Usability Presentation

1
Usability Presentation

• Emmy Charlton
• April 9, 2002

2
Contents

• Everyday user problems slide 3 and 4
• http//www.userdesign.co.uk/index.html
• Usability and Disabilities
• http//www.useit.com/alerbox/20011111.html
• Usability Jobs and Courses
• http//www.dice.com
• Jakob Nielson
• http//www.useit.com

3
Phone Display Loses Number

• When dialing, the first line displays the number.
• After about 7 seconds, the number is replaced by
  the clock.
• Programmers use both lines so 17 digits can be
  displayed. Now both lines can remain active for
  any number and show time on second line and
  replace numbers as the call continues.

4
Most Recently Opened Files

• Under the File Menu towards the bottom, there is
  a list of the four documents you worked on last.
  This is great usability to file handling except
  when working on a couple big assignments but
  opening many for reference etc.
• New idea of files tracked and time logged so most
  used remain for access.

5
People with Disability

• From Jakob Nielsons Alertbox. 11-11-2001
• Disabled individuals have the right to internet
  etc. access too
• For blind or low vision there are screen readers
  and screen magnifiers
• So how easy is it for disabled individuals

• Study was done to see about design usability of
  19 websites using three groups
• 84 users who were either blind or had low vision
• 20 users as control group with no disabilities.

6
Disabilities Continued

• Blind Low vision Control
• Success 12.5 21.4 78.2
• Rate
• Time on 1646 1526 714
• Task
• Errors 2.0 4.5 0.6
• Subjective 2.5 2.9 4.6
• Reading
• (Scale 1-7)

• The three groups had four tasks that were
  measured
• Buy an item _at_ target.com
• Information retrieval _at_ transitchicago.com
• Compare and contrast _at_ schwab.com
• Fact-finding _at_ any website

7
Usability Jobs

• Just to list a few
• Interaction Designer
• Usability, Human Factors
• Usability Analyst
• Web Master/Developer
• Technical Writer
• Java Programmer
• Applications Support Specialist
• Usability Assistant/Specialist

Most jobs from 40K-100K
8
Courses Available

• Introduction to User Interface Design
• Website Design Practical Techniques for
  Usability
• Rapid Prototyping Techniques
• Groupware
• Usability Evaluation
• Digital Design Design for Interactive Media
• Digital Typography

9
Jakob Nielson

• Considered to be the expert on web and computer
  usability
• Website www.useit.com
• He has set the rules for usability
• He checks numerous websites and gives reports on
  certain ones whether good or bad
• His favorite website is Amazon.com