Who am I Mark Simpson - Researcher, De Montfort University User issues. Worked on Managed Learning Environment MLE Project. Available to all first year students from October 2003.

MLE at DMU

What am I going to cover Why is usability an issue How we went from ideas to a screen design How we organised content on the screen How we determined if we got the design right What did we do next

Physical problems of usability Applying design principles of PRINTED words and images to screens. Books – Gutenberg Bible Page numbers, Title and Contents pages evolved over the next 100 years. Internet 1993 ish confusion between a promotion tool and other information uses.

Why a screen isnt paper Sun Absorbed & Reflected constant light Electron Gun Direct & Emitted flickering light PAPER SCREEN

So what is usability based on? Based on understanding of users and cognitive principles – not usual computer languages. Technical Designers work on designing functions – making computers work. Users think in terms of goals – as in football, they just want to score. T Designers work in terms of team selection, formation, strategy, off side and so on.

User Requirements to Screens User Goals. Physical configuration of a typical users computer. Functions required to achieve goals. Information sources. Scenario of system being used from beginning to end. Profile of all stakeholders and their requirements.

Prototyping approaches

Benefits / disadvantages Gives you time to try out names, structures in a very cheap and interactive manner Simple to do, do need a computer or software Everybody can see it and discuss it Easily modified Starting point that is expandable

Content layout The MLE a student site. We wanted student stakeholders to determine content, structure and information. Simple, repeatable method.

Card sort Menus Content Priority

Benefits / disadvantages Gives the stakeholders the opportunity to actively help with the design. Based on scientific technique of Cluster Analysis Simple to do, dont need a computer or software Easily modified

Refining / proving the design Once we had a system we tested every few months with users. Only asked a few directed questions Test under representative conditions – so that results are representative

Short usability tests

Results how they help What happens if we do this? Keeps the usability person in the design loop. You can get answers at every stage of the design. You have evidence to support the design decisions.

Summary what have I learned Usability is a system lifecycle issue Do it often As the design evolves check back to the user goals and requirements that it meeting them.