Human Computer Interaction
ITHIA1-33
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Chapter 5:
Usability
Chapter 10:
Evaluations
Usability: chapter 5
This Chapter highlights the increasing importance of accessibility in
physical and information spaces, driven by legislation and guidelines like
the UK's Equality Act 2010 and Section 508 in the USA. Designers must
consider the diverse abilities of users, including the elderly and children.
Usability principles, such as efficiency, effectiveness, learnability, safety,
and utility, guide designers in creating user-friendly products and
services. A human-centered design approach and ongoing evaluation are
necessary to achieve usability.
Acceptability, on the other hand, is about fitting technologies and services
into people's lives, but it can only be understood in the context of use,
unlike usability, which can be evaluated in a laboratory setting.
Case study: Usability
LearnEase, an edtech startup, developed an educational app with a focus on
accessibility and acceptability. Complying with accessibility guidelines, they
incorporated keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and clear
labels to cater to users with diverse abilities.
Usability principles, such as efficiency, effectiveness, and learnability, guided
their design process, resulting in an engaging learning journey for students.
By promoting acceptability through gamification and personalized study
plans, LearnEase ensured the app seamlessly fit into users' lives.
Adopting a human-centered approach and continuous evaluation further
enhanced the app's user-centricity, solidifying LearnEase as an inclusive and
student-centric edtech platform in the educational technology industry..
Evaluations: chapter 10
The chapter discusses techniques for evaluating various types of products, systems,
or services in UX design. Different types of systems or contexts may present
specific challenges during evaluation, such as mobile devices or wearable devices.
Evaluation is closely connected to understanding, design, and envisionment
activities in UX design, and many techniques from understanding can be applied to
evaluation. The form of envisionment used to represent the system is critical for
evaluation.
There are three main types of evaluation: expert-based methods, participant-based
methods (user testing), and data analytics. Each method has its advantages and
should be used at different stages of the design process. Evaluation can occur
throughout the interaction design process, and the effectiveness of methods
depends on the envisionment of the system, the questions asked, and the
availability of users for testing. Ongoing evaluation is essential for creating
successful and user-centric designs.
Case study: Evaluations
TechWear, a wearable technology startup, faced challenges with declining
customer satisfaction and usability issues in their HealthWrist smart fitness
tracker. To tackle these problems, they adopted a comprehensive UX
evaluation approach.
Expert-based evaluation quickly identified major usability flaws, while
participant-based evaluation collected real user feedback on interactions and
preferences. Additionally, data analytics provided insights into user behaviour
and usage patterns.
By continuously iterating on design improvements based on evaluation
findings, TechWear successfully enhanced the user experience, leading to
increased user satisfaction and establishing themselves as a prominent player
in the wearable technology market. The case study underscores the
importance of ongoing UX evaluation in delivering user-centric and
successful products.
Discussion Questions
Group A :
Usability Questions
1.
How can accessibility features in digital products and services be designed to accommodate
users with varying abilities, such as visual impairments or motor disabilities?
2.
Discuss the impact of usability principles like efficiency and effectiveness on the overall user
experience and how they can be applied in real-world scenarios.
3.
How can a human-centered design approach improve the accessibility and usability of
interactive systems, taking into account the needs and preferences of users?
Evaluations Questions
1.
How do different types of products, systems, or services present unique challenges during UX
evaluation, and how can designers address these challenges effectively?
2.
Discuss the relationship between understanding, design, and envisionment activities in UX
design, and how these activities impact the evaluation process.
3.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing the appropriate form of envisionment to
represent a system for evaluation?
Discussion Questions
Group B:
Usability discussion Questions
1.
Share examples of products or services that have successfully implemented acceptability features,
considering cultural, social, and environmental factors.
2.
What ethical considerations should designers keep in mind when designing accessible and usable
products to respect user privacy and data security?
3.
Discuss the challenges of designing for diverse user demographics, including the elderly and
children, and how user research can inform inclusive design.
Evaluations Discussion Questions
1.
Compare and contrast the advantages and limitations of expert-based evaluation methods with
participant-based methods (user testing).
2.
In what ways can data analytics provide valuable insights into user behavior and usage patterns
during UX evaluation?
3.
How can designers decide which evaluation method is most suitable for different stages of the
design process, and why is it important to use a combination of methods?
Discussion Questions
Group C :
Usability Discussion Questions :
1.
How can designers balance the need for simplicity and intuitiveness in their products while
catering to different user preferences and requirements?
2.
Share insights on how learnability can enhance user satisfaction and reduce the learning curve for
new users of digital products.
3.
Explore the role of user testing and ongoing evaluation in ensuring that digital products maintain
high accessibility and usability standards
Evaluations Discussion Questions:
1.
Share examples of specific challenges and considerations when evaluating mobile devices or
wearable devices in UX design.
2.
Discuss the role of ongoing evaluation in continuously improving the user experience and
ensuring user-centric designs.
3.
How can designers ensure that the questions asked during evaluation effectively capture user
feedback and preferences?
Discussion Questions
Group D :
Usability Discussion Questions:
1.
How can designers proactively address potential biases in their design decisions to ensure equal
access and usability for all users?
2.
Discuss the importance of integrating accessibility and usability considerations from the initial stages
of the design process to create more inclusive products.
3.
Share examples of organizations that have successfully implemented user-centered design principles
to enhance accessibility, usability, and acceptability in their products or services.
Evaluations Discussion Questions:
1.
Explore the potential impact of user availability on the effectiveness of evaluation methods, and
strategies to overcome limited user participation.
2.
Share experiences of successful UX evaluations that led to significant improvements in product
usability and customer satisfaction.
3.
In what ways can UX evaluation contribute to the overall success of a product, system, or service in
the market, and how can organizations prioritize ongoing evaluation in their design processes?
What Happens Next?
•Experience Design