Usability Evaluation Plan - Research Paper Example

Usability Evaluation plan Goals of Evaluation The main goal of evaluating this project is to determine its usability, learn ability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability of the website by the end user through the provided graphical interfaces. Major areas of functionality in this prototype being viewing available furniture; purchasing any items within the items available; creating customers’ accounts; uploading recommended images; and sharing with friends, organization and customers on the chart webpage. 2. Rationale for the type of evaluation (why use Heuristic Evaluation) Heuristic evaluation studies usability level of this application and its applicability. This critically looks into the extent of how easy it is to learn its use, apply it effectively, re-familiarize with its functions, and its level of flexibility as discussed below. 2.1. Ease of learning This prototype provides a very distinct level of learn ability due to the appropriate use of Gestalt principles of proximity and similarity. The five colorful circle-shaped buttons in the home page provides quick and direct links to other web pages. 2.2. Usability Web prototype under evaluation is established with the understanding of both experienced and inexperienced end users of Web-site applications. For instance, various navigation options (on the drop-down menu and active links) are provided for use to similar pages. However a little more should be done to ensure that this application can also be accessed through simple gadgets such as smart phones for maximum usability and accessibility. 2.3. Usefulness Usefulness level of a website is determined by its main objectives and purposes for which it was developed, compared to its provisions. If the two contradicts, then it is irrelevant and not useful to either of the parties using such an application. Our case study is considered very relevant since its provisions are within its set mandates and priorities. 2.4. Flexibility In the context of this project, flexibility has the meaning of: i. Adaptability of any user to effective make good use of the functionalities provided within the application. ii. Satisfactory achievement of the aims of all users of the application. 3. Evaluation plan The evaluation criteria for this e-commerce website will consider measures such as: 3.1. Design Good and relevant designs are a plus to any e-commerce website. Well placement of pictures and illustrations (text) within a site offers marketing opportunity to the business itself. 3.2. Shopping experience E-commerce websites have all sorts of visitors. The groups of visitors include serious buyers, those who just browse through web pages and friends who wish just to chart on the website platform. Clear, concise, descriptive and easily understandable language should hence be used for efficiency and effectiveness. 3.3. Performance and usability A standard website should support quick and complete loads (upload and download) with a consistent look on all browsers. Well organized home page with concise contents, consistent navigation choices, a site map and search engines. 3.4. Catalog organization Good and highly competitive e-commerce websites must have easy-to-access product catalogues from home page with product categories being easy to understand and navigate through. Additionally, all catalog info and product pictures have to be meaningful and well organized. 3.5. Shopping-cart implementation Like the shopping protocols illustrated on the prototype, shopping-cart should actually be easy to use and understand. Ease of use is best determined by how simply a client can add to or delete items from the provided shopping cart. 3.6. Transaction processing Transaction processing entails keying-in very sensitive information i.e. customers’ physical location, bank details, full names and personal contacts. Before giving out such details, one has to consider if the site supports secure credit card transactions; payments are processed in real time; transaction process is quick enough; there exist follow-up massage/ e-mail confirmations or notifications; the order form is easy to understand and fill in; and determination of whether the site shows what is does with customers’ personal information upon request by any client. 4. Heuristic evaluation protocol overview. Heuristics/ user interface designs that will be applied in this case study evaluation will include visibility of the system status; any user control and freedoms; consistency between system and real world; error prevention techniques; recognition rather than recall; flexibility and efficiency in the use; aesthetic and minimalist of design; error recovery options; and help/ guidance documentation. 5. Appendix of the detailed Heuristic Evaluation protocol Heuristics/ user interface designs that will be applied in this case study evaluation will include visibility of the system status; any user control and freedoms; consistency between system and real world; error prevention techniques; recognition rather than recall; flexibility and efficiency in the use; aesthetic and minimalist of design; error recovery options; and help/ guidance documentation. 6. Error prevention The prototype has taken into account measures that will help to prevent errors. Options provided are the “Go back, Skip and Delete” on the page of items’ selection or ordering. However, pop-up dialogues should also be used to notify any client of the actions taken when any of the three options/ buttons is clicked on. 6.1. Visibility of the System Status Because of too much graphics/ pictures (which is a plus to the organization since it needs to display its products) a significant amount of time will be taken to load depending on connectivity wherever a user is. This may inconvenience an impatient visitor, hence not achieving his/her goals in visiting the site. 6.2. Recognition Rather than Recall This system provides quick/ direct links, through the use of the five circle-shaped buttons (picture 1) which are distinctively plotted on the home page of the Web-site, to other pages. If the user decides not to link directly to the pages as predesigned by the developer, possibility of going through other “unnecessary to the user” pages is quite high. This therefore restricts the user to fully rely/ be in the developers’ shoes for efficiency. 6.3. Flexibility and Efficiency For this particular concern, the developer had a deeper view by providing accelerators and quick links which are in most cases used by experts for reasonably faster navigations. A user, therefore, has the options to select best criteria to reach the desired page. Flexibility and efficiency are dressed by the use of drop-down menu and five circle-shaped colored buttons on the home page. 6.4. Visibility of the System Status Current location of the use is never indicated to the users throughout the site. Only experienced users can determine their positions through the use of abstract background images and titles of existing submenus. 6.5. Consistency and Standards Some pages are identified to have formats that differ from the general design of the home page. This interferes with the level of authenticity that a user may grant the whole site. Page design consistencies and standards allow users to feel comfortable and easy in moving from one page to the other. For example, home page (page 1) and page twelve (12) compared. Works Cited Molich, R., and Nielsen, J. (1990) Improving a human-computer dialogue, Communications of the ACM 33, 3 (March), 338-348. Nielsen, J., and Molich, R. (1990) Heuristic evaluation of user interfaces, Proc. ACM CHI90 Conf. (Seattle, WA, 1-5 April), 249-256 Nielsen, J. (1994a). Enhancing the explanatory power of usability heuristics Proc. ACM CHI94 Conf. (Boston, MA, April 24-28), 152-158. Nielsen, J. (1994b). Heuristic evaluation In Nielsen, J., and Mack, R.L. (Eds.), Usability Inspection Methods, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. Read More