ParaQ Usability

ParaQ Summit IIMarch 14, 2006

Matthew Wong, SNL/CA

Agenda• Usability Goals

– “High level” usability goals– “Low Level” usability goals

• Usability 101– Usability methods– Usability critiques/user testing

• ParaQ Use Cases

• pqClient user interface walkthrough

• Discussion/action item assignments

“High Level” Usability Goals• User Interface responsiveness for large data

(e.g. Accept/Reset) • Quick navigation between object inspectors

(e.g. between sources, filters, lookup table editors)

• Intuitive parameter editing (of readers, filters, lookup tables, annotation, composite filters etc. using Qt GUI + 3D widgets)

• Time selection (global time?)

• Intuitive data inspection • Easy animation (but also powerful) • Easy quantitative analysis

“Low Level” Usability Goals• ??

Usability 101• Usability design is an iterative process

• Usability design can occur at all stages of the design cycle– Paper sketches– Paper Prototypes/Wizard of Oz– Testing of Non-functioning GUIs– Testing of Functioning GUIs

UI Evaluation Methods• Contextual Inquiry – Observation of a user in his or

her own work environment to collect user requirements

• Heuristic Evaluation – Usability inspection method to critique an existing user interface by testing predefined heuristics

• Cognitive Walkthrough – Usability inspection method to cognitively evaluate if a typical user would successfully perform a use-case

• Think-Aloud Usability Studies – A user steps through a use-case, and verbalizes what he or she is thinking

Heuristic Evaluation• Visibility of system status • Match between system and the real world • User control and freedom • Consistency and standards • Error prevention • Recognition rather than recall • Flexibility and efficiency of use • Aesthetic and minimalist design • Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from

errors • Help and documentation

Cognitive Walkthrough• Will the users be trying to produce

whatever effect the action has?• Will users be able to notice that the

correct action is available?• Once users find the correct action at

the interface, will they know that it is the right one for the effect they are trying to produce?

• After the action is taken, will users understand the feedback they get?

Future Usability Critiques• Bi-Weekly critique led by Matthew• Go through typical use cases, and

find usability issues, using:– Self-inspection methods

• Heuristic Evaluation• Cognitive Walkthough

– User Testing• Think-Aloud Usability Study

ParaQ Use Cases• ??

pqClient UI Walkthrough

Discussion• Questions?

• Action items?

• Path forward?