usability testing of community data & mapping systems denice warren, information systems...
TRANSCRIPT
Usability Testing of Community Data & Mapping Systems Denice Warren, Information Systems DesignerJoy Bonaguro, Data and Web Production Specialist
In this presentation…
1.Why usability is important
2.Developing usability tests
3.Conducting usability testing in the field
4.Analyzing the results to improve site design
What makes for poor usability?• Slow downloads• Hard-to-navigate site
structure• Jargon (aggregate, GIS, etc)• Overwhelming amt of
content• Unpredictable links and
behaviors• Unconventional design• Nonstandard functionality
Why is usability especially importantin online PPGIS?1. The specialized
functionality that supports online GIS increases the complexity of a conventional browser experience.
2. GIS and data have inherent complexity in the amount of content available and the skills required to interpret that content.
#1 reason to care about usability
www.webcredibility.org
If your site is hard to use, it will decrease the credibility of your data.
Usability testing is a formal method of watching users interact with a system to complete a task.
Data about the interaction is gathered and analyzed to inform design improvements.
User task:
You’re working with a Community Development Corporation in the 7th Ward neighborhood. For planning purposes, you want to know how many blighted houses there are in this neighborhood. Find that number.
(Please think aloud as you work.)
How is “vacant” defined?
Is “vacant” the same as “blighted”?
Hmm… I wish there were some definitions for me to read…
User task:
You’re working with a Community Development Corporation in the 7th Ward neighborhood. For planning purposes, you want to know how many blighted houses there are in this neighborhood. Find that number.
(Please think aloud as you work.)
User task, Prompt:
The Census reports only “vacant” houses, but doesn’t call them “blighted.” Use this web site to figure out if blighted houses are included in the count of “vacant” houses. Explain.
Research question:Is the ‘Definitions’ link sufficiently visible?
Answer:Yes. It is placed where people expect to see it, and the text of the link matches users’ mental search terms.
Why aren’t definitions viewed more?
• Questions about definitions may not spontaneously arise
• Little external motivation to use definitions
• Aversion to reading dense technical writing
“Oh Lord. I need some glasses for this.”
“I wouldn’t use this… perhaps if I were a little more like a researcher…”
“I gotta read all this?”