IKIT 2005

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IKIT 2005 Toronto Usability Testing Virtual
Margins cjf_at_sfu.ca
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the context

• Knowledge building environment
• typically web based forum

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the situation

• There are two dialogs
• people with each other
• person with themself

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people with others

• Conversation is public
• others can read and contributeto the discussion

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person with themself

• Conversation is privatenot sharedimpermanent

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the problem

• How does one remember one's private
  conversations?
• Memories are too short
• Paper is too cumbersome
• Forum interface is not designed for private
  conversations

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a solution

• Forum interface element designed to support
  people's remembering
• Similar to paper marginsthoughts maintain their
  context

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Virtual Margin

• A private permanent spacepeople can record their
  thoughts
• Retains its context

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how might this work?

• Example 1

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how might this work?

• Example 1

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how might this work?

• Example 2

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how might this work?

• Example 2

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which one is more usable?

• In effect, does the position of the scroll bars
  matter?

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test group

• Four grad studentstwo men two women
• Repurposed their Knowledge Forum postings
• Prototype web application chose one of the two
  presentations

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result

• One box vs. Two boxes did not matter
• difference was not noticed

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more results

• Comments
• Questions
• Requests
• Difficulties

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comments

• It's a thinking pad
• This is a place to collect my thoughts

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questions

• Trust
• How long do the comments stay?
• How do comments move into the forum?
• Features
• Why is input position always at the top?
• Can I look at all the comments in one spot?

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requests

• Margin not indicator at the view level
• Summary view notes bubble up

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difficulties

• Cut and paste
• Forum content and margin content reflow
  independently

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conclusion

• Adding a virtual margin opens up new ways for
  people to interact with their own ideas as well
  as those of other forum participants
• How would people really use this?

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the problem