Webmasters Roundtable Tools, Standards

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Webmasters Roundtable Tools, Standards
Usability
University of Saskatchewan Library Montana State
University Northwestern University
Darlene Fichter Greg Notess Frank Cervone
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Usability testing

• Preference testing
• Cognitive Walkthrough
• Forms and workflow

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Cognitive walkthrough

• Performed by development team
• Collective walkthrough of site
• Assessment of whether the user has the
  information to confidently make the next right
  action

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At each step ask

• Will the users understand what is presented?
• Is the next action/choice visible to them?
• Will they know that the choice is correct?
• If they make the choice, will they understand the
  response?

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Whats required

• Detailed description of the system
• Prototype
• Location of items on the screen and wording
  should be filled in
• Representative tasks
• Complete list of steps that need to be taken to
  complete the task
• Indication of the user type and experience

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Document the problems

• A recorder should note problems on the detailed
  task sheet
• By step in the task
• Give a description of the problem
• Note the severity

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Where to put help on Web forms?

• Excellent studies
• One looks at the registration form for the
  WinWriters conference
• Do people use help and where is it best placed?

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What They Tested

• Page Level - directions in a left hand column
• Field Level - Help after each field with the
  directions popping up in a window or side frame
  
• Field Level - field name was a hyperlink
• Embedded domain level at the top and included
  by field
  

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What They Learned

• The report of the study is at
  
  
• http//www.winwriters.com/usability_test_analy
  sis.htm
• Links to reports studies
• http//library.usask.ca/fichter/

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Preference testing

• Preference or cookie testing
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