The Aspects of Usability in Relation to the Information Obtained From Gmail Users - Research Proposal Example

Human Computer Interaction: Assignment 2 Name Institution Date Introduction The number of people using Gmail is on the increase every year. This has seen Gmail emerging as one of the leading email service provider in the world. A high number of reasons have been cited for the increased use of Gmail services. Currently, Gmail has more than 1 billion users in different parts of the world (Rutledge, 2015). Usability is an important aspect that influences the performance of any system. It determines the ease of use and ability to attract a high number of users. Continuous improvements are usually made by the companies for the purposes o ensuring that usability is improved. Gmail has made a lot of changes over the years in order to improve on its usability. In order to determine the aspects of usability, observations have to be made among the users. Observing the activities of the users can play a vital role in terms of proving information about the interaction. The paper intends to determine the usability of Gmail through observing three different users sending an email, translating and searching for emails in their inboxes. The paper thus discusses the aspects of usability in relation to the information obtained from the users. Aims and objectives To determine the efficiency of the interface in terms of its usability. To establish some of the usability challenges that the users are faced with when using the interface. To suggest the likely measures that can be put in place to improve on the challenges faced by the users. Planning stage Overview Usability is a major concern for the organizations developing applications and interfaces. This is due to the effects that it has on the users. All organizations undertake a thorough test in order to determine the usability of their interfaces (Rubin & Chisnell, 2008). However, despite the tests, some of the aspects may not be established. It is difficult for the organizations to determine all the aspects of usability as some challenges may not be anticipated during the design or testing process. It is for this reason that further observations have to be carried out even after the interface is already in use. The usability test is mainly aimed at ensuring that the interface works as intended and the average person can use it well. Most of the organizations developing interfaces usually come up with different improved versions. The new versions are usually developed as a result of the usability tests. Of main concern is the challenge that leads to frustrations among the users. The usability test plays a vital role in establishing the challenges and hence leading to the development of possible solutions (Rubin & Chisnell, 2008). It is for this reason that Gmail has a feature known as Gmail lab which is aimed at testing the usability aspects. In order to determine the usability aspects of Gmail, three participants will be involved in carrying out different tasks. Observations as well as questionnaires will be used to obtain information about their experience. This will be used to determine the challenges and propose possible solutions. Methodology Three participants who are users of Gmail will be involved in the test. Each of the users will be required to perform various tests such as sending an email and conducting an Email search using Gmail. Ordinarily, such tasks are supposed to be performed within a minute. The time taken by the respondents will be determined. While the tasks are being performed, a test monitor will be utilized. The respondents will also be using different languages and trying to use the translation option that has been provided by Gmail. The participants will be required to operate normally while using Gmail so as to ensure that accurate information about the challenges is obtained. After the exercise, the respondents will be required to fill a questionnaire. The results from the questionnaire and the observation will then be analyzed to determine the usability challenges and the likely solutions. High levels of accuracy are important during the data collection process as it ensure the intended aims and objectives are obtained (Rubin & Chisnell, 2008). A notification was put on the personal Facebook account indicating the details of the research. Volunteers who met the requirement in terms of understanding English and another language were required to participate in the research. A total of 21 volunteers indicated their interest. However only three were required and were selected based on their familiarity with emails, level of education, and experience with email as well as their academic levels. The selected participants were then notified of the date and venue. The tasks were brief and it was not intended to last for more than 30 minutes. Participants The technological advancement in the world has made the use of emails part of the daily activities (Rutledge, 2015). As a result of this, the respondents were selected randomly regardless of their gender or age. However, all the respondents are familiar with the use of Gmail. Two of the respondents are users of Gmail while one uses a different form of email. The general information of the respondents was recorded but their names were not included in the report and personal details were not. This was mainly for the purposes of ensuring that their privacy is not infringed. Consent was obtained and the participants were clearly provided with detailed information about the aims and objectives of the research. The general information about the individual respondents is as follows: 1st Participant Gender Male Age 36 years Preferred language English and Russian Highest Academic qualification Graduate degree Use of email Frequently Current type of email Gmail Experience in the se of email Average 2nd participant Gender Female Age 31 years Preferred language English and Arabic Highest Academic qualification Graduate degree Use of email Daily Current type of email Yahoo Experience in the use of email High 3rd participant Gender Male Age 27 years Preferred language English and German Highest Academic qualification Diploma Use of email At least once a month Current type of email Gmail Experience Low Required task All the three respondents were provided with Gmail account that had already been opened for the purposes of conducting the research. All the required details including the user names and passwords were provided. An image that had been saved in the computer was provided to the participants. The participants were first required to attach the image and send it to an email address that was provided to them. This activity had to be carried out in English. The second activity was also to be carried out in English was search for an old email using the search tool provided by Gmail. The last activity involved translating the Gmail page to their second language and repeating the first and second activities. This was important as Gmail has an option for more than 40 languages (Pollard, 2016). Each of the participants was also familiar with a second language which included Russian, Arabic and German. All the participants were provided with all the information regarding what they were required to do and the tasks that they were supposed to perform. After the completion of the task, the respondents were required to fill a questionnaire which was aimed at obtaining information about their experience. Questionnaire 1. How long did you take to attach and send the email in English? (Tick where appropriate) Less than 2 Minutes 5 minutes Above 5 minutes Was unable to perform the task 2. Did you face any challenge during the process of sending the email? Yes/No, If Yes please explain. 3. Were you able to use the search tool provided by Gmail? Yes/ No, If No please explain. 4. Did you find the translation effective? Yes/No, Please explain your answer. 5. What were the challenges faced if any when using the second language? 6. Was it easy or difficult to perform the tasks? Please explain. 7. What are the over challenges encountered when performing the tasks? Scenario The scenario created in the study is that of a foreigner travelling to the United States of America and intends to send picture and images to their family and friends back home. They have an understanding of English as well as their other language that is used in their home country. In the United States of America, the Gmail page is in English (Rutledge, 2015). So the foreigners have to translate to their preferred language in order to use it. They may also want to retrieve some data from their previous emails and hence the need to carry out the search on Gmail. The scenario is thus intended to provide information about the usability of Gmail and its ability to meet the needs of diverse users. Data collected and findings When sending an email, the users are required to click on the new icon before clicking on attach in order to fetch the document. The address of the recipient can then be provided before the email is sent. This process was relatively easy for all the users. All the users were able to sent the email in English within 3 three minutes. Observing the participants undertaking the process indicated that it was almost straight forward. This is a clear indication of ease of use when dealing with Gmail. All the icons are clearly indicated in Gmail which simplifies the process of carrying out different activities (Rutledge, 2015). All the participants however indicated that they were faced with some distractions when sending the email. The participants indicated that some icons kept appearing and this distracted them. Several advertisements also appeared on the screen causing distractions as they had to close them before proceeding with the process of sending the emails. A part from the challenge, the participants indicated that it was relatively easy to use Gmail in English. It was also observed that user names are period insensitive. This is after one of the participants sent two messages where a dot had mistakenly been placed a fullstop in one of the sender address. Despite the presence of the fullstop, it was still received. The presence of the sponsored links which were related to the advertisements created a specific challenge to the participants. More time was spent on closing the links as opposed to the process of sending the message. The presence of sponsored links is one of the main problems that most of the users are faced with. The advertisements as well as the sponsored links may end up taking more space than the email aspects and hence affecting usability (Pollard, 2016). One of the participants also faced a challenge in terms submitting the email address from the Gmail address to the addressee in the compose email window. The autocomplete feature was not working and the participant had to enter the full address. It is important for the autocomplete feature to work in order to improve on the usability during the process of sending the message. The process of translation was quite simple for the participants. All they had to was to click on translation and then select the language that they intended to use. This feature indicates that usability is easy in Gmail. However, similar challenges were faced by the participants when sending the email using their other language. The sponsored links as well as the advertisements were present eve when using the other languages. The search process was not too difficult for the participants. However, all the participants initially faced some challenges due to the search terms as well as methodology. One of the participants tried search the email by size and was not successful. During the search, the size of the attachments or the emails is not indicated. This has effects on usability as the users in some instances may want to delete the emails with large size attachments (Pollard, 2016). The participants were however able to find the messages they were looking for after a thorough research. One of the participants was a user of Yahoo and had never used Gmail before. However, he was able to complete all the required tasks within a period of less than 10 minutes. This is an indication that Gmail is easy to use due to its simplicity as well as features. Achieving the usability objectives is an important factor that determines the use of an interface. Generally the participants found it easy to use Gmail and its features. Discussion Gmail has good usability characteristic making it easy for the users to utilize it. The use of Gmail does not require much experience of expertise. All that is required is for the user to be able to read in their preferred language. Gmail is aware of some of the shortcomings that affect usability and it has been indicated that measures are being put in place (Venkatesh, et al, 2012). The autocomplete feature when entering the address of the receiver is a challenge that Gmail is aware of. Gmail has indicated that the autocomplete feature does not work for all the browsers (Pollard, 2016). This explains why some users cannot use the feature which is aimed at making is simple for the users to sent their emails. The presence of sponsored links and advertisements is common in most of the interfaces. Although it is present in Gmail, it is quite minimal as compared to the other interfaces. More improvements is however required in order to ensure that the number of sponsored links as well as the advertisements are reduced. The search for messages with different size of attachments is challenge for most of the Gmail users. Gmail has indicated that measures are being put in place to reduce the problem (Pollard, 2016). However, until such measures are put in place, the problem continues to be of concern among the users. The language translation feature in Gmail is however effective and it allows more users to utilize the interface. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that an interface cannot be free of weaknesses regardless of how effective it is. It is evident from the information obtained that Gmail is effective and efficient in terms of usability. The available features make it easy for the users to carry out different activities. The use of Gmail does not require much experience and expertise. The information from the participants indicates that Gmail has good usability characteristics. Despite the good usability characteristics, it has some challenges that need to be addressed. Gmail has difficulties in terms of searching for messages as well as the use of its directory. It is evident that the users may also be faced with difficulties due to the presence of advertisements and sponsored links which distracts the users. References Rutledge, P.A. (2015). Gmail Tips, Tricks and Tools: Streamline your inbox, Increase Email productivity and save hours a week. Pearson Education. Pollard, J. (2016). Gmail Tricks-Gmail Login Tips. Jordanian Journal of Computers AND Information Technology, 7(1), 90-104. Rubin, J. & Chisnell, D. (2008). Handbook of usability testing. How to plan, design, and conduct effective tests. Second Edition. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publishers Venkatesh, V. et al. (2012). Consumer acceptance and use of information technology: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. MIS quarterly, 36(1), 157-178. Read More