Don’t make me think
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This document provides information about an upcoming class that will be rescheduled due to the professor being unavailable. It discusses potential new dates and times for the class. It also summarizes the planned lecture topics, which include usability heuristics like making interfaces intuitive for users without unnecessary complexity. Testing interfaces with users is emphasized as important for evaluating usability. Students are also informed about the process for receiving dissertation supervision and potential topics.
Don’t make me think
- 1. IM2044 – Week 12 Dr. Andres Baravalle
- 2. Before we start • As I mentioned in class on Friday, I will not be able to teach the class on Friday 10th May • After discussing with the students in class, you will be able to take the class on any one of these dates: – Thursday 9th May in ITC09 at 13:00 OR – Tuesday 14th May in ITC02 ITC07 at 10:00
- 3. Lecture content • Don’t make me think! • Feedback • 2012-2013 dissertation supervisions 3
- 4. Usability heuristics • The first law of Usability Engineering (according to Steve Krug) is... • Don’t Make Me Think 4
- 5. #1: Users don’t read web pages • Users don’t read web pages – they just scan 5
- 6. #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? 6
- 7. #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 • Don’t design interfaces that require learning from users – most probably users are NOT going to learn how to use your interface 7
- 8. 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 8
- 9. 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 9
- 10. 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 10
- 11. 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”! 11
- 12. 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 12
- 13. Always, always, always TEST • Testing one user is better than testing none! 13
- 14. Test soon, test often • Testing one user early is better than testing 50 at the end 14
- 15. Testing is iterative • No point in testing if you don’t correct the errors that you find... 15
- 16. And this is (nearly) the end... 16
- 17. Feedback • Module feedback available on UELplus • Please submit the feedback – let us know what you liked and how we can improve 17
- 18. Bibliography • Krug, S. (2009) Don’t Make Me Think 18
- 19. SUPERVISIONS 19
- 20. Final year supervision • This is for September 2014 • I’m happy to consider supervising (in 2013-2014) students in the following areas: – Web APPLICATIONS development – Open Source technologies – Usability, accessibility and HCI 20
- 21. 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 21
- 22. Supervision meetings • I hold all my supervision meetings on one day (currently Tuesdays) –It is not negotiable • If you are not free on that day I cannot supervise you 22
- 23. Where to find more • A selection of available dissertation topics is available here: baravalle.com/teaching You can write me at a.baravalle@uel.ac.uk 23