Difference between revisions of "Usability"
From GIMP GUI Redesign
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** Tasks can be assigned before, during and after the field phase, e.g. | ** Tasks can be assigned before, during and after the field phase, e.g. | ||
*** brainstorm ideas for optimal recruiting | *** brainstorm ideas for optimal recruiting | ||
− | *** conduct interviews | + | *** help with recruiting |
+ | *** conduct interviews / parallel transcription | ||
*** transcribe and analyze interviews | *** transcribe and analyze interviews | ||
*** help build the visualization | *** help build the visualization |
Revision as of 13:44, 30 May 2011
Contents
Aims
- provide further information and understanding in the following areas:
- users ("who?")
- tasks ("what?", "how?")
- context ("where, when, why?")
Proposed Method
- Mental Models by Indi Young
- qualitative method
- based on open interviews (no questionnaires)
- Further information on this method is available, see:
- The book (rosenfeld media) Mental Models
- excerpts available for online reading via paperc (German website, free account required, book in English)
- The author explaining the method in this Video
- diagrams from the book on flickr
Course of Actions
- define audience based on product vision
- set scope
- recruit interview partners
- conduct interviews
- at least 4 interviews per audience segment
- focus: tasks, behaviours and philosophies of users
- transcribe interviews
- analyze results
- distillation of tasks, behaviours and philosophies into patterns
- create graphic of patterns in a mental model
- oppose mental model vs. existing functionality
- make use
- gap analysis (planned and existing functionality vs. users' behavior, needs and tasks)
- adjust user scenarios / audience segments
- derive stragety for development
- prioritize features (importance vs. feasability)
Recruiting
- The product vision is used as a starting point to find the right partners (interviewees) for the mental models interviews.
- Finding the right interview partners is pivotal. Recruiting must be prepared and carried out carefully.
Thoughts on Conducting the Method
- Embed an intern via OpenUsability?
- Tasks can be assigned before, during and after the field phase, e.g.
- brainstorm ideas for optimal recruiting
- help with recruiting
- conduct interviews / parallel transcription
- transcribe and analyze interviews
- help build the visualization
- Tasks can be assigned before, during and after the field phase, e.g.
pros and cons
- (+) pros
- fundamental research, broad focus, high-level
- detailed analysis of users and their tasks
- research is built on existing findings
- verification of user scenarios / audience segments
- based on tasks and behavior
- adaptable / scalable method
- supports strategic vision and long-term development
- revision and clarification of user scenarios
- (-) cons
- fundamental research, broad focus, high-level
- no immediate improvements
- complex method
- not all existing findings are considered
Deliverables
- Mental Model Diagram
- one diagram per audience segment
- tasks organized in "Mental Spaces" of users
- justified audience segments based on tasks
- gap analysis
- functionality overview will be confronted with users' perspective
- A primer describing the target audience of GIMP can be derived (e.g. 20-40 page pdf about users, tasks, context; for both new and seasoned developers or interaction / usability contributors)