A Pedagogical Tool For Usability Science

A Pedagogical Tool for Usability ScienceNickolas PotvinAdvisors: Professors Hedrick, Cass, and Fernandes

What is Usability Science?

Usability science: rigorously evaluate which design is more usable2MotivationSophomore Research Seminar in Usability ScienceStudents build mock appliances out of ad-hoc materials

Data collection and experimentation error-prone

-students design new interfaces to find out which is most usable-when an ad-hoc interface stove burner goes from off to on the student has to manually change a black piece of paper (off) to a red piece of paper (on) distracting to the user and takes time-during evaluation process real people are brought in to try and accomplish tasks in order to test the design3MotivationWant a system that performs these tasks automatically and interacts with user

Overarching GoalCreate an easily modifiable board with various widgets (input and output devices) that can be added or removed

Overarching GoalComputer controller widgetsWidgets connected via 1-wire bus TINI controller ALL devices addressablelocation independent (e.g. two previous stoves)

-explain WHY 1-wire is good-explain WHY TINI is good-location independence: reference back to 2 stove designs- same program can run both6Experimenter does the following:Design Appliance BehaviorAn Amazing Block Diagram Put Widgets on BoardPerform User Study-give a brief overview of what each step entails7Design ApplianceBehaviorExperimenter decides widget interactions and appliance behaviorScripting languageCode compiled for use on the controller Program is ready to go!

-experimenter 8Put Widgets on BoardBefore a user can simply plug in the desired widgets

The widgets need to be designed and created

1-Wire chipsBus7-segment display widgetWidget slotKnob widget

Widget Design1-Wire Bus:All widgets addressableLocation independentAll widgets communicate on same busForm factor:All widgets same size (2 x 2)Same connector to busSame pin usageInterchangeable

-ds2450: analog to digital, ds2413: output devices-explain relationship between widget and 1-wire chip10Widget Design

Widget Design

Widget DesignSolder reflow process

-right way is to get a real reflow oven like the LPKF one but given time constraints we used a normal toaster oven-explain in detail what gets done mounting of components, solder paste, cooking process, what components get reflowed13Widget DesignSolder, solder, solderAttach top and bottom boards togetherWidget ready at last to be used

Perform User StudyNow that the user has some widgets to use they can run their program on the controller (TINI)

Explain why/how this is better than old design-mention location independence16ResultsTwo widgets fully testedFour widgets fully designedLocation independenceWorking demonstration of designWorking prototype boardAll elements testedScripting language

Profit!Future WorkUser scripting languageParserLoggerUpgrade the reflow ovenBuild a bigger boardMore widgets!Continuing next term

Questions?