york extra user survey. york extra origins –university communications audit –plans to generalise...
Post on 20-Dec-2015
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York Extra
User survey
York Extra
• Origins– University Communications Audit– Plans to generalise Computing Service
Message of the day for multiple providers and multiple audiences
– Collaboration between Communications Office and Computing Service
York Extra
• Web-based announcement system
• Deployed on CS supported PCs in May 2003– runs in web browser– starts at login
• User survey carried out in December 2003
Number of Respondents: 1053Response rate: 7%
otherundergraduategraduatestaff
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Client ComputerResponse rate: 99%
other
other PC
dept managed PC
cserv managed PC
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Information needsResponse rate: 97%
other
social
dept info
news
events
projects
job-related
policy
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Other sources of informationResponse rate: 97%
other
univ magazine
dept newsletters
briefing notes
yorkweb
meetings
noticeboards
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
Usability of message viewerResponse rate: 79%
very easyeasyneutralhardvery hard
400
300
200
100
0
LikesResponse rate: 32%
Categories derived from responses
other
informative
up to date
automatic startup
simple one stop
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
DislikesResponse rate: 26%
Categories derived from responses
other
content
design
no choice
slow and no choice
slow
100
80
60
40
20
0
Suggested improvementsResponse rate: 25%
Categories derived from responses
other
improve access
dept news
more content
better design
choice
faster
60
50
40
30
20
Other observations
16% registered like only
10% registered dislike only
16% registered like and dislike
58% registered neither like nor dislike
Summary
Many liked the general principle and wished there was more information available, particularly from departments and student organisations.
The main dislikes centred around the slow start-up process and lack of control about when to view messages.
Summary
Other dislikes touched on the lack of relevance of the information carried by the system. This would probably be resolved by increased participation.
It is possible that for many users the problems of delay and lack of control will out-weigh the intended benefits of the system.
York Extra
• Policy– to be made available on all desktops
• Design criteria– high profile and starts automatically– web-based
• The problem– Starting a web browser at login time
York Extra
• Proposed solutions– start York Extra later– make it the home page– make it the start page– implement a chooser– use RSS
Start York Extra later
Advantages– easy to implement– complies with CO requirement
Disadvantages– interrupts user workflow– possible aversion– lack of user control
Make York Extra the homepage
Advantages– easy to implement– effectively complies with CO requirement
Disadvantages– looses link with University web site– extra load on web servers– lack of user control
Make York Extra the start-up page
Advantages– easy to implement– effectively complies with CO requirement– maintains link with the University web site– no extra load on web servers
Disadvantages– lack of user control
Implement a chooser
A Start menu option allows the user to select automatic start-up at login time of either York Extra or a simple selector tool.
The selector invites to the user
a) to start York Extra
b) to be reminded later
Implement a chooser
Advantages– easy to implement– gives the user limited choice– minimal load on client computer
Disadvantages– only loosely complies with CO design
criteria
RSS
Rich Site Summary
or
Really Simple Syndication
XML application
RSS
Advantages– easy to adapt YorkExtra to generate RSS– large client software base– integration with other news resources
Disadvantages– ?
York Extra
• Proposed solutions– start York Extra later– make it the home page– make it the start page– implement a chooser– use RSS