Assignment 6:

Writing to Present Findings from a Usability Test*

Overview Or, what the heck are tools and apps?

What is it? You will be doing an “individual

walkthrough” of TWO digital tools or apps that may be useful for technical writers.

You may also use to tools or apps that are useful in your field.

But Ari … what do you mean by a tool or app?

I’m glad you asked!

Tools: Digital tools, often referred to as Web 2.0 technology. They are often web-based. Apps: Apps are free or purchased technology that perform a certain function. These are often downloaded but may also be web-based

What to Choose Two digital tools or apps that can be

compared. Often, these are similar in scope or

function. I bet you want examples, huh?

Examples!Loads of them.

Examples: Presentations & Word Processing Google Docs Prezi Powerpoint Zoho Microsoft Word Pages Empressr

Examples: Infographics and Data Visualization Piktochart Easel.ly Create.ly Publisher Illustrator Photoshop

Wordle Google Timeline Bubbl.us

Examples: Web Design & BlogsWixWeeblyWordPressBlogger

Examples: Social Media & BookmarkingFacebookTwitterGoogle PlusPinterestMashableRedd.itLinkedIn

Examples: Cloud StorageDropboxBox.net iCloud JustCloudZipCloud

And MORE!ArcGIS vs. free online mapping toolsGoogle Maps vs. Yahoo MapsMatLabAny other digital tools you may use. Skype vs. Facebook chat vs.

Facetime etc

How to Get StartedDon’t know where to start? Follow these steps.

Usability Test: Step 1 Choose your tools. It’s easiest if you

don’t have expert-level knowledge of these tools.

Decide on a set of tasks you will do using each product. For example, if you are comparing

Facebook and Twitter, your tasks might be signing up, logging in, posting a status, replying to a status, etc.

Usability Test: Step 2 Do each task for each app. Take detailed notes as you do the tasks – this

will make writing your paper so much easier! Test the affordances (those things that work

well) and constraints (those things that don’t work well of the limitations of the tool).

Pay attention to any problems you encounter when trying to use the product. Be sure to note them!

Usability Test: Step 3 Write up your findings in a White Paper

format. About 1000 words. Audience:

Potential users of the tools or apps you test. Imagine that you have been asked to write a white paper about your test for Technology Today, an internet site dedicated to offering information about the latest technology.

White Paper Format How is it supposed to look?

In general, it should follow this outline:1. Title Page2. Introduction section3. Methods section4. Results section5. Recommendation section

Format: Title Page

Title Page: Yes, there needs to be a title page.

Tips: Be specific and apply design features to make the title page interesting to potential readers.

Format: Introduction Section

Rhetorically, the introduction creates a permanent record of what was tested, why, and for whom.

Be specific in describing the products and typical users of these products.

Format: Methods Section Describe the specific tasks you did

when using each product. Consider using a list here.

State when you did the test, where, and anything else that helps a reader understand the testing methods you used such as type of computer (laptop, desktop, tablet?).

Be very specific!

Format: Results Section (Part 1) Make a decision about how best to

organize your results. Use subheadings in this section to help

readers navigate and revisit information. Use elements of excellent design.

Format: Results Section (Part 2) Present the findings of the test by

explaining the affordances and constraints of the tasks you completed.

You may want to use graphics such as screen shots to illustrate claims you are making.

Format: Results Section (Part 3) If you experienced problems when

working with a product that proved to be inconvenient, such as an app crashing your browser, report those problems by describing what happened.

Be specific, describing the who/what/where/when information.

Format: Results Section (Part 4) You may also want to determine the scope and

severity of a problem and/or constraint and provide readers with a means of understanding these by using a rating scale such as: Unusable: the user cannot or will not perform the task. Severe: the user’s attempt to perform the task is

severely hampered. Moderate: the user can perform the task with

moderate effort to overcome the problem. Irritant: the problem is cosmetic, or does not present

significant difficulty in the user’s effort to perform the task.

Format: Results Section (Part 5) Further, determine what part of the

product the error affects. It may affect only one part of the product (local problems), several parts, but not all, of the product (semi-local or semi-global problems), or the entire product (global problem).

Format: Recommendation Make recommendations to potential

users of the product. Consider if it is useful to explain which

product might be best for a novice vs. a product for a more experienced user.

DONE!Questions? Please ask.