The document discusses heuristic evaluation, a usability inspection method. It describes heuristic evaluation as involving experts examining an interface for compliance with recognized usability principles known as heuristics. The document outlines the origins and process of heuristic evaluation, provides examples of Nielsen's 10 heuristics, and describes each heuristic. It notes that heuristic evaluation is intended to quickly identify usability problems in a cost-effective manner before full implementation.
2. * what we’ll cover
Why diagnosis/evaluation is important
The three major types of diagnosis
How to perform a heuristic evaluation
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
3. * why perform evaluations?
Risk reduction
Evaluation and early redesign reduces the risk that final UI design will not meet
users’ needs
Cost and schedule savings
Much less expensive to fix user interface problems during early project stages
Can avoid schedule slippage due to user interface changes late in the project
Best time for initial evaluation: BEFORE coding begins
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
5. * heuristics evaluation origins
Developers of heuristic
Used to quickly determine an application’s compliance evaluation: Jakob Nielsen
with recognized usability principles known as
“heuristics”
Intended to be a cost-effective means of evaluating an
interface (“discount usability”)
Increased speed of evaluation by using principles, not
guidelines (higher level of abstraction)
Often can be performed when there is insufficient
time for any other type of evaluation
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
6. * heuristics evaluation: how to do it
Identify 3 - 5 evaluators (inspectors)
Tailor heuristics, and discuss tailoring so all evaluators understand heuristic usage
Each evaluator independently:
Examines an interface and judges its compliance with heuristics
Rates the severity of each problem found
After independent inspections, evaluators meet to:
Discuss findings
Eliminate duplicate problems
Agree on ratings and summary findings
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
7. * severity ratings
Combination of:
Frequency of occurrence
Impact if it occurs
One-time or persistent
Also need to assess the market impact
Nielsen recommends a 0 to 4 scale…
0: I don’t agree that this is a usability problem
1: Cosmetic only | 2: Minor | 3: Major | 4: Catastrophe
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
8. * nielsen’s heuristics (1994)
Provide visibility into system status
Provide a match between system and real world
Allow both user control and freedom
Follow standards to ensure consistency
Prevent errors
Allow for recognition rather than recall
Provide flexibility and efficiency of use
Use an aesthetic and minimalist design
Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from errors
Provide help and documentation
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
9. * description of heuristics
Visibility of System Status – The system should always keep user informed about
what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.
searching database for matches
Match Between System and the Real World - The system should speak the user’s
language, with words, phrases and concepts familiar to the user, rather than system-
oriented terms. Follow real-world conventions, making information appear in a
natural and logical order.
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
10. * description of heuristics
User Control and Freedom - Users should be free
to select and sequence tasks (when appropriate),
rather than having the system do this for them.
Users often choose system functions by mistake
and will need a clearly marked “emergency exit” to
leave the unwanted state without having to go
through an extended dialogue. Users should make
their own decisions (with clear information)
regarding the costs of exiting current work. The
system should support undo and redo.
Consistency and Standards - Users should not
have to wonder whether different words,
situations, or actions mean the same thing. Follow
platform conventions.
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
11. * description of heuristics
Error Prevention - Even better than good error messages is a careful design which
prevents a problem from occurring in the first place.
Recognize Rather than Recall - Make objects, actions, and options visible. The user
should not have to remember information from one part of the dialogue to another.
Instructions for use of the system should be visible or easily retrievable whenever
appropriate
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
12. * description of heuristics
Edit
Flexibility and Efficiency of Use - Accelerators-unseen by the Cut
novice user-may often speed up the interaction for the expert user
such that the system can cater to both inexperienced and Copy
experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent actions. Provide Paste
alternative means of access and operation for users who differ from
the “average” user.
Aesthetic and Minimalist Design - Dialogues should not contain information which
is irrelevant or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information in a dialogue competes
with the relevant units of information and diminishes their relative visibility.
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
13. * description of heuristics
Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors - Error messages should
be expressed in plain language (NO CODES).
Help and Documentation - Even though it is better if the system can be used without
documentation, it may be necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such
information should be easy to search, focused on the user’s task, list concrete steps to
be carried out, and not be too large.
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
14. * success is based on inspector skills
Three types of inspectors identified by Nielsen
Domain expert
Usability specialist
“Double” expert
Double experts find most problems
But you don’t have to be a UI expert to
use this technique!
Tends to find many problems of lesser severity
Thus severity ratings are important
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
15. Thank You
Nasarullah Khan
Usability Engineer | User Experience Designer
f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com
Nasarullah Khan f:09959406614 e: khan_nasar@hotmail.com