York Extra User survey

York Extra Origins –University Communications Audit –Plans to generalise Computing Service Message of the day for multiple providers and multiple audiences –Collaboration between Communications Office and Computing Service

York Extra Web-based announcement system Deployed on CS supported PCs in May 2003 –runs in web browser –starts at login User survey carried out in December 2003

Number of Respondents: 1053 Response rate: 7%

Client Computer Response rate: 99%

Information needs Response rate: 97%

Other sources of information Response rate: 97%

Usability of message viewer Response rate: 79%

Likes Response rate: 32% Categories derived from responses

Dislikes Response rate: 26% Categories derived from responses

Suggested improvements Response rate: 25% Categories derived from responses

Other observations 16% registered like only 10% registered dislike only 16% registered like and dislike 58% registered neither like nor dislike

Summary Many liked the general principle and wished there was more information available, particularly from departments and student organisations. The main dislikes centred around the slow start-up process and lack of control about when to view messages.

Summary Other dislikes touched on the lack of relevance of the information carried by the system. This would probably be resolved by increased participation. It is possible that for many users the problems of delay and lack of control will out-weigh the intended benefits of the system.

York Extra Policy –to be made available on all desktops Design criteria –high profile and starts automatically –web-based The problem –Starting a web browser at login time

York Extra Proposed solutions –start York Extra later –make it the home page –make it the start page –implement a chooser –use RSS

Start York Extra later Advantages –easy to implement –complies with CO requirement Disadvantages –interrupts user workflow –possible aversion –lack of user control

Make York Extra the homepage Advantages –easy to implement –effectively complies with CO requirement Disadvantages –looses link with University web site –extra load on web servers –lack of user control

Make York Extra the start-up page Advantages –easy to implement –effectively complies with CO requirement –maintains link with the University web site –no extra load on web servers Disadvantages –lack of user control

Implement a chooser A Start menu option allows the user to select automatic start-up at login time of either York Extra or a simple selector tool. The selector invites to the user a) to start York Extra b) to be reminded later

Implement a chooser Advantages –easy to implement –gives the user limited choice –minimal load on client computer Disadvantages –only loosely complies with CO design criteria

RSS Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication XML application

RSS Advantages –easy to adapt YorkExtra to generate RSS –large client software base –integration with other news resources Disadvantages –?

York Extra Proposed solutions –start York Extra later –make it the home page –make it the start page –implement a chooser –use RSS