Cognitive Walkthrough Example

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Cognitive WalkthroughExample
Human - Computer Interaction

• Dr. Philip Craiger

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• USERS
• New to GENISYS system
• Unfamiliar with text-based interfaces
• Some experience with GUIs
• Some experience using GUI-based search systems at
  other libraries.
• Based on this simple description, what general
  problems can you foresee?

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• TASK
• Search for Handbook of GUI, and print
  information on the book
• TASK ANALYSIS (high level description)
• 1. Logon GENISYS system
• 2. Search for book using keyword search
• 3. Find book in list of results
• 4. Print information for later use
• 5. Exit the system

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• Logon to GENISYS System
• Success story Directions clearly indicate user
  is to type in genisys at login

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• User enters into catalog
• Criterion Will users know an action is
  available?
• That is, that hitting the G key is associated
  with going to GENISYS catalog
• Failure users arent familiar with using
  keystrokes to invoke commands. Choose one
  isnt descriptive. Users may try to find mouse
  (there arent any!) to click on the G
• Fix?

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• User searches for book using keyword GUI
• Criterion Will user notice that the correct
  action is available?
• Failure story User is familiar with using
  buttons to initiate commands. GENISYS requires
  using the return key. Also, instructions for
  using the key are not in proximity to search.
  Users may not read entire screen and therefore
  not see the instructions.
• Fix?

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Label-Following?
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• User finds book and selects it from list for
  review. User hits the 4 key.
• Success story If users have gotten this far it
  suggests they now understand how to initiate
  actions using keystrokes. Also instruction
  Please type number of item you want to see is
  fairly clear.

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I want to print this!!! HOW???
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• User prints information on book.
• Criterion Will the user notice that the correct
  action is available?
• Failure story There is nothing on the interface
  that indicates that printing is possible from
  that page.
• Criterion Will user associate correct action
  with that trying to be achieved?
• Failure story Only print indicator is on prior
  page. However, this doesnt print all necessary
  information for the relevant book

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Pops up when clicking Additional Options
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What does generic mean in this context?
Whats an attached printer?
Whats an e-mail printer?
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• Given user got to this point, selects the option
  to print to a local printer.
• Criterion Will user associate the correct action
  with the effect trying to be achieved?
• Failure story Labels arent descriptive, and
  are confusing to novices. There is no clear
  indication as to which option is associated with
  the local printer.
• FIX?

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• User selects attached printer through
  trial-and-error.
• Criterion If the correct action is performed,
  will the user see the progress being made toward
  the goal?
• Failure story No feedback given as to whether
  the information is printing. Only a duplication
  of the previous screen.
• FIX?

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• Because user saw no feedback, now selects e-mail
  printer option.
• Criterion If the correct action is performed,
  will the user see that progress is being made
  toward the goal?
• Failure story No feedback is given after the
  submitting the e-mail printer option. In fact,
  the user can type nonsense into the e-mail
  address request, and no feedback.
• FIX?

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How do I get out of here?
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• User exits the system
• Criterion Will the user notice that correct
  action is available?
• Failure story No, there is no indication as to
  how to exit the system from this point. Only
  indication is 3 levels higher. Would have had to
  have retained that information in memory (LTM).
  Not likely.
• FIX?