White space at the top may be squeezed to provide more space to object available at the bottom of the site. Enhancement of contextual navigation can extend the usability of the site. There should be more in-line links for related information at other pages and external websites. 1. Resource-IV (http://www.defra.gov.uk/crc/) a) Consistency of presentation and controls i. The home page of Commissioner for Rural Communities (CRC) site is simple and consistent. There are no discrepancies among color, font style and size. Because the site is fairly simple therefore a simple tone is adopted in design which suits the presentation of limited information. However, the left pane is offering the same links as menu bar and this redundancy is needless. ii. Use of light colors is appropriate and soothing. iii. The overall impact of the color scheme and the text is consistent. iv. The image used at home page reflects theme of the site. v. The controls are consistent. b) Adequate Feedback i. The home page does not provide much feedback except hovering effects. ii. No screen tips are provided. c) Natural organization of the information i. There is not much information on Home page. ii. Page is organized in typical right, left, top, bottom pane with one central pane. iii. Site A-Z provide site index. iv. Other related sites are provided in a combo box at the top of site. d) Contextual navigation i. A link to the old website is provided through contextual navigation. e) Efficient navigation i. Sufficient navigation is available to perform required tasks. ii. “Site A-Z” provides the indexed search and navigation functionality. iii. External Navigation links to other sites of local government are provided in a combo box. iv. User can quickly navigate back to home page from anywhere in site by clicking at the CRC logo. f) Clear and meaningful labels iv. Labeling is concise and clear g) Robustness iv. The home page loads robustly. v. Local navigation is quick and robust vi. The search link also provides robust access to a page in the depths of hierarchy. h) Flexibility vi. The non-hierarchical structure of the site is quite flexible and quick. vii. Search or home page navigation ensures flexible movement with website. viii. A-Z listing extends this flexibility ix. The use of contextual navigation is adding flexibility to the site. i) Functionality v. All necessary functionalities are supported by the website vi. The overall structure of the site retains it character of usability. vii. A-Z indexing enhances functionality and usability. viii. The external links also add on an important functionality and give user the liberty of accessing external resources. 2. A summary of analysis The CRC website has a simple design. Simple functionalities ensure robustness of tasks. Site provides basic navigational links and functional support. Unambiguous and purposeful labels are used selectively. 3. Recommendations The website does not require extended functionalities and all basic functions are supported. The external links may be extended to include coverage of department at social networking sites. References Carey Jane, Dennis Galletta, Jinwoo Kim, Dov Te’eni, Barbara Wildemuth and Ping Zhang 2004, The role of human-computer interaction in management information systems curricula: A call to action, Vol 13, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, viewed 14 May, 2011, Carroll M. John, 2002, Human-Computer Interaction: in the new Millennium, Pearson Education Inc., New Delhi, India. Kalbach James, 2007, Optimizing the user experience: Designing web navigation, O’Reilly Media Inc., CA, USA. Read More