Designing for Usability - Essay Example

?Designing for Usability Table of Contents Introduction 4 Testing Methods 4 Coaching Method 5 Performance Measurement 5 USABILITY TEST FOR THE WEB SITE 6 Effectiveness 6 Efficiency 7 Satisfaction 7 Ease for User 8 Contents 8 Learn-ability 8 SIGNIFICANT USABILITY ISSUES 9 Non Standard Interface 9 Navigation 10 less Response and load times 10 layout of the main Page 10 Slow Response from the server 11 Simplicity 12 Metaphors help 12 Standards and Consistency 12 Error prevention 13 Flexibility 13 CONCLUSION 14 Bibliography 14 APPENDIX 15 Appendix A 15 Appendix B 20 USEFULNESS OF THE METHOD 20 Introduction Usability testing is a significant technique for investigating how system users recognize as well as make use of a system to complete a specific job. The purpose of usability testing is to design a system that is easy to use for the users. In this scenario, the examination techniques, like that expert reviews or learning assessments, have a tendency to produce huge amount of possible usability ‘issues’ that by no means become genuine usability issues (Usability.gov, 2010), (Benyon et al., 2005) and (Dix et al., 1998). This report covers a comprehensive assessment of the usability test of the website: http://www.cusu.org/. This analysis report will offer a deep insight into the application of testing methods, analysis of the factors of usability for testing, assessment of usability issues in website, recommendations for improving the website’s usability and synopsis of usefulness of the method we chose for overall website analysis. This report will be based on the views of three different users. This report will present the website analysis from views of three users JAMES, ALEX and SMITH. In order to get the views of these users a questionnaire will be used. This questionnaire will be attached in Appendix A. Testing Methods This section presents a detailed analysis of some of the main aspects of testing methods which I am going apply for the comprehensive analysis of http://www.cusu.org/. In this usability analysis I will perform usability testing methods which are given below: QUESTIONER METHOD In case of website analysis from three different users JAMES, ALEX and SMITH I will use the questionnaire method that will help assess the overall working of the web site. These questioners are presented in APPENDIX A. Coaching Method This method is extensively used for conducting usability tests. Seeing that, this method involves the users who can inquire about the system-related issues. Thus, in this method system users will work as trainer. In this report we will use this method for assessing http://www.cusu.org/ for the information requirements of various users in an attempt to offer improved guidance as well as certification, in addition to refurbish the user interface to reduce the need for inquiries. However, it can be done by using questionnaire and distributing it to the website users or analyzers for the enhanced and better assessment of the website (UsabilityHome, 2010) and (Dix et al., 1998). Performance Measurement The next method that we will use will require getting quantitative data regarding test contestants’ execution or performance as those are carried out on the website working all through usability test. However, in order to apply this testing method we will require describing the objectives for the usability testing in scenario of usability features. Moreover, in case of application of such usability testing method we will need to specify the prime usability issues regarding website through dimensions like that users learning time, efficient communications, faults rate, etc (UsabilityHome, 2010) and (Dix et al., 1998). USABILITY TEST FOR THE WEB SITE This section is about the assessment of main parameters of the usability regarding http://www.cusu.org/ website. Here I will assess some of the main functioning and working aspects of the website through the possible working and operational assessments: (Nielsen, 2005), (Dix et al., 1998) and (Kyrnin, 2011) In this section I will present the website analysis from the viewpoints of three different users JAMES, ALEX and SMITH and their mutual response against the system working. Effectiveness According to the website analysis carried out by three different users (JAMES, ALEX and SMITH), we received approximately similar response from all the users regarding system working. According to their viewpoints the web site is not as much effective. http://www.cusu.org/ website is not well designed and developed that attracts the user attention. The theme of this website is based on students union that supports as well as offers students union of Coventry University to have a general conference and collaborative place. This website offers Coventry University Students better facility such as quick and fast information regarding studies counsel, volunteering about any specific cause (like for blood donation), current as well as forthcoming events information of university, some Media based details, student report, sports related information along with details, and so on. Therefore we can say that with such a huge information bundle that website is really effective for diverse students of Coventry University. The web site encompasses a lot of information which scattered in different locations. For instance, users were not able to retrieve contact information on the main page of the web site. The web site does not provide contact information on main page so it causes problems for the users who want to contact with the union. Efficiency All the website analyzers have presented the similar response about the system efficiency. Thus, according to the viewpoints of the users, this website is not as much efficient. This web site allows the students to customize their operations by signing in as well as contributing to the website in their own specific way. However, according to the users’ point of views this web site took a lot of time to be loaded on the browsers, which reduce the interest of the users. Satisfaction All the users are satisfied with the web site. While talking about user satisfaction, this website offers a large number of activities and facilities that can enable students to better interact and live in collaboration with other university students. This website as well satisfies to all the categories of students for instance it includes web based social network for more social students, sports and events management for sports people, easy shopping experience for ladies along with a better representative committee for students. Thus, it can be said that it has satisfied all the users. Ease for User According to the users’ viewpoints, this web site is not easy to use. This web site contains huge volume of information, but this information is scattered in different sectors. It is not easy to find desire information on the web site. For instance, the links on buttons were difficult to understand due to their colors matching with the text. Contents While talking about contents, users stated that website contents are difficult to understand and effective in overall working. Web site contents are arranged in a more complex manner. In addition, there is no proper relationship among the contents of the website that demonstrates that website is offering a complex framework with regards to information arrangement. For instance, there are so many banners on left side of the main page which confused the users. They thought these banners are not the part of this web site. Learn-ability According the survey, the website is encompassing low level of learn-ability that means that website is offering less effective working in case of user operational satisfaction. Learn-ability factor of this website is little bit low. As we open the website, we see a lot of images and information that is dispersed all through the web page. In this scenario this website incorporates huge information bundles. Moreover, while seeing this web site users need a lot of time to precisely comprehend that what is the purpose of this website. In this scenario the website user needs a comprehensive attention regarding assessment of what is the purpose of this website. SIGNIFICANT USABILITY ISSUES This section outlines prime usability issues that have been found in this analysis http://www.cusu.org/ as outlined below: Non Standard Interface All the website analyzers (JAMES, ALEX and SMITH) stated that website is having non-standard user interface. The basic user interface (main page) of the http://www.cusu.org/ website is less effective. The above header of pages is presenting a black color theme and bottom section is based on white color theme. The user views awfully diverse web pages as he/she opens or clicks on some other links of the website. As image demonstrates: Figure 1Main page of web site, Source: http://www.cusu.org/ Navigation According to responses of the users, the website is offering easy navigation with effective system loading speed. The navigation among web pages of the http://www.cusu.org/ website is apparent however the changing looks of the website leads to some disruption on the web pages. In this way user feels rather complex during the website usage. Moreover, the overall working and navigation of the website is harder to handle as well as manage as a user looks a new pages style and theme on opening a web link. less Response and load times Web site analyzers stated that website is not too speedy to load on an average speed internet connection. It approximately takes one minute to load into the web browser. In this way the overall user working delay is considerably high in case of promising navigation among web pages, particularly on slow speed internet connection. This can definitely leads the user to experience more distracting view of the website (DesignerRiviver, 2009). layout of the main Page According to the survey, the web page layout of http://www.cusu.org/ is one of biggest issues in this website. The main page of website is a three column web page that holds a plenty of details or we can say information overloading. This home page of website comprises some useful links in the middle of page while a lot of ads as well as promotional links on both the sides of the website. Moreover, a new user on this web site may probably take some time to take a better understating of the working of page along with information flow (Kyrnin, 2011). Slow Response from the server According to users’ viewpoints, the response time of server at this web page is slower in case of placing any request. Particularly when we create a user account on this website, it requires much more response time after posting a user request. This presents distracting feeling to the users of this website (Nielsen, 1999). RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SITE’S USABILITY This part of report will offer some useful recommendations for improving the http://www.cusu.org/ website’s usability. In this regard I have outlined below some recommendations for the improvement of this website: from (Summerville, 1999), (Scott, 2011) and (Dix et al., 1998) Simplicity In order to get more user attention, the web site www.cusu.org needs to offer more similar user interface of the main page. It needs to equalize system as well as real world aspects. Moreover, the main page needs to talk about users' language, by using the expressions, words as well as ideas well-known to the user. Furthermore, the main page of this website needs to follow actual-world conferences, offering better information that emerges in an accepted as well as consistent arrangement. Metaphors help The website www.cusu.org needs to offer the metaphors help. In this scenario the website needs to present the visual help as well as outstanding appearance to the important links of web page. These links can be regarding studying a publication, shopping, sports, groups or else other aspects. Standards and Consistency The main pages and other pages of www.cusu.org website need to offer better management in addition to effective handling of website working and style standards. There is a dire need for the alteration in the overall user interface style of the system to a single unique arrangement so that a user can better handle the system. Error prevention There is a need for superior error messages in the overall working of the system. Here we need help for avoiding such issues from happening in the primary place. In this website system I have got lack of proper error messages those need to be offered for better user guidance. Flexibility In order to handle any system the aspect of flexibility is very important. In scenario of www.cusu.org website there is an extensive need for the incorporation of flexibility and efficiency of use. In this scenario, we require speeding up the website usability through offering better system usage as well as working functionalities. CONCLUSION In this report I have presented a deep analysis of some of the prime features of www.cusu.org website. This report was based on the viewpoints of three different users (JAMES, ALEX and SMITH) in order to outline some of the main usability related features along with improvements. A questionnaire was used to get the views of these users. This questionnaire can be seen at Appendix A. This report has also suggested the ways or methods which can help improve the usability features of the web site. Bibliography Benyon, D., Turner, P. & Turner, S., 2005. Designing Interactive Systems: People, Activities, Contexts, Technologies. New York: Addison Wesley. DesignerRiviver, 2009. 7 Common Web Usability Problems. [Online] Available at: http://designreviver.com/tips/7-common-web-usability-problems/ [Accessed 16 February 2011]. Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G. & Beale, R., 1998. Human-Computer Interaction. Hillsdale: Prentice Hall. Kyrnin, J., 2011. Most Important Web Usability Issues. [Online] Available at: http://webdesign.about.com/od/usability/tp/aatpwebusable.htm [Accessed 16 February 2011]. Nielsen, J., 1999. The Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 1999. [Online] Available at: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html [Accessed 16 February 2011]. Nielsen, J., 2005. Ten Usability Heuristics. [Online] Available at: http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html [Accessed 18 February 2011]. Scott, B., 2011. Web Site Design Tips to Improve Usability and Readability. [Online] Available at: http://www.readabilityformulas.com/articles/website-design-tips-to-improve-usability-and-readability.php [Accessed 17 February 2011]. Summerville, M., 1999. Usability Guidelines. [Online] Available at: http://blacksunimages.com/usability/handout.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2011]. Usability.gov, 2010. Usability Testing. [Online] Available at: http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/chapter18.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2011]. UsabilityHome, 2010. Coaching Method. [Online] Available at: http://www.usabilityhome.com/FramedLi.htm?Coaching.htm [Accessed 15 February 2011]. UsabilityHome, 2010. Performance Measurement. [Online] Available at: http://www.usabilityhome.com/FramedLi.htm?PerfMeas.htm [Accessed 13 February 2011]. APPENDIX Appendix A Questionnaire A JAMES Response Is the system Effective in use? Answer: Yes Is the system offering Efficiency regarding working at the web? Answer: No Is the system offering user Satisfaction (for the student and other members)? Answer: Yes Is the web based system offering Ease for Use for the online working? Answer: No Are the website Contents easier to understand? Answer: No Is the system offering an enhanced system working and Learn-ability for the users? Answer: Yes Is the system offering Standard user Interface all through the web? Answer: No Is the system Navigation easier? Answer: Yes Is the website system offering less Response and load times? Answer: Yes Are the systems’ layout and main page offering better working and operational facility? Answer: Yes Are the system menus and links offering Standards and Consistency? Answer: No Is website system having some Error prevention system? Answer: No Is system offering Flexibility? Answer: Yes Questioner B ALEX Response Is the system Effective in use? Answer: No Is the system offering Efficiency regarding working at the web? Answer: No Is the system offering user Satisfaction (for the student and other members)? Answer: Yes Is the web based system offering Ease for Use for the online working? Answer: No Are the website Contents easier to understand? Answer: No Is the system offering an enhanced system working and Learn-ability for the users? Answer: Yes Is the system offering Standard user Interface all through the web? Answer: No Is the system Navigation easier? Answer: Yes Is the website system offering less Response and load times? Answer: Yes Are the systems’ layout and main page offering better working and operational facility? Answer: No Are the system menus and links offering Standards and Consistency? Answer: No Is website system having some Error prevention system? Answer: No Is system offering Flexibility? Answer: Yes Questioner C SMITH Response Is the system Effective in use? Answer: No Is the system offering Efficiency regarding working at the web? Answer: No Is the system offering user Satisfaction (for the student and other members)? Answer: Yes Is the web based system offering Ease for Use for the online working? Answer: No Are the website Contents easier to understand? Answer: NO Is the system offering an enhanced system working and Learn-ability for the users? Answer: Yes Is the system offering Standard user Interface all through the web? Answer: No Is the system Navigation easier? Answer: Yes Is the website system offering less Response and load times? Answer: Yes Are the systems’ layout and main page offering better working and operational facility? Answer: Yes Are the system menus and links offering Standards and Consistency? Answer: No Is website system having some Error prevention system? Answer: No Is system offering Flexibility? Answer: Yes Appendix B USEFULNESS OF THE METHOD This section presents a brief reflection on the usefulness of method that we have chosen for the usability analysis of the www.cusu.org website. For this purpose I have used the Jakob Nielsen's heuristics evaluation technique. In this scenario I have assessed the overall areas of the www.cusu.org website. This method has presented a successful approach in order to review the usability issues in our target website. This method was initially developed by the Rolf Molich in 1990. This method has afterward been more refined as well as enhanced by the Jakob Nielsen in 1994. Below are ten wide-ranging standards for user interface framework. They are acknowledged as the "heuristics" for the reason that they are more in the environment of general guidelines as compared to exact usability strategies: (Nielsen, 2005) Observance of system position Uniformity among system as well as the true world User power of restraining as well as liberty Standards plus Reliability Error avoidance Identification sooner than remind Effectiveness as well as Flexibility of utilization Simple and Visual design Facilitate users identify, distinguish plus get through as of mistakes Documentation along with Help In the light of above mentioned rules I have assessed the overall working and operational structure of the www.cusu.org website. In this scenario I have assessed the theme and working of the website along with user interface aspects through this usability analysis method. In this regard I have tried to present an enhanced overview of the main areas of the website and presented suggestion those can improve the overall website user interface and operational style. This heuristics based evaluation technique has presented a high quality method regarding the overall assessment of the system operations and management aspects. The presented services can as well offer better capability of potential enhancement regarding the working of website. Read More