Human Computer Interaction (COMP352/552)

Case Study

As specified in the first lecture, and reiterated on the web site, the HCI course has no courseworks. This should not mean, however, that keen students won't have something to do! It only means that I cannot award you any mark for doing it (mind you, I'd like to, but I'm not allowed).

To do what?

In this year case study you are asked to have a closer look to a specified web-site, with the aim of finding avenues for improvement.

How?

After each week of the course, your task will be to observe the web site from the points of view highlighted at the lectures, and send your comments via e-mail to floriana.

This is for real!

Your comments will be useful, at the end of the module, to prepare a questionnaire, which will be sent back to the current site manager, David Osa-Edoh (feel free to e-mail him if you need clarifications).

OK, where do I go?

The site to analyse is:

The Chemical Database Service

PLAN

Week 1

Features to analyse:
  1. Colour (background, Las Vegas effect, consistency, vision)
  2. User model: is there any? Would it be useful to have one? With which characteristics?
Browse the web site with the above in mind, and send your comments via e-mail.

Week 2

  1. Design a usability test for one particular feature of the web site.
  2. Create a user questionnaire (at least 5 questions) for a survey evaluation of the web site.
Send your solution via e-mail.

Week 3

  1. What are the interaction styles used in the system?
  2. Are they all appropriate for the various tasks, or in some cases a different style would have been more efficient/appealing?
Send your comments via e-mail.

Week 4

  1. Discuss the use of images and icons.
  2. What kind of information is provided by the system?
  3. Which information visualisation techniques are used in the system, and which might have been used to improve usability?
Send your comments via e-mail.