Expert Reviews
In an expert review a user interface is evaluated according to scientifically based usability heuristics and sound guidelines founded on best practices. This yields quick insights into potential user experience improvements without any user involvement and with little effort.
Assessment
ERGOSIGN’s broad experience in the assessment of user interfaces and expertise in interaction design guarantee the correct selection and application of tools to measure usability. We attach great importance to providing the best mix of methods for your specific situation.
Depending on the problem, some methods are more applicable than others. Using several review methods in parallel leads to no additional insights yet wastes resources that are needed in other phases of the evaluation and design process.
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic evaluation is founded on validated heuristic methods, i.e. fundamental rules for the creation of ergonomically high-quality user interfaces. For a heuristic evaluation, ERGOSIGN’s usability engineers initially inspect the system independently of each other. In a second step, the resulting protocols are discussed in a joint meeting, consolidated and prioritized according to scope and severity.
This method of analysis is recommended for situations where a very thorough and formative assessment is required that aims for concrete proposals for optimization.
Cognitive Walkthrough
A cognitive walkthrough is a review method where one or two reviewers simulate realistic usage scenarios based on a recognized model of human-computer interaction.
Thus those obstacles are identified that prevent users from attaining their interaction goals, such as insufficient or contradictory information along the user’s path. This analysis method is particularly valuable for the evaluation of the usability of first time use of interactive systems.
Quick Check
Quick checks are a heuristic procedure which classifies the usability of a system into a ranking that resembles school grades. Depending on the complexity, such an inspection only requires one or two days’ work including a short PowerPoint documentation.
This method is best when only a raw benchmarking is required to explore the possibilities for optimization. A quick check can be employed for a comparison with the products of other players in the market.
ISO Compliance Check
Checking compliance to ISO 9241 and its numerous subcategories (e.g. 9241-171, Accessibility) is recommended for a summative assessment. The relevance of a cross-check with ISO guidelines is not limited to the public sector that has to obey the national ordinance governing VDU workplaces.
The formal character of this method that has its roots in industry standards can be the decisive motivation for large companies to invest in the usability of IT systems.
Individual Adjustment
ERGOSIGN makes a point of adjusting the criteria and guidelines for the assessment of your user interface for each specific case. For example, for the evaluation of a PDA other methods are employed than those for reviewing a walk-up-and-use terminal.
Results
Once usability issues are identified, they are then documented in a report that combines detailed descriptions of potential optimization along with concrete proposals for solutions. Our in-house software developers ensure fast and efficient implementation of the redesign suggestions in the target language.
Basis
Expert reviews represent the basis for activities in the ERGOSIGN user-centered design (UCD) life cycle. They ensure that our efforts focus on those system attributes which are crucial for its usability. They are also indispensable for the implementation of usability tests where the interface is evaluated by prospective users.
Marcus Baur, Managing Director Goalscape