Using Children to Evaluate Software

Janet C Read

All mimsy were the borogroves, and the mome raths outgrabe

Lewis Carroll - Jabberwocky

Objectives

• Describe heuristics for fun, usability and pleasure

• Carry out a heuristic evaluation of a child’s product

Usability (1)

• Visibility of system status• Match between real and system

world• User control and freedom• Consistency and standards• Help users find, fix and recover

from errors

Usability (2)

• Prevent errors• Recognition rather than recall• Flexibility and efficient use• Aesthetic / Minimalist design• Help and Documentation• Nielsen (2001)

Fun

• Challenge – not too easy, not too hard• Feedback – to reduce uncertainty• Curiosity – video, audio or other stuff• Fantasy – evoke mental images• Choice – should be provided• Control – optimal for user• Malone and Lepper

Pleasure

SatisfyingEnjoyable and funEntertainingHelpfulMotivating

Pleasure (2)

Aesthetically pleasingSupportive of creativityRewardingEmotionally fulfillingPreece, Rogers, Sharp (2002)

Activity