Mid-Term Exam Review IS 485, Professor Matt Thatcher

2 Agenda l Exam format l Tips l Topics list l Free Q & A

3 Format of Mid-Term Exam l Fill-in-the-blank (maybe) –supply best answer l Short answer –example interface »here is an example of an interface – find the flaws –example situations »here is an example design process – find the flaws, or what concepts does it illustrate? –definitions and lists –compare and contrast –process steps –constructing examples of course concepts »case examples, everyday object examples, etc.

4 Tips for Preparation l Before the exam –review readings and notes  esp “Review” sections –list concepts –group similar concepts together –make up exam questions »why is this concept important? »how does it fit into the big picture? »can I compare this concept to other similar ones? If so, then how is it different? »what is a real world example of this concept? l During the exam –read questions carefully –manage your time carefully

5 Most Important Information l Class 1 –User Centered Design (Slides 14, 16-20, 26-29) l Class 2 –Task Analysis and Contextual Inquiry (Slides 7, 15-16, 22-25, 29) –Task Scenarios and Sketches (Slides 5-15, 44) l Class 3 –Interface Metaphors and Conceptual Models (Slides 3, 5-6, 14-15, 24, 29-30, 45-46) –Design Principles (know the 10 heuristics of good design from Jakob Nielsen) l Class 4 –Effective Use of Color (Slides 4-13, 26-27) –Web Design Patterns (Homepage) (Slides most of these slides are screenshots and examples) l Class 5 –Web Design Patterns (E-commerce) (Slides ) –Low-Fidelity User Testing (Slides ) l Class 6 –No content from this class will be on the exam

6 A Quick Topics List l User-Centered Design –definition of HCI –layers of the computer –definition of usability »5 usability metrics »economic benefits of improved usability –definition of the iterative, user-centered design process »task analysis (the triangle) »prototyping model –compare and contrast the waterfall model vs. iterative, user- centered design –software designer as architect »comparison of goals, process, etc. –what 5 elements make up a GUI screen design? »metaphors, …

7 A Quick Topics List l Team Project –compare and contrast “groups” vs. “teams” »you can think about this in terms of our comparison of how “groups” work in the waterfall model vs. how “teams” work in the prototyping model l Task analysis and Contextual Inquiry –task analysis questions –what makes a good task? –contextual inquiry »process (e.g., what should you do? what steps should you take?) »the concept of “partnership”, “master/apprentice relationship” »why is it so important to “observe” users in their environment?

8 A Quick Topics List l Task Scenarios and Sketches –tasks vs. scenarios of actual use vs. design »what makes a good task? what makes a good scenario? what should scenarios look like? »can you construct examples? »can you recognize problems in an example? –how do we select tasks to include in scenarios early in process? –what are the advantages of low-fidelity prototypes? –definition of storyboarding

9 A Quick Topics List l Interface Metaphors and Conceptual Models –definition of a mental model –how do users form their mental models? –user model vs. design model vs. user interface »there is a diagram that helps explain this relationship in the class notes –design guides for everyday objects (matching design and user models through the UI) »visibility (affordances, constraints, and crucial distinctions), metaphors, feedback –can you construct examples of these concepts? –can you recognize problems in an example?

10 A Quick Topics List l Design Principles/Design Evaluations –memorize the 10 heuristics of good GUI design presented in class »can you construct examples? »can you recognize heuristic violations in an example? –helpful suggestions for creating effective error messages –I will not ask questions specific to the Sun web design case

11 A Quick Topics List l Effective Use of Color –physiology of the eye »chromeosteriopsis, cone composition, aging, color deficiency –complementary colors »implications for effective color combinations? –memorize resulting guidelines for using color »can you construct examples? »can you recognize principles in an example? »can you explain the reason underlying the guidelines?

12 A Quick Topics List l Web Design Patterns (Homepage) –4 main steps of the web design process »know the terminology »slight variation of the prototype model –Web design specialties »information design, navigation design, graphics design »definition of information architecture and user interface design in this context –6 ways to make a good homepage »can you construct examples? »can you recognize problems in an example? can you recommend solutions? »memorize some of the underlined terminology (solutions) in the class notes u Up-Front Value Proposition, Descriptive, Longer Link Names, Clear First Read, Consistent Sidebars of Related Content, etc. »review the Page Template presented in the class notes

13 A Quick Topics List l Web Design Patterns (E-commerce) –contrast 3 different ways to collect personalization data from users (edit vs. interview vs. deduce) »can you construct examples? »can you recognize concepts in an example? »don’t worry about collaborative filtering or the scoring methods –shopping on the web »product details page (what should be included) »how to apply shopping carts (what should be included) »completing the process funnel of Quick-Flow Checkout »can you recognize problems in an example?

14 A Quick Topics List l Low-fi prototyping –compare and contrast low-fi vs. hi-fi prototyping »advantages and disadvantages –general guidelines for using controls in forms »e.g., check boxes vs. radio buttons –what is a chauffeured prototype? –conducting a user test »process »think aloud protocol »potential problems with low-fi user testing »can you think of ways to overcome (or minimize) these problems?

15 A Quick Topics List l E-groceries –I will not ask questions specific to this case –note that this class provided more practice for the exam since we were able to evaluate a real design, uncover design problems, and provide solutions

16 Important Readings l These are worth revisiting –Contextual Inquiry –Creating Task Scenarios –Ten Usability Heuristics –Using Controls in Forms –Prototyping for Tiny Fingers

17 Q & A