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INF6430 Coursework Assignment 2

Write a critical evaluation of a user interface of your choice.

Introduction

The aim is to use standard HCI techniques to identify the good and bad features of the user interface that are likely to affect the user's performance in interacting with the system.

You are expected to base your assessment on design guidelines and good practice including evaluative criteria such as ease of use, learnability, consistency, feedback etc. You should also base your recommendations on you experience in using the system. You should also think about what tasks the interface are intended to support. Make practical recommendations about how the interface could be redesigned to address these problems. You may choose any interface e.g. web-based application (not search engine), word processors, spreadsheet, multimedia, music programs.

The focus must be on the user interface and HCI aspects and not on the functionality of the applications themselves. Bear in mind that the interface must have rich functionality so that you can say something interesting about them.

This coursework requires you to carry out a form of ‘expert’ assessment of two user interface. You will review and critically assess how well the interface meet the needs of its users in completing their tasks and make appropriate recommendations.

Specifically, the coursework requires that you complete the following:

- Identify and describe a user interface

- Describe a typical (or most likely) user (or users) of your chosen interface

- For each interface, develop one or more scenarios for interaction and the tasks that the user would undertake to achieve the user’s goals in the scenario

- Investigate the interface in detail, drawing from theories of design to describe how these may support (or obstruct) users completing the described tasks

- Conduct a heuristic evaluation to assess the usability of the interface.

- Make recommendations, based on the above, for improving the user interface in supporting users.

The evaluation is to be completed in the form of a 1500-word structured report (excluding abstract, references, & any appendices). It is advisable to include screenshots to illustrate the examples discussed in the report.

Coursework submission is via Turnitin on the module page, due by 07 June 2023 10:00 am

Tasks

- Identify and describe a user interface

You may choose any interface e.g. web-based application (not search engine), word processors, spreadsheet, multimedia, music programs. Offer a description of the interface so that an individual not already familiar with the interface would be understand its purpose and uses,

- Describe a typical (or most likely) user of your chosen system

In lecture 5.2, we covered the formulation of personas (i.e. an imaginary typical user of the interface). Consider who a typical user for your chosen interface would be and create a description of them

- For each interface, develop one or more scenarios for interaction and the tasks that the user would undertake to achieve the user’s goals in the scenario

In lecture 5.3, we covered development of scenarios and task analysis approaches. Describe a scenario for the persona’s likely use of the interface. A scenario is a short description of a specific interaction with an interface towards a goal. Outline how the persona would achieve this goal using the interface and what tasks they must complete to do so.

- Investigate the interface in detail, drawing from theories of design to describe how these may support (or obstruct) users completing the described tasks

In lecture 3 & 4, theories of user-centred design were covered and in lecture 6, key principles based on theoretical work were identified for development of user interface. There are many more models for interaction and guidelines for creating usable interface available as well in the academic literature.

- Conduct a heuristic evaluation to assess the usability of the interface.

In lecture 7, the processes of cognitive walkthrough and heuristic development were described. These processes give a general overview of potential usability issues with the interface examined, without having to collect data from other individuals.

- Make recommendations, based on the above, for improving the user interface in supporting users.

Using your knowledge gained from the lectures and wider reading, make recommendations for possible improvements to the user interface

Word counts

This assignment has the standard word count of 1500 +/- 10%

Tables, Figures/drawings/diagrams, & Screenshots with annotations do not count towards the word count, providing they are a reasonable length of text (e.g., paragraphs of text cannot just be inserted into a table).

Abstract is not required.