Abacus Software Redsign:
Testing and heuristic evaluation revealed many limitations of version
1.0 - poor information prioritization, poor feedback, insufficient customizability,
and isolation from the remainder of the inventory process.
Process
- Conduct Heuristic Evaluation of version 1.0.
-Reorganize
the information according to the hierarchy discovered during the contextual
inquiry, while accommodating the wide variability in nursery inventory
processes.
- Determine best input modality - 4-Button vs.
thumb-wheel.
-
Test alternative input methods - 4-button vs. thumb-wheel.
- Iterate, iterate, iterate.
- Code Abacus version 2.0 and deliver working application to client.
Design
The redesign takes into account the pre-and post-inventory processes.
Even though we significantly expanded functionality, the interface scores
much better on Heuristic Evaluation. Abacus version 2.0 software underwent
field testing with nursery personnel on May 26, 2000. Increased usability
and learnability were observed, with no increase in measurement time.
Sucess!
User
Interface 1.0
 |
User Interface 2.0
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