3 Consulting

The usability Laboratory offers a range of consulting services that utilise the experience and knowledge of those involved with the laboratory. The services are offered in relation to traditional user interface and IT product designs, as well as to web based applications.

Our facilities enable us to offer usability testing, the goal of which is to provide developers with ideas on how to improve their product, whether to better meet their users' needs to or improve system interaction.

usability tests can be formal and rigorous focusing on the way users use a product or quick and informal focusing on design flaws and usage issues. usability studies typically involve determining the usability goals, creating test scenarios, providing supporting materials (study plans, research manuals, user instructions, training materials, questionnaires) and facilities, recruiting users, collecting, analysing and interpreting performance (speed and accuracy) data and subjective reactions, drawing conclusions and making recommendations.

We also offer other services including user profiling, task analysis, style guides and principles, interface design consulting, expert evaluation, usability courses and laboratory consultations.

3.1 Analysis

3.1.1 User Profiling

We don't believe that useful and valid design decisions can be made without having a clear picture of whom the product users really are. We do this by identifying and describing the typical skill sets, educational levels, expertise, computer and technology literacy, and attitudes and motivational levels, as well as other demographic data.

3.1.2 Task and Goal Analysis

We believe designs should be driven by the needs of real users. By analysing the user’s task and goal requirements a solid design foundation that empowers the users can be determined. We examine the users' goals--what they want to achieve--and tasks--what they do to achieve their goals.

3.2 User-Centered Design

3.2.1 Participatory Designs

We don't believe that 'designers-know-best' and actively encourage the involvement of real users within the design process. We recognise that users are a prime source of innovation and that many useful design ideas arise in collaboration with participants from diverse backgrounds.

3.2.2 Paper Mockups (Paper-Based Prototypes)

A final design solution is rarely found after one design effort. In the early stages of development we find it helpful to abstract away from detailed design solutions and focus on meeting the conceptual requirements of the users. Conceptual designs are often best presented as paper mockups (also known as paper-based prototypes). Paper mockups rely on simple tools such as paper, scissors, and stickies. Paper mockups help bypass the time and effort required to create a working, coded user interface and instead emphasises the real issue--the interface and whether the users are able to achieve their goals.

3.2.3 Style Guides

Users often find it frustrating to use products that lack coherence and consistency. We recommend the use of style guides to help promote a common look and feel--for example, a collection of rules for visual design and use of controls--throughout each area of a product. Users value conformity--it is very frustrating to come across a widget or terminology used in many different ways within one product.

3.2.4 Conceptual Designs

We recognise that interface design is often a complex and involved process. But by drawing upon a variety of usability principles and design processes the design effort can be focused, which can help optimise the first pass at interface design. This often minimises the need for iterative testing and re-designs at later stages of development.

3.3 Evaluation

3.3.1 Usability Walkthroughs

We encourage usability engineers and users to evaluate the products interface together not separately. A usability walkthrough, whether on paper or computer, is a rapid and efficient scenario-based experience of the product from the users' perspectives. If they exist, significant usability issues and design gaps are often easily located and a list of priorities and actions can easily be established.

3.3.2 Expert Interface Evaluation (Heuristic Reviews)

An expert interface evaluation, typically performed by a 'usability' expert, is often used to evaluate a prototype interface or specification document quickly and effectively to identify any potential problems from a list of established usability principles. Although, expert evaluations can drastically reduce the majority of usability issues related to an interface, they should never be used to replace a usability test with real users. We encourage the use of expert evaluations but strongly recommend that these are used as part of a larger usability evaluation.

3.3.3 Usability Testing

The goal of usability testing is to provide developers with ideas on how to improve their product, whether to better meet their users' needs to or improve system interaction.

Usability tests can be formal and rigorous focusing on the way users use a product or quick and informal focusing on design flaws and usage issues. Our usability studies typically involve determining the usability goals, creating test scenarios, providing supporting materials (study plans, research manuals, user instructions, training materials, questionnaires) and facilities, recruiting users, collecting, analysing and interpreting performance (speed and accuracy) data and subjective reactions, drawing conclusions and making recommendations.

3.4 Other

3.4.1 Laboratory Consulting

One of our goals is to encourage and promote the development and adoption of usability within the TT IT industry. We are available to help plan and implement usability engineering departments, laboratories and methodologies for these organisations.

UWI Usability Lab Consulting

Revised: 11 June 2008