Heuristics

1. Heuristics • Basis • Evaluators • Qualifications • Training • Preparation • Scenario • Results • List of problems • Severity • Group synthesis

2. A Wealth of Heuristics • Nielsen, 1994 – general HCI • Williams – Display Design • Spyradakis – Understandable Content • Farkas – Navigation Design • Mullet – Visual Design • Simpson, 1985 – general HCI • Schneiderman, 1992 – general HCI • Dumas, 1988 - general HCI • Redish, 1988 – document design • Horton, 1990 – online documentation • Xerox Heuristic Evaluation Checklist

3. Heuristics • Nielsen’s List • Visibility of system status • Match between system and real world (speak users’ language) • User control and freedom (emergency exit) • Consistency and standards • Error prevention (design to discourage errors) • Recognition rather than recall (make objects visible) • Flexibility and efficiency of use (accelerators for experts) • Aesthetic and minimalist design (avoid irrelevant information) • Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from errors (error messages) • Help and documentation (information focused on tasks, concrete steps)

4. Cognitive Walkthrough • Focus on Learnability • Define Inputs • Users • Sample tasks and action sequences for completing tasks • Walk through with questions in mind • Will user try to achieve the right effect? • Will user notice that the correct action is available? • Will user associate correct action with effect she is trying to achieve? • Will user see that progress is being made toward solution of the task?

5. Activity – Heuristic Evaluation • Cell Phone • Groups work on step 1 (heuristics, evaluators, tasks) • Groups work on step 2 (Individual evaluation) • Groups work on step 3 (Group synthesis) • Share results and discuss

6. Activity – Heuristic Evaluation Discussion Topics • What are important decisions? • What types of variations could you imagine? • What are the complexities– what makes it hard? • What factors are important for achieving success with this method?

7. Discussion of Readings • Insights from supplemental readings • Facilitate class discussion of topics / ideas / themes garnered from the online discussion, related to assigned readings. • Discussion Leaders 1. Tom Alphin 2. Gordon Kam 3. Lowell Vaughen

8. Project Exercise Heuristic Evaluation • Design and conduct a heuristic evaluation of your prototype. • Prepare a one page description summarizing • Heuristic evaluation approach • Results of your evaluation • Potential implications for redesign • Bring copies of the exercise to class (one copy for each member of the team, one copy for the instructor) and also post it to your design portfolio. • Due next Thursday

9. Where we’ve been Topics – Readings and discussion What is UCD? Collecting and summarizing info about users, tasks and context Problem definition Design Project Insights about users, tasks, and contextual issues Actual data from observing real users Problem definition Proposal Design Where we’re going Redesign: Represent design Support and justify Readings: On evaluation and guidelines Upcoming Exercises: Usability Study Final Design Solution Issue Statement: A reminder 1. Sarah Sosiak2. Ona Anicello3. Astrid Lipke4. Monica Risse Looking back / Looking ahead