IE 662: Class Project

Written report Due: 5/9/2003

Class Presentation: 4/25/2003

Written report: 5-15 pages

Objective: Find a user interface which you thinks needs improvement. Collect data (using formal or informal method of your choice) about what needs improvement. Mock up changes you think are needed.

Step 1: Find a user interface to a device, Internet site, or computer software program

Examples: A web page, e.g. Amazon.com, Yahoo.com etc.

Your VCR

Your Car Radio

Your PC or laptop's controls

A timer on a coffeemaker

PC Software program, e.g. Star Office for Unix, Microsoft Word

A remote control

Step 2:

Option 1:

Do any kind of empirical examination discussed in class or in the book on the user interface. Define some tasks to perform on the device or user interface, collect the data, and report it. Explain how it directs the ways in which the user interface should be changed.

Examples:

§ Find 3-5 friends and have them do several tasks on your chosen UI, report errors and think-aloud results

§ Watch several people using the user interface, do an informal task analysis, observe their motions, record, collect data about the user training, characteristics, etc.

§ Conduct an expert analysis by collecting 2-3 people with user interface training, conduct a walkthough

Option 2:

Do a literature review on the user interface. By necessity choosing this option means you have chosen a user interface that is well-researched. At least 3 articles or reports should be available. Make your conclusions on what should be changed based upon the articles you found, they should be mostly empirical reports of some sort.

Step 3:

Construct a prototype to demonstrate the changes you propose. It may be a paper prototype, drawing, or computer simulation, or slide show, or other reasonable option.

Be prepared to walk through how your prototype works at your presentation, perhaps doing iterative design, e.g. do empirical study with 1 or more people on your prototype.

Step 4:

Prepare an apx. 15 minute presentation to class, showing your changes and reporting your literature review and/or empirical results. Prepare a short paper write up, which may be handed in at the final exam.