TO:
MICHAEL SATTERWHITE
FROM:
SARA SNYDER
SUBJECT:
“JUGGLING HOW TO: THE CASCADE” USABILITY TEST
DATE:
MARCH 7, 20055/29/2016
For the past two weeks I have been working on the document, “Juggling How To: The Cascade.”
Over time, the document has been modified tremendously from the initial draft. Through a series of
three usability tests I was able to create the document that I am presenting to you.
The first usability test I conducted was done after the rough draft was first written. Instead of taking
the pictures before writing the text, as was suggested in class, I wrote the text, and then took the
pictures. I did this to challenge myself to write a text that would be comprehendible without the
pictures. And with that, I gave my rough draft, without pictures, to a user approximately a week ago.
The user was given three balls, and I observed as the user attempted to talk their way through the
document. By observing the user, I was able to see the difficult areas and areas where the user was
not able to understand the correct form/process that was needed. I found this to be tremendously
helpful. Where the user struggled, I was able to note those steps of the process and reword those
steps to better suit the usability of a reader. The users biggest difficulty throughout the usability test
was understand the correct tossing form to use. The text in Steps 1 and 4 underwent tremendous
changes from the rough draft to the wording it is in my final draft. Through this usability test, I also
found that the user needed to be reminded of certain techniques throughout the process. From
these observations I added the tips, notes, and reminders to the document, which future users found
to be extremely useful.
The second usability test was conducted by me. Although not an official usability test, I found the
process of analyzing my own work very beneficial. After the pictures were taken, I arranged the
setup of the document. I worked with merging the pictures with the text, and I came up with the
following design elements and improvements—which were later noted as strong points of the
document by my users:

Pictures and Text in Columns: I decided to place the images in a column of three on each page
to help the user. Each image builds upon the next, and I found it quite easy to look down
the column of images to get a grasp of the steps without the text. I composed the textual
part of the document the same way. Through the later usability tests I found the users also
thought this method was successful.

Tips, Notes, and Reminders: In the first usability test I realized the need for tips and notes. I
tried to place the tips and notes with specific steps to aide the reader as much as possible and
help them follow correct technique through the entire document. I felt if they were
reminded by one tip they may remember the others.

Intro Boxes: I decided to put the boxes at the top of the pages in a blue background to draw
the reader’s attention to the top of each page. With white background covering the entire
page, I thought the reader may ignore the first paragraph—wanting to begin the learning
process first.
Finally, I completed numerous usability tests with different individuals. Some of them went through
the entire process and were pleased to report that they had learned how to juggle over the weekend,
while others simply read through the document and gave their two cents worth about the visuals,
grammar, and phrasing. From their comments I made the following notable adjustments:

Page Headings: Initially, I had the page headings along the outer edges of the page—reading
vertically. Users found this annoying, and they paid more attention to it when it was along
the top of the page, where they could easily pick out what they would be doing next.

Picture Numbering: I struggled with determining how I should number the photographs.
They now read 1-9. Initially, The Basics were steps 1-3 and The Cascade was 1-6. I
struggled with which one would be better up until my usability test. The users explicitly
stated that the numbers need to carry through the entire document, because it really is one
big process. It allows them to see the progress they’ve made and how far they need to go.

Arrow Usage: I determined in my first draft that arrows in my pictures were a must. I knew
they would make the pictures very usable and the users could not have agreed more.
However, I did struggle with the number of arrows and their style. I thought I was using too
many arrows, but my users suggested that I keep all the arrows. They found them very
useful and did not find the pictures too crowded. Therefore, all the original arrows, plus a
couple additional ones, remain.
Users were pleased with the document in general. Many of them enjoyed completing the usability test, and
some came out of the usability test with a new skill! “The alignment, pictures, and text correlating to
each other made the document easy to work through,” stated one of the users.
If the usability testing had not been a required task as part of this project, I would not have realized
the implications that came from it. Without the task, I would have done my own tests, as well as
have individuals look at my document. However, I do not believe I would have valued my reader’s
opinions as much as I did. I found—as users—their opinions can be the most important, if
something is unclear to the reader, but makes sense to me, it needs to be changed. Through my
various methods of usability testing I believe I have created a document where a set of instructions
have been presented clearly, concisely, and convincingly.
2