Don't make me think
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This document summarizes a lecture on usability heuristics and testing interfaces with users. It discusses several of Steve Krug's heuristics for usable interfaces, including that users don't read pages and instead scan, optimal choices are usually not needed, and interfaces should not require learning. It also describes the "trunk test" to evaluate how easily a user can understand a site when blindfolded. The document outlines methods for usability evaluation and stresses the importance of testing interfaces with users.
Don't make me think
- 1. CN5111 – Week 11 Dr. Andres Baravalle
- 2. Lecture content • Don’t make me think! • Feedback • 2015-2016 dissertation supervisions 2
- 3. Usability heuristics • The first law of Usability Engineering (according to Steve Krug) is... • Don’t Make Me Think 3
- 4. #1: Users don’t read web pages • Users don’t read web pages – they just scan 4
- 5. #2: Don’t make optimal choices • Optimal choices are in most cases a waste of resources • Typically is not needed to commit the resources needed to have an optimal interface rather than a good interface – People don’t look for perfect plans – they look for good enough plans – Are you really going to look for a second price when you find a book in Amazon at £ 3? 5
- 6. #3: Users have no understanding of how things work • Nor they should need to, in many cases – Knowing the TCP/IP stack is not going to help you to send an email – RTFM is not a good suggestion (typically) • Don’t design interfaces that require learning from users – most probably users are NOT going to learn how to use your interface 6
- 7. The trunk test • Imagine you are blindfolded in the trunk of a car • Driven around • Dumped somewhere – Once you are out, you need to assess your situation 7
- 8. The trunk test (2) • A usable web site will allow you to “survive” a trunk test • On a usable web page you’ll be always able to answer these questions: – What site is this – What page I’m on – What are the main sections – What are my options – Where I am – How can I search 8
- 9. The trunk test (3) • You can use this approach by printing a set of pages and asking users to circle some or all of those areas • You can compare user’s performance on different web pages to have an indicator of their usability 9
- 10. Designing home pages • A typical home page will include: – Site identity and mission – Site hierarchy – Site search – Teases (e.g. Featured content) – Timely content – Deals (including ads) – Shortcuts to content – Registration • A home page should always pass the “trunk test”! 10
- 11. Usability evaluation methods • Usability inquiry: focus on talking to and/or observing users • Usability inspection: focus on expert analysis • Usability testing: focus on testing interfaces with users 11
- 12. Always, always, always TEST • Testing one user is better than testing none! 12
- 13. Test soon, test often • Testing one user early is better than testing 50 at the end 13
- 14. Testing is iterative • No point in testing if you don’t correct the errors that you find... 14
- 15. And this is (nearly) the end... 15
- 16. Feedback • Module feedback available on Moodle • Please submit the feedback – let us know what you liked and how we can improve 16
- 17. Bibliography • Krug, S. (2009) Don’t Make Me Think 17
- 18. SUPERVISIONS 18
- 19. Final year supervision • This is for September 2015 • I’m happy to consider supervising (in 2014-2015) students in the following areas: – Web APPLICATIONS development – Open Source technologies – Usability, accessibility and HCI 19
- 20. Remember! • It’s your research/dissertation – you have to pick something that you enjoy – I’m open to supervise thesis in my areas of interest – I’m not interested in supervising thesis that are not interesting for me too 20
- 21. Supervision meetings • I hold all my supervision meetings on one day – It is not negotiable – I will hold supervisions in small groups (3 to 6 persons) • The supervision slots will not clash with any of your classes • If you are not free on that day I cannot supervise you 21
- 22. Where to find more • A selection of available dissertation topics is available here: baravalle.com/teaching You can write me at [email protected] 22
- 23. FAQs • Where are my 5 web sites? • Can you review my coursework tomorrow? • All my sites are perfect! • What method should I use?