Usability Presentation Emmy Charlton April 9, 2002

Contents n Everyday user problems: slide 3 and 4 n n Usability and Disabilities n n Usability Jobs and Courses n n Jakob Nielson n

Phone Display Loses Number n When dialing, the first line displays the number. n After about 7 seconds, the number is replaced by the clock. n Programmers use both lines so 17 digits can be displayed. Now both lines can remain active for any number and show time on second line and replace numbers as the call continues.

Most Recently Opened Files n Under the File Menu towards the bottom, there is a list of the four documents you worked on last. This is great usability to file handling except when working on a couple big assignments but opening many for reference etc. n New idea of files tracked and time logged so most used remain for access.

People with Disability n n From Jakob Nielson’s Alertbox n n Disabled individuals have the right to internet etc. access too n n For blind or low vision there are screen readers and screen magnifiers n n So how easy is it for disabled individuals n Study was done to see about design usability of 19 websites using three groups: –84 users who were either blind or had low vision –20 users as control group with no disabilities.

Disabilities Continued n n The three groups had four tasks that were measured: – –*Buy an target.com – –*Information transitchicago.com – –*Compare and schwab.com – any website Blind Low vision Control Success 12.5% 21.4% 78.2% Rate Time on 16:46 15:26 7:14 Task Errors Subjective Reading (Scale 1-7)

Usability Jobs n n Just to list a few: – –Interaction Designer – –Usability, Human Factors – –Usability Analyst – –Web Master/Developer – –Technical Writer – –Java Programmer – –Applications Support Specialist – –Usability Assistant/Specialist Most jobs from $40K-$100K

Courses Available n n Introduction to User Interface Design n n Website Design: Practical Techniques for Usability n n Rapid Prototyping Techniques n n Groupware n n Usability Evaluation n n Digital Design: Design for Interactive Media n n Digital Typography

Jakob Nielson n n Considered to be the expert on web and computer usability n n Website: n n He has set the rules for usability n n He checks numerous websites and gives reports on certain ones whether good or bad n n His favorite website is Amazon.com