IM2044 – Week 1: LectureDr. Andres Baravalle

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Lecture content

• Module introduction (team, aims, learning outcomes and structure)

• Introduction to Usability Engineering• Logistics

Module introduction

Module team

• Andres Baravalle• Haris Mouratidis

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Module aims• To provide students with the core theoretical background

necessary for the implementation of usable software interfaces• To introduce the student to techniques for the assessment of

software interface• To provide a practical experience of implementing usable

software interfaces• To provide a practical experience of assessing the usability of

software interfaces• To form basis for the application of Usability Engineering in

industrial practice• To encourage the development of successful problem solving

strategies and to contribute to the development of academic skills throughout their programme of study

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Learning outcomes • LO1: Apply the knowledge of user needs to an

Information System application specification• LO2: Apply appropriate design and specification

standards• LO3: Have an awareness of current practices in the

development of systems for people• LO4: Effectively evaluate various systems and make

appropriate design decisions• LO5: Prepare and present design specifications• LO6: Manage own time

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Module structure (tentative)1. Usability: introduction

2. Accessibility: introduction  

3. SPEL (Social, political, ethical and legal) issues

4. Usability evaluations (part 1)

5. Usability evaluations (part 2)

6. UCSD

7. Introduction to task analysis

8. Requirements gathering

9. Cognitive psychology for usability

10. Guidelines and standards for design.

11. UCSD and advanced technologies

12. Don’t make me think

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Introduction to Usability Engineering

Usability in context

• Usability is a wide research field that involves researchers from different disciplines such as:– Communication Science, Psychology and

Sociology– Computer Science and Engineering– Human Computer Interaction and

Ergonomics.

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Usability definitions: IEEE 90

• "The ease with which an user can learn to operate, prepare inputs for, and interpret outputs of a system or component." (IEEE 90).

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Usability definitions: ISO 9241

• "The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use." (ISO 9241).

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Usability definitions: ISO 13407

• "The usability of an interface is a measure of the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which specified users can achieve specified goals in a particular environment with that interface." (ISO 13407).

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Usability definitions: summary• The first definition stresses the "easy of use" of a system

and the actions that should be easily performed (operating with a system, preparing input, interpreting output).

• The second definition states that usability is not a generic concept, but that it is specific to individual users and contexts. It also clarifies that the goals for which a product is used have to be achieved with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction.

• The third definition is very similar to the second, but stresses that usability is a measure of a condition, not a static property of an artefact.

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Usability definitions: summary (2)• The next slides focus on defining with

more accuracy the core terms used in the usability definition(s)

Interface

• A interface is the means by which interaction is achieved– E.g. The keyboard is one of the possible

interfaces for a PC

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Effectiveness

• Effectiveness: each user has a particular goal to achieve when using an interface.

• Effectiveness measures if the expected goals have been achieved and measures the accuracy and completeness of the specified goals.

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Efficiency

• Efficiency: measures the effort necessary to achieve the user’s goal and if it is proportionate to the expected result.

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Satisfaction

• Satisfaction: measures the pleasantness of using a particular interface and if the interface is suitable or not for the desired goal.

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Usability roots• While it can be difficult to find the "first" usability study

we can find interests in usability that can be dated at least to classic authors.

• Greek and Roman authors were already aware of the problems related to Ergonomics, but we cannot find a systematic exposition of the issues.

• The environment and its relation to worker health were recognized as early as the fourth century BC when Hippocrates noticed lead toxicity in the mining industry

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Usability Roots: Bernardo Ramazzini• “The maladies that affect the clerks arise

from three causes: first, constant sitting; secondly, incessant movement of the hand and always in the same direction; and thirdly, the strain on the mind.”

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Usability Engineering

• Usability Engineering is the discipline that focuses on implementing and assessing the usability of an interface.

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Module logistics

Module organisation

• 1 hour lecture• 1 hour tutorial• 2 hours practical/workshop (including

student presentation)

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Tutorial groups

• You should all have been allocated a Tutorial/Practical group, but if you have not been allocated a group yet:– If you are a part-time student or a Combined

Honours student, please attend to Group 1– Otherwise, please attend to Group 2

IM2044 is a green module

• You will not receive a printed copy of your handbook

• You will not receive printed notes/slides• You will not have to hand in any printed work

and you will have a on-line submission– Submission at the helpdesk will NOT be available– You will receive on-line feedback for you assessment

Readings and resources for the module• The core text book for this module is

– Sharp, H., Rogers, Y. and Preece, Y. (2007) Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons.

• A list of recommended readings is included in the Module specifications at the end of your Module Handbook

UELPlus

• Slides, teaching material, module handbook are ALL in UELPlus– The teaching material in the UELPlus pages

might be updated during the semester– Keep an eye for updated documentation

• The assignment will be released in week 3

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