Hi, Everyone! :-)
Here’s some homework for you.
Below is a list of some random websites:
- www.pulcinella.ca — Authentic Napoletana Pizza!
- www.1927events.com — 1927 Events, apparently is a private event’s venue. And this is their website.
- highnoonholsters.com — Holsters made in the USA!
- createwhatmattersmost.blogspot.ca — A blog of Bruce Elkin — a personal life coach, success coach, career coach, writer’s coach.
- www.hughjassburgers.com — Burgers!
- sundaymorning.ekwc.nl — Sundaymorning@ekwc is an international workplace where artists, designers and architects explore the technical and artistic possibilities of ceramics. Its aim is to promote the development of ceramic art, design and architecture.
- cavs.mit.edu — Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Center for Advanced Studies website.]
Your task?
Choose three (3) out of the list and find three (3) people — your test users.
You are to conduct a mini experiment. Here are the mechanics:
The test users are to do nothing else but to try out your chosen websites — visit the website, browse through the pages, look at the images, click on links, etc.
- One test user, one website. Assign which website will be played around with by your test user.
- Be very observant! As they do the browsing, you are to keenly observe how they get around with the assigned website. Observe their dynamics with the pages.
Some guidelines:
- Can they easily browse through pages?
- Was it easy to figure out how to navigate the website?
- Do you think they like the overall feel of the website?
- Were there instances you think your test user no longer knows what to do with the pages?
- And the likes…
Observe also how you think they are feeling at the moment you are conducting the experiment. Do you think they were delighted? Happy with what they were doing? Or were they frustrated? Disappointed?
Take note of their reactions and facial expressions at specific instances.
For example:
Hazel kept on saying out loud: “Magayunon man ning website na ni!” while going through the images of www.something.com
Ian was so frustrated he stopped browsing and even said“Makanuson man baga ‘to! Mayo man kwenta!”.
Highly important: Your test users shouldn't know and feel that you are conducting an experiment and that they are being observed! Why? So as not to affect their behavior while doing the activity.
You may take photos/videos but make sure that the test users are not aware.
You can break the ice after the experiment. But, definitely not before and during!
Once you’re done, write a detailed post in Medium and submit it to this collection: HCI (sy1415-1) | That Random Website
Try to analyze, taking into consideration the UI design of the webpage, why your test users reacted the way they did.
You will be graded based on how finely detailed your report it.
Students with the best report will be asked to present in class on Monday, 30 June 2014.
Deadline? Saturday, 28 June 2014. 09:00PM
Goodluck and have fun! :-)
