203 CR
DESIGNING
FOR USABILITY 2
REDESIGNING PERVASIVE COMPUTING PAPER
PROTOTYPE DOCUMENTATION
Prepared
by:
Mohammad
Afif Fahim Bin Hairani
(CVB
120805225)
Prepared
for:
Madam
Nasrah bt Hassan Basri
INTRODUCTION
Usability is one of the method that assesses how easy and
simple for a user to use the interfaces. Besides, usability also related to the
methods for enhancing ease-of-use during the design process of the product.
There are five key components in defining the usability which are Learnability,
Efficiency, Memorability, Errors and Satisfaction. Firstly, learnability means
how much easy for the user to do a task for the first time when they face the
design. Next, the efficiency whereas the time taken and speed of the user to
complete the task when they have learned the design. After that, memorability
is they can memorize the design when they are not experiencing the design for a
short or long time. The next key components of defining the usability is errors
which is how much errors made by the user, the level of severe of the errors
and how they user recovers it. Lastly, satisfactions is how pleasant the design
used for the user. The definition of designing for usability how certain
components or devices are design in order to meet the expectation of the user
to achieve their goal and address all issue and problem in term of efficiency,
effectiveness and satisfaction.
EXAMPLE OF PERVASIVE DEVICE: CONVEX OEM PLAYER
Picture 1: Convex OEM Player
Nowadays,
a lot of inventions and products that have been produced by expert to make the
human life easier and get a better life from day to day. The reason behind this
is a lot of products and devices produced which are been improvised and
innovations that made our life easier than before. To complete this assignment,
Convex OEM Player has been taken as example of pervasive computing device. It
is because the device is qualify in pervasive computing. As we know, the terms pervasive means "existing
everywhere." Pervasive computing systems are connected to each other at
all time and that is the reason they connect among of them consistently. This
device not only an audio and movie player in the car, this device contains a
processor or chip powered by A9 from Philips which enable the device to connect
with another computing devices such as smartphones and laptops. In term of
connectivity which has been applied in pervasive computing, the device can
connect to the Androuid smartphones or Windows laptops during playing the song
or movie through wireless connections (Wi – Fi) and Bluetooth connection. To
make sure the successfulness of connections, make sure the router is exist and
the Bluetooth function is on on both devices. Besides, any other devices such
as Iphone and Ipod also can connect to this device because it is universal and
there is no limitation in term of connections to the devices.
If one of the device is not
turning on the function, the process of transferring or playing any media files
will fail. Besides, this device also can be controlled by the user by steering
control. User can control the music whether the music can be stopped or played
using the control button on the steering. This devices also have a TV tuner and
a lot of TV programme using addition antenna and must be installed on the car.
The user can get the desire channel through this device because this device
contains TV tuner function. Thus, this device enable the passengers to enjoy
watching television programme in the car in a journey or anywhere. The device
also contains multi-port which are USB port and SD - Card port. Certain users
tend to play media file by inserting these kind of removeable storage to the
ports which are available at the device.
USABILITY EVALUATION APPROACH
As stated by the Perlman, G (2015),
there are 3 types of usability evaluation approach which are testing,
inspection and inquiry. These three approach have different method to be
implemented. By doing this project, there are two usability evaluation
approaches that will be used in order to implement a testing and evaluation of
Convex OEM Player which are inspection and inquiry.
In term of inspection, the heuristic
evaluation method has been chosen to evaluate the usability of the chosen device
according the principles by Jakob Nielsen. The inspection method required the
user to make a checking process and make a testing to the function of device or
interface which is can be used and maintained their functionality by following
the inspection method’s guidelines which is heuristic evaluation method.
For the inquiry approach, the
observation and interview method will be used measure the level of
understanding of the user while using the device and the effectiveness of the
information which are being conveyed by the device. The inquiry will make use
of any mean of interaction between the device and surrounding environment and
upon completed collecting the data, it will be analyzed to ensure that the
device can be improved in any kind of way such as functionality, interface and
other related things.
The inquiry approach also will retrieve
several opinion from the user when interacting with the device to detect any errors
with device whether the errors produce by the device and errors made by the
users themselves to ensure that the device can be improved in future.
METHODOLOGY
The
method that will be used for the inspection approach is the heuristic
evaluation and the method for the inquiry is observation and interview. As for
the heuristic evaluation, the device functionality and interface will be
inspect based on Jakob Nielsen by 10
type of inspection which is visibility of system status, match between system
and real world, user control and freedom, consistency and standard, error
prevention, recognition rather than recall, flexibility and efficiency of use,
aesthetic and minimalist design, help user recognize, diagnose and recover from
error and help and documentation. Not all of the type of inspection will be
chosen, only a few of them will be selected to check the new design of Convex OEM
Player in term of functions and interface in order to meet the requirement of
the user.
According to the Jakob Nielsen, the
principle of visibility of system status means the Convex OEM Player should
always provide proper feedback to the user about the system in reasonable time.
As an example, Convex OEM Player have the function which it can respond to the
user within reasonable time when the user want to play a song or movie using
removable storage. The user do not need to wait for a long time to play the
media files because the power of processor which is installed in OEM Player
enable the device works smoothly without any interruptions and interference
also taking a longer time to process the task given by the user.
Following the Jakob Nielsen, the
principle of match between system and real world means Convex OEM Player able
to deliver the information to the user such as concepts, words and convention
which have nearest similar to the real world in term of natural and logical
order. Convex OEM Player use this concept whereby it use icon which is similar
in real world conventions. Besides, the GPS functions which provided by PapaGO
software also use the real world distance measurement which is kilometer when
the user use the GPS system to travel to their destinations. There are many
possible way will be available in the interface and easy to understand by the
user.
Based on the Jakob Nielsen the
principle of user control and freedom means that Convex OEM Player should
provide addition to those user who are making
mistakes while using the device such as provide undo, redo and emergency
exit. The power button is provide to the user and useful when the system is
stuck for a long time. In addition, the user can choose to exit using the
device by tapping the power button for a long time which is 15 seconds until
the system restart. The user can control the accurateness of the result from
the training by only turn on the pedometer when the training is started.
Besides, based on Jakob Nielsen towards
the principle of consistency and standard means that the Convex OEM Player
should ensure that every component should not contains consistent elements in
term of icons, navigation and other related things. In term of consistency and
standard, Convex OEM Player provide consistent icons and menu for every
sections and easy to understand for the user when they navigate to anywhere in
the interfaces.
In addition, Jakob Nielsen also
mentioned about the principle of error prevention means that the Convex OEM Player
prompt a message to the user or prevent them from making any action that could
produce errors happen in Convex OEM Player. As an example, Convex OEM Player
will prompt the user there is no device connected to the player when the user
has not connect any removable storage to the port available. Besides, the
player always turning on the Bluetooth functions and if the user want to play a
song through the smartphone and Bluetooth function is disable, the player will
present “Please connect USB or Bluetooth”.
Furthermore, according to the Jakob
Nielsen the principle which is recognition rather than recall mean that the Convex
OEM Player should reduce use of the memory overload on the user by making an
object, option and action visible and easily to get back in proper way. Convex
OEM Player reduce the memory user overload by making the data visible and
easily recognized by the user such as displaying the list of songs and movies
when the removable storage or any smartphone connect with the player.
As mentioned by Jakob Nielsen the
principle which flexibility and efficiency of use means that the Convex OEM
Player can provide way for both inexperienced and experienced user. Both
experienced and inexperienced user just need to tap and make touch to the
options given in the player. Since the interface is not hard to understand,
both of the user can use the interface without any offense.
According to the Jakob Nielsen the
principle of Aesthetic and Minimalist Design mean that the Convex OEM Player should
make things simple and straight and distinguish all the information which is
not suitable with the player. Convex OEM Player has basic design and stylish
and make the user feel pleasant to use it. As an example, for the interface of
the navigations, the player only provide simple and stylish icons and menus for
the user.
According to the Jakob Nielsen the
principle of help user recognize, diagnose and recover from error means that Convex
OEM Player should prompt the user the error message in easy way which make the
user easy to understand about the errors occur during using the payer, display
the problem and show the alternative way to overcome the solution.
According to the Jakob Nielsen the
principle of help and documentation means that the OEM Player provides
documentation that guide the user step by step to solve any problem which
exist. The OEM player have a manuals and provide a documentations so that the
user could understand faster.
According to the Jakob Nielsen the
principle of help user recognize, diagnose and recover from error means that Convex
OEM Player should prompt the user the error message in easy way which make the
user easy to understand about the errors occur during using the payer, display
the problem and show the alternative way to overcome the solution.
Last but not least, according to the
Jakob Nielsen the principle of help and documentation means that the OEM Player
provides documentation that guide the user step by step to solve any problem
which exist. The OEM player have a manuals and provide a documentations so that
the user could understand faster.
PROTOTYPE
Easy interface
Figure 1
Figure 1 illustrates the simple interface of the Convex OEM
Player as a pervasive computing design. Simple interface means the interface
contains several icons menus which is easy to understand for the user.
Eventhough it is a pervasive computing, it must be improved in term of
connections to other device. For the simple interface, it make the user easy to
understand while using it based on the icon provided in the interface. For the
first function is Navigations as known as GPS system. When the user choose
Navigations, they will get the directions based on the GPS system installed in
the car. Next, the radio icon is the function which make the user easier
listening to the music while using the radio. Besides, the television functions
also enable the user to watch live television programme while enjoying the
journey especially the passengers. After that, USB icon is common functions for
all the player out there. Certain user might be to play a song using the
removable storage whether using flash drive or external drive as long as they
have USB port. Besides, some of the user
would like to play songs or movie using DVD or VCD which is available in the
Convex OEM Player. Other than that, the player also build with SD card port
which also one of the removable storage. The function of the SD card also same
which is store the media files such as songs and movies. The interface also
contain bluetooth which enable the user to connect with the player using their
smartphone or any device which has Bluetooth functions. The songs and movies
will be played directly and can be controlled via another devices which connect
with it. The volume options can make the user to control the loudness of the
sound produced by the player.
Hard interface
Figure 2
Besides, the Figure 2 shows the Hard Interface of the Convex
OEM Player. Hard Interface means the interface contains a few icons which can
be understand by certain experienced user and it comes with alternative text
for those are quite hard to understand the those icons with functions.
Commonly, these icons come up with different functions and looks more colourful
than the easy interface which has single colour which is black and has no
background. The functions in the hard interface is quite similar with the easy
interface but it contains a few improvements such as addition of Wi-Fi
functions which enable the user to play media files using hotspot or bluetooth
tethering functions. Besides, the interface also give the information to the
user related on the maximum GB of SD Card storage which is only 64 GB. The
player will not read the media files in the SD Card which has size to 128 GB.
In the future, the OEM player will be enhanced and support to the maximum
storage. Last but not least,
REASON OF PICKING HARD INTERFACE
Both of the interface have their advantages and
disadvantage. But in this case, the hard interface prototype was chosen. Based
on the hard interface prototype, it can be said that it has several
improvements regarding to make the user easy to understand and use the player. In
term of icons and menus, the hard interface contains more details than the
simple interface which icon based only. Some of the user give a suggestion
which is the simple interface should be improved by redesigning it with icons
together with alternative text and it will be easier to the user. After that,
in term of functions, hard interface consist of improved functions such as a
larger storage to read and Wi-Fi functions and enable the user to transfer or
play media files at the same time without any interference because the Convex
OEM Player has stronger signal. Besides, the hard interface prototype is
following the latest technologies which is touch. Nowadays, people tend to use
smartphone with touch function. Everything are easy to get and retrieve. The
user only need to swipe from left to right to find the desire functions. Once
they find the functions, the just tap it to enter the menu. As an example, if
the user want to use the Bluetooth function, they just tap the Bluetooth icon
which is located bottom of the interface and the pop up will shows the list of
connected device with the player. If the user is not connected or paired with
the device, they just tap “Pair” and pairing process between the player and
their device will run at that time.
INTERACTION STYLES
In term of interaction
styles, hard interface prototype is more successful than easy interface. The
reason is the hard interface of Convex OEM Player contains labels with search
functions. As an example, if the user could not find the functions they want,
they simple go to search field and type the function which they want. The
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth functions and volume icons is located bottom in the interface
because it is easier to user to get and use it. Besides, the swipe and touch
concept are widely used in another devices and most of the user are familiar
with the interfaces.
CONLUSION
As a
conclusion, it can be said that all pervasive computing devices have their own
advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of redesigning the new interfaces
which consist of easy interface and hard interface is to identify the suitable,
the ease to use, effectiveness and other related things based on qualifications
of pervasive computing.
REFERENCE
1.
"What
Is Pervasive Computing? - Definition From Techopedia". Techopedia.com.
N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
2.
"Ben
Shneiderman". Cs.umd.edu. N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
3.
"Usability
101: Introduction To Usability". Nngroup.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 29
Apr. 2016.
4.
"What
Is Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous Computing)? - Definition From
Whatis.Com". IoT Agenda. N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
5. "Usability Evaluation". Usabilityhome.com.
N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
0 comments:
Post a Comment