Heuristic evaluation of Sakai's "Resources"

[Ashish Singal]

Hello Harriet,

I worked on that HE of Resources, and I apologize, there has been an error
in the reference image. I have already updated the fluid wiki page with
correct image. Also, please find that image attached along with the email
for reference.

Let me describe the issue in detail in here:

*Issue:
** For each item in the 'Resources' there are two drop-downs with seperate
actions available for them. If user has to perform a certain action, he has
to remember the drop-down, containing the required action. This not only
increases the time required to perform  a certain task but also it depends
on the user's memory, making the task error-prone. I am also not sure on any
sort of logical grouping of the items in two drop-down lists.

* This might be just the skin issue, but the row seems to be top-aligned,
whereas the drop-downs are center aligned??


*Possible Solution:*
* Logical grouping of the action items in drop-down can help the user is
selecting the right drop-down containing the desired action item.

* Clear labeling of two drop-downs which can provide the user with
sufficient clue on the action items listed in the drop-down list.
* Also pointed out by John, simplifying the tool will also help. If we can
reduce it to a single drop-down, may also increase the usability of
resource.

Do let me know if the solutions are still unclear or any other
doubt/suggestion, and I would try my best to explain or mock-up an image.

Ashish
Graduate Student, HCI
Georgia Institute of Technology
.

On Jan 2, 2008 12:55 PM, John Norman <john at caret.cam.ac.uk> wrote:

> FWIW, I can suggest an additional solution option without
> understanding the exact diagnosis: simpify the tool so the number of
> possible actions is smaller and cascading drop-downs are not required.
>
> J
>
> On 2 Jan 2008, at 18:15, Harriet Truscott wrote:
>
> > Hi Clay
> >
> > I'm ashamed to say how long it's taken me to get round to really going
> > through this piece of work in detail.
> >
> > However, I'm now going through it and adding it in as JIRAs where
> > appropriate. There was one which had me slightly baffled, though.
> >
> > * * *
> > Issue:
> >
> > Multiple Dropdowns (i.e. 'add' and 'actions' buttons):  Alignment and
> > positioning of the drop downs make it difficult to recognize and
> > differentiate between different columns of the table
> >
> > (Recognition rather than recall,  Aesthetic and minimalist design)
> >
> > Suggestion for Solutions
> >
> > Grouping similar attributes related to particular feature.
> > Clear labeling of different sets of available options in two dropdowns
> >
> > * * *
> >
> > I wasn't quite sure what this solution actually meant. The solutions
> > suggested seem (as I understand them) to be different to the
> > problem brought
> > up. Perhaps I didn't thoroughly understand what was meant by either?
> >
> > Would your student be able to explain a little more about what the
> > issue
> > was, and show their proposed solution?
> >
> > Best wishes
> >
> > Harriet
> >
> >
> >
> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > - -
> > Centre for Applied Research in Educational Technologies
> > University of Cambridge
> > 16 Mill Lane
> > Cambridge
> > 01223 765 040
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: khomotso at gmail.com [mailto:khomotso at gmail.com] On
> >> Behalf Of Clay Fenlason
> >> Sent: 18 October 2007 22:12
> >> To: fluid-work at fluidproject.org; Resources DG
> >> Subject: Heuristic evaluation of Sakai's "Resources"
> >>
> >> A graduate student working with us did a heuristic evaluation
> >> of Sakai's Resources tool, which I've been remiss in
> >> forwarding along.  I should get this on wiki pages as well.
> >>
> >> ~Clay
> >> [see attachment: "Heuristic Evaluation - Resources.doc",
> >> size: 1026560 bytes]
> >>
> >>
> >> Attachments:
> >>
> >> Heuristic Evaluation - Resources.doc
> >> https://collab.sakaiproject.org/access/content/attachment/fbc6
> >> c07d-b24f-4149-807a-6a900798b5aa/Heuristic%20Evaluation%20-%20
> >> Resources.doc
> >>
> >> ----------------------
> >> This automatic notification message was sent by Sakai Collab
> >> (https://collab.sakaiproject.org/portal) from the Project:
> >> Resources site.
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> > 12:09
> >
> >
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