UW Library - CNAPG - WebUsability - 20011 UW Library – Web Usability Testing CNAPG Project Amos Lakos & Anne Fullerton Davis Library July 10 2001

UW Library - CNAPG - WebUsability - 2001

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UW Library – Web Usability Testing

CNAPG ProjectAmos Lakos & Anne Fullerton

Davis LibraryJuly 10 2001


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Usability – What is it?

Users can use the product quickly & easily – to accomplish their tasks

Focus on users – understanding what they want & need to accomplish

Users (not designer) - determine when the product is easy to use


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Web Usability – why test?(Jacob Nielsen)

To improve design – not document existing weaknesses

Average site has 11 usability catastrophes

On average – users complete 42% of test tasks

Most users rate sites subjectively – 4.9/7 – rate high


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Usability Tests - methodology

Identify user population profileFind representative usersHeuristic EvaluationUsability (User) Testing

Prototype groups of 5-6 testeesFocus GroupsUser feedback – web, phone, etc.Usage Log Analysis


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UW Web Usability – Why?

If users can’t find what they search for – they will go somewhere else!!!

Customer decides everything – competition is a mouse-click away

Have to make web site useful to our students & faculty – so they use it well - reduce stress & frustration - save time

Create brand loyalty – stay with UW site!!!


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Web Usability – UW Library Goals

Make the UW Library Gateway the main window to information to our students & faculty

Make the UW Library Web site useful to our customers

Use User Centred Design – to build the UW Library web site

Create Brand Loyalty (UW Library)


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UW Web Usability – what are we doing?

Systems Design Students ProjectPrototype CreationUsability Testing – 5-6 individuals

Analysis of results Focus groups Creation of new prototype

Repeat test cycle


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UW Gateway Usability Study - background

Terms of ReferenceProfessor Carolyn MacGregor –

cognitive ergonomics researchSystems Design 348 – User Centred

Design (UCD) CECS project – winter 1999


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Project Objectives

1. Usability evaluation of current UW Library gateway

2. Redesign (& evaluate redesigns) using a series of user centred design techniques

3. Functional prototype 4. Use 8 UCD methods5. CNAPG member as a client6. Professor & TAs as project managers

& project coordinators


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Phase 1 – Evaluation of the Current Gateway

Current page analysis Cognitive Design Walkthrough Heuristic Evaluation Hierarchical Task Analysis

Competitive analysis of other library gateways

Proposals for changes to gateway & preliminary sketches


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Phase 2 – Evaluate Low-fidelity (non-functional) Prototypes

Card Sorting Discount Usability

Heuristics Cognitive Design Walkthrough

Prototypes on 8.5 x 11 paper


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Phase 3: Evaluate Medium Fidelity (functional) Prototypes

Key Stroke Level AnalysisLab Based User Testing

Timed Trials Subjective Evaluation

Presentation of final prototypes to class & CNAPG


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Common Student Findings

Words & phrases for links not intuitiveDavis graphic distracting; hides text

versionNavigation bar missed; buttons not

obviousMouse-over & mouse-types

inconsistentDirect search of TRELLIS expected on

top page


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Design Recommendations

Revise heading & subheading language (card sorting)

Majority of space for headings & subheadings

Visually connect headings & subheadings

Simplify navigation bar – consistency; add site index


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Design Recommendations – cont’d

Clear UW logo (top left)TRELLIS quick search (top left)Text version explicit (top right)Colours & fonts to facilitate

reading & feedback


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Next Steps

1. Language revisions – card sorting – grad students; faculty

2. Rapid prototyping – 1/week planned

3. New design – mid August

Documents

UW Library - CNAPG - WebUsability - 20011 UW Library – Web Usability Testing CNAPG Project Amos Lakos & Anne Fullerton Davis Library July 10 2001