Windows 10 Inspection Tests - Essay Example

UX/UI Inspection Test

There is rapid development in the personal computing and technology sector accompanied by advancements in user interfaces that seek to improve user experiences when engaging with the digital products. These tools provide a form of interaction between the user and the personal computer or mobile device, considering that machines and humans use different languages. User Interface (UI) refers to the points through which users and computers interact and communicate (Bernstein, n.d.). A UI, therefore, allows people to perform various functions using computerized processors. However, the user interface can result in either positive or negative user experiences depending on the design. This challenge necessitates that design teams ensure that they follow specific protocols that provide for effectiveness and ease of use of the final product by clients. User Experience (UX), therefore, is a process that interface developers use in creating meaningful and relevant products for users extending to cover pleasure, efficiency, and fun (Interaction Design Foundation, n.d.). The goal of UX designers is not only to ensure usability but also to create a product that users will be happy to use. One such product is Microsoft's Windows 10, which represents the firm's effort to improve users' experience and usability continually. This version is widely used and comes with new features hence the need to evaluate its strengths and faults. The operating system (OS) powers a majority of computers worldwide, making it quite popular with businesses (Statt, 2015). The widespread usage of the system makes an evaluation necessary to improve the experience for the many users. An inspection of the software will also provide a framework through which firms can implement changes if it deems appropriate. The system's assessment will uncover flaws and enable the developers to correct them through updates or newer versions and prevent future mistakes in similar projects. Therefore evaluation is an essential part of the development and implementation of a user interface that ensures a pleasant user experience.

The Usability Concepts Used to Inspect Windows 10

Visibility

Visibility is an essential principle that allows for the usability of any interface as users need to perceive how they can communicate with the system through the sense of sight and is well executed in windows 10 through Action Center, Status bar, and Taskbar. The software allows for seamless communication between the user and the computer through the Action Center, which is a set of controls on the right side of the screen, designed to locate, set and manage tools, files and devices conveniently. For instance, it provides access to functions like search, settings, devices, and share. This tool, therefore, is beneficial as it provides solutions quickly, thereby improving users’ experience. The status bar, on the other hand, provides feedback on the operations in the computer. Communication of the computer's current state guides the user to take appropriate actions that will lead to the accomplishment of the intended tasks. For example, when you click the print screen, you will be notified that the screenshot has been saved. This is vital because users need to know whether their commands were executed or not, as this helps them in deciding the next cause of action. Furthermore, the taskbar contributes to the good score of the OS on the visibility metrics. The taskbar is designed to allow personalization of the desktop so that you can change the icon to match your priorities. This is implemented through the task view button that can be used to add or remove objects on the desktop. These attributes generally help in improving user experience when using Windows 10 and visibility as a principle of user interface design.

Ease of Use

The designers of Windows 10 implemented functions that make it easy to use. Ease of use allows users to accomplish their tasks efficiently and within a short period. For instance, there is an option to customize the software to match one's priorities. This personalization reduces the bulk of functions that a user doesn’t need, thereby allowing them to focus on what’s essential and desirable to them. Additionally, the OS has a personal assistant tool called the Cortana. This tool helps in locating files, setting up reminders, answering general questions, and finding solutions to challenging tasks. What makes Cortana practical is its ability to provide feedback through an interactive window that allows users to take various actions. A personal assistant tool, therefore, makes Windows 10 easy to use and friendly to users. Another aspect of the software that makes it usable is the option to create shortcuts in various locations. The use of shortcuts makes it easier to access specific files, tools, and functions. For instance, a user can create shortcuts in the desktop, taskbar, or start menu. The creation of shortcuts reduces the route that users have to pass while performing regular duties, reducing the effort and time required for a task.

Consistency

A digital product that behaves differently with similar prompts fails on the consistency metric, as is the case with Windows 10, which has a mix of icons, partial release of updates, and varying outcomes for similar commands. Uniformity is a critical element in the user design interface of any digital product and dictates that apps and software should operate in a similar manner in order to allow for the predictability of outcomes, thereby creating familiarity, control, and reliability (Riva, 2018). A lack of uniformity in Windows 10, therefore, results in confusion due to a lack of predictability. This lack of uniformity is mainly seen through the difference in the OS as many icons are originally from previous versions of the software, including Windows 8 and 7, while others are new. The current program uses fluent language, yet some apps look the same since the Windows 7 era, like the Windows explorer. This combination of languages makes the Windows 10 inconsistent and aesthetically unappealing, thereby diminishing the user experience. Moreover, the software scores poorly on this aspect because the same commands can give different results at different times. This inconsistency limits the usability of the operating software because procedures of issuing commands are not clear. For instance, the presence of both the control panel and settings app with shared functions reduces uniformity. Therefore, a lack of consistency is a significant downside for Windows 10. Additionally, Microsoft has repeatedly released updates to a small community of users before rolling it out to all the computers. For example, Windows 10 updates are not received by everyone at once. While this is essential for testing purposes, it results in a lot of differences for the same OS across computers worldwide.

Usable Privacy Component

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Personally, Identifiable information refers to any data that can identify an individual. This data, when combined with other sets, can expose an individual’s identity either entirely or partially. The ability to recognize an individual may lead to fraud or identity theft by criminals. For instance, passport information can reveal an individual’s identity, while other cues such as location may expose the person’s race (Bernstein, n.d.). Personally, identifiable information should be protected at all costs to avoid associated negative consequences.

Windows 10 is a product whose management of personal user information is controversial. The operating software design allows the firm to record data and profile users to accomplish its objectives. For instance, the Windows 10 infrastructure links to Microsoft servers and can collect information from personal computers (Auerbach, 2015). The communication is dangerous because the end-user has no control over how this information is stored and utilized.

Within the software, Cortana is another element that can send personally identifiable information to Microsoft. For the personal assistant to operate well, it has to collect data that gives it a unique experience. This information includes voice, calendar, and contacts (Micu, 2015). A combination of this data could identify users' identity, although this is not the original goal for collecting the data.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Responsibility

The General Data Protection Regulation is a comprehensive data protection legislation that covers data use in Europe. This new law affects all firms that operate on the continent and gives users the right to be notified of data breaches and access to their information. It also directs businesses to delete the data if requested by the user failure to which it can pay huge penalties. (Greengard, 2018). The GDPR, therefore, gives a lot of control to clients on the management of their data.

Consequently, Microsoft has to redesign Windows 10 to allow for the protection of personal information in line with the General Data Protection Policy. As it stands, the firm’s privacy policy is vague and can be misused, thereby risking the security of the information. The current plan gives the technology firm express rights to transfer data from a Pc and use this information without seeking user consent and does not allow them to delete the sets of data when they want (Auerbach, 2015). The Windows 10 user interface, therefore, has to be updated to meet the new requirements.

How the Internet Affects Privacy in General and in Windows 10

The activities that are performed by individuals regularly on the internet and the use of Windows 10 expose them to potential data security breaches. The need to sell, buy, or even simply search for information through the internet necessitates that clients disclose some personal information. In doing this, users leave traces of information that may be collected by firms for later use (Martin, 2015). When this data is left behind, it is dangerous because irresponsible businesses may misuse it, leading to security breaches. Additionally, the use of personal data can later have negative consequences for users and can violate existing privacy laws. Any legal or illegal transfer of the information may be used by unauthorized persons to commit crimes such as identity theft and fraud. Currently, many companies engage in data mining. Selling of data can lead to adverse effects on online communities and violates the current expectation of privacy, even without any visible harm (Martin, 2015). The internet, therefore, provides a platform for breaching the privacy of individuals.

Windows 10 can compromise a user’s security through the collection of browsing history, targeted advertising, and recording location information. The location data can expose users to danger and identity theft while browsing history violates their privacy by exposing users to unsolicited advertisements. The software, in its default setting, sends geographic information and a record of users’ online activities to Microsoft servers (Auerbach, 2015). Therefore, individuals need to personalize the settings as a way of ensuring the security of their data. Furthermore, the policy guiding the use of the software allows the firm to disclose user information to third parties. While this may be necessary for providing customized services to clients, it may be challenging to determine the boundary between these unique services and privacy breaches. Microsoft’s policy allows for the firm to collect, store, reveal the data to third parties when it deems necessary to protect the client (Forest, 2015). There are risks associated with this policy because criminals can misuse it for financial gains.