Observe and Analyse - Toolkit
The Hiser Element Toolkit
Field Studies Tool
Field studies are an analysis activity used early in the creation of an application’s user interface. They consist of one or more site visits to the location(s) where target users perform the same tasks as those which an application is being designed to support.
This tool enables user interface designers to conduct field studies as part of the analysis phase of user interface design.
It describes field studies and provides step-by-step instructions as well as referring you to template support tools.
Support tools
- Site Visit Checklist
- Site Visit User Memo
- Site Visit Observer Briefing Sheet
- Site Visit Consent Form
- Findings & Vision Report Template
- Findings & Vision Report Example
Usability Goals & Design Principles Tool
Usability goals are generic attributes of successful usage that apply to all applications, ie. by achieving these interaction goals, an application will be usable. Although generic, some usability goals will have a greater priority than others for your application depending on its context of use.
This tool describes usability goals and design principles and how to derive them from analysis data.
Support tools
Usability Affinity Grid
Affinity Diagramming Tool
Affinity diagramming is an analysis tool. It is used to make sense of the unstructured information captured during field studies, usability analysis or evaluation activities through a ‘bottom up’ group interpretative process.
Affinity diagramming uses inductive thinking to organize large amounts of qualitative data into high-level conceptual groups (‘affinities’) to reveal underlying issues and structure. These in turn reveal usability implications for an application’s design.
This tool is designed to enable usability specialists, or people involved in design projects, to conduct affinity diagramming to analyze data gathered from field studies. This tool describes affinity diagramming, provides step-by-step instructions as well as an example.
Workflow Diagramming Tool
Workflow diagramming is a technique to assist user interface designers to develop diagrams that help ensure that the design of the user interface matches the users’ workflow. A high-level workflow diagram is an important artifact used by the team to confirm what part of the workflow process is being referred to.
A workflow diagram is a high-level representation of the user's work and practice. A workflow diagram is therefore a model that illustrates the high-level work process. During design, users and designers use the workflow diagram to communicate clearly about what aspect of work is being considered. In design, the high-level components of a workflow are often translated into common window templates.
This tool is designed to enable developers, usability specialists, or people involved in interface design projects, to develop diagrams that represent workflows within users’ work environments. It describes workflow diagrams, their benefits and contains step-by-step instructions on how to develop them.
Scenarios Tool
Scenarios are essentially stories that describe specific activities within a work environment. The narrative, presenting in essence "a day in the life of...", helps user interface designers, development team members and users envision how a system will support work or other activities in the future.
Scenarios serve as the glue throughout the Hiser Element™ methodology (Observe & Analyze, Envision & Design and Evaluate & Refine). They help developers and designers visualize the system, as it will be used by a specific user group within a particular context. That is, scenarios help designers and developers get into the "users' shoes".
This tool describes scenarios and when and how to use them during all phases of the Hiser Element methodology. It also provides step-by-step instructions on how to go about writing a scenario, along with examples.
Support tools
How to Write Activity Scenarios for Web Heuristic Evaluation
