Usability Interviews (Final Prototype)

1st Interview:
In this interview, the user really enjoyed the concept and the visual design.
If she went to the new user page, she was able to log in without any problems.
If she wanted to edit her profile, she was able to locate the edit button and make any necessary changes.
However, when she wanted to see the "newsfeed"/ home page, she had problems locating it and had to be led.
The user enjoyed the filter options and noted that they were adequate for her searching needs.
If the user wanted to match with another user, she was able to click on the other users' profile, read it, and then message her if she was interested. The user also noted that the starred option would be a good feature for her. However, she thought that our current implementation of messaging looked like an error and though that there was something wrong with the site.
After messaging the other person, the user was automatically directed to the messages portion of the site. In the messages, the user was able to navigate through the different options and noted that it was very clear and was similar to all the other messaging systems she had used.
Overall, the user wanted the newsfeed portion of the site to be easier to navigate and wanted a better messaging system, but had no other qualms with it. She enjoyed the idea and would use the product if it was ever implemented.

2nd Interview:
In this interview, the user also really enjoyed the concept and the visual design.
If she went to the new user page, she was able to log in without any problems.
If she wanted to edit her profile, she was able to locate the edit button and make any necessary changes.
If she wanted to see the "newsfeed"/ home page, she had no problem locating it by clicking the logo.
This user also enjoyed the filter options but expressed a desire for an additional tag search bar.
If the user wanted to match with another user, she was able to click on the other users' profile, read it, and then message her if she was interested. The user also noted that the starred option would be a good feature for her. However, she did not enjoy the current messaging interface.

After messaging the other person, the user was automatically directed to the messages portion of the site. In the messages, the user was able to navigate through the different options and noted that it was very clear and was similar to all the other messaging systems she had used.
Overall, the user wanted more filters and major specification options, but otherwise had no problems. She enjoyed the idea and would use the product if it was ever implemented.



3rd Interview:
The icons on the header do not display any information when I put the mouse on it. So it is not clear what the icon represent only by guessing from the image.
The load more button will let us know more recent post message, but when we check messages, there is not a short cut button like “go top” to quick get back to the posting blank.
It is not clear how to delete a wrong posted message or suspend an expired message. So we might need to add an edit section to the recent post.

Usability Summary - Freshman

 Kendall Fugate-Laus, 18 Freshman at OSU

She found the concept interesting, but was hesitant to join. She would want to know that many other people on campus were also participating to know that her joining would be worthwhile. She found the profile page to be very general but asking the right sorts of information. She was a little confused between the posts and personal messaging and their differences. but said she would be able to figure it out through a couple uses. She said it is a very straightforward idea; a news feed and an email, she summarized. She wanted to be able to make her own tags, but thought if there were at least a filter or search within the tags to make finding the relevant ones easier, she would be okay with that. She didnt have navigation problems as she said the two formats were something she and all of her peers would be very familiar with.

Wireframe Interviews and Analysis

Interview 1:

U: I’m a new user I just want to learn

P: What do you think this is about?
U: I think that this is about using meal plans as currency, meeting other people, and exchanging information. I am an upperclassman so I think this could get me food so I am interested.

P: proceed to the sign in.

U: I am a new user so I’m going to make a new username.

Then I’ll continue.

It looks like I am in a profile. I’ll fill everything out. College is spelled wrong. So I filled out all my information so I’ll submit it. I’ll put a profile picture in there’re.

P: what else do you see on the page?

It looks like I can edit it if I missed something or if I changed my major or something. I see recent posts I’m not really sure if they are recent posts of mine or recent posts of other people. It’d probably be clear if it were other people’s if there was context and there were other people’s words, I’d know that they weren’t mine.

P: So let’s go to the homepage, what would you do here?

U: We have filters and tags. I see that someone else has posted something, and they have their swipes and their tags. And lets say they have tags that I’m interested in so I’d reply to them. If I’m timid and thinking about it, maybe I’d just star him.

P: What do you think the tags would do

U: Since each post has a tag under it, I would think that the filter would filter the responses based on the tags. If there’s someone who has tags that I don’t care about it I don’t want to see it.

P: Try to compose a post

U: I don’t know I would assume that there’d be something on top of the newsfeed. I think the messages section would be something more along the lines of personal messages, but I guess I’ll check it out and see if there’s an option to compose a public message.

Oh I guess I clicked on messages and found something that was compose to public, but I’d rather see something on the newsfeed/home page that would let me do that. If I go into messages, I would assume I’d be personal messaging someone. .. I’m not popular so no one sent me anything yet.

I would use delete if I really didn’t like someone I met. I would use starred if there were a couple people I was thinking about meeting.  Or if I wanted to use this site but didn’t want to use it today, so I’d star a post and maybe come back to it later.

P: What about if you wanted to look at someone’s profile

U: I’d go to the homepage and probably click on their name / picture and go to their profile.

P: Would you like to see a search bar?
U: If I already knew who I was looking for then why would I be on their site? Like on OKcupid, if you knew someone and wanted to go on a date with them, you’d already have asked them.

P: How do you feel about the website in general?

U: I like it. It’s serene right now. I like that the top navigation bar is always on the screen because I like to have access to whatever links that I need. I also like the filtering option. The profile looks good and its condensed so I don’t have to fill out paragraphs which would seem unnecessary and the message page is laid out well too.

So I guess I’d log out using the top icon and log out. … Neat

Summarization if/thens:

The main problems that the user experienced were making a public post on the newsfeed, figuring out what the posts section was on their own profile, and differentiating between public and private messages.

If the user had these problems listed above, they could be solved by adding a box at the top of the newsfeed that would allow the user to post there instead of having to navigate to the messages portion of the site. To clarify on the applicable post section on their profile, content would have to be added. If it was other user’s information, it would be clear that it was not their own posts or vice versa. Implementing a post feature on the main newsfeed page would eliminate the need for a compose to public feature in the messaging area. Then, you could just respond and use the inbox, sent, starred and deleted features in the messaging area.

Interview 2:

P: So what are your initial impressions?

U: There’s a logo. And the description. It looks like some sort of trading thing happens where you trade swipes which is the currency for university insights. … somehow trading swipes for students meeting other students.

I’m going to fill out this profile and hit continue.

After I would hit submit.

So now I’m looking at what I believe is my profile page or what would be my profile page.

I see this top navigation. The link to the home page, my profile, messages, log out.

All my information and recent posts. I’m not really sure what that would look like yet.

P: What would you like to see there?

U: Either things that I have posted or other people’s stuff that applies to me and my preset demographics.

P: Which would you prefer to see?

U: I would prefer to see what other people posted that applies to me. I’ve written my own posts so it wouldn’t be as helpful to see that. If I was looking at someone else’s profile, it would be more useful to see what they had posted.

Is the same as a homepage newsfeed or is it a public profile?

P: Are you done exploring the profile page?

U: Yes

P: what would you like to do now?

U: I would look for other people who match my desires.

P: why don’t you try navigating to the home page

U: It looks like a thread of posts by people. Their name, content, tags. That seems like what I was looking for. So this box on the left side has filters. Without any content, I’m unsure what it would do.

P: What would you want it to do?

U: Something on the left side that says I’m looking for blocks from freshman in whatever major I’m in, on these days. Almost like a search box similar to the flight booker.

P: So if you wanted to post something to that wall, how would you go about doing that?

U: On the homepage? I would respond to each individual post. Otherwise, I would go to…. I’m not sure.

I don’t see a page. Maybe messages, I’m not sure if that’s private messages or messages to the website in general.

P: Let’s explore the messages area

U: I see the folders on the left side. It looks like standard email options. So they look like individual messages to the broad general public.

P: Why would you ever want to message someone personally.

U: If I saw a post that had the same interests and hobbies that fit what I was looking for.  If they were really legit to meet up but they weren’t available on the date I was available, I’d message them to see if there was another day to meet up. Or after you met up with someone, maybe if you wanted to arrange another hangout and continue that friendship.

So I’m on the compose page now. This looks like where I would make the broad post as opposed to a private message.

P: Any suggestions to make things clearer?

U: Maybe having a link to the compose a post, maybe in the top or something so that it’s easier to find out how to make a post. The messages you starred … is that how you save messages to look at them later? Maybe after it’s developed it’ll make more sense.

P: How do you feel about the concept?

U: I like the idea. I like the idea of getting food for the knowledge I have. It’s really appealing.

Summarization/ if/thens.

In general, the user navigated through our website and was able to gather what he needed to know in able to perform the basic user tasks. However, there were issues with being able to publically post on the news feed, how filters would work, and what functionality the starred messages feature would have for a user.  (If they wanted to post on the newsfeed, if they wanted to filter, if they wanted to use the starred messages features…. Etc )

Some things that can be done to increase usability and get rid of these points of confusion would to be: 1. Adding a post to newsfeed option at the top of the newsfeed similar to how facebook has their newsfeed. 2. In the real version and not the wireframe, we expect the filter options to be really clear because they would be available to the user. 3.  The team still considers the started messages option to be valid; however we shall introduce the star icons to the newsfeed so that it’s clear there is a connection between the two.

Usability Test Findings Summary

Because the user was unclear what “university insights” meant and who they were trading with and for, we will need a more in depth description of what this site offers on the main login page of the site. This will prep new users on what to expect and what they are signing up for through this site.

Because the user was unsure of what to do after they filled in the profile page, we will need to be directly involved in giving a tour of the site as they first sign up. This could be accomplished by having a guiding pop up messages that appear as a first time user to show what icons mean and what to expect on each page as well as show where to go after the profile page for the first time.

Because the use was not sure what recent posts meant and why they were in the profile page, we should have a header to show that these recent posts are posts that the user as personally posted. These posts will show as real time posts for ease in checking on the traffic of the post, such as how many have personal messaged back. There should also be an option to edit this post by changing wording and changing the amount of swipes offered in return for this particular information.

Because the icons in the header bar weren’t noticed, we will need to make these pop more visually. Whether this is accomplished via color, dropshadow, or another design element will be discussed further.

We must also make clear the difference between general board posts and personal messages. While both seemed intuitive to the user, the reason for why both were present in one website was unclear.

Usability Transcript

P stands for Payton. U stands for User

P: You’re not being tested personally we’re just seeing how well the site perform.

P: WE are not the designers so feel free to speak your mind so we encourage you to think out loud.

P: I’m going to show you the home page. So if you could just tell us about what you see and what you know about the website the focus of the site

U: It looks really nice and clean. I like the colors. It’s about trading swipes for university insights. And I may not know right off the bat what that is.  What university insights is and who I am trading for but I know that I  should log in or register because it it my first time on the sight

P: so where should you start to do that

U: the username and password box if I were logging in or register the new user button

P: So what would you do

U: register a new user if I were new or enter my username and password if I were already a user

P: so the log in would take you here. And if you could just tell me what you would do if you were presented with this page.

U: well obviously it wants you to create a profile. So I would click on edit profile. And I would assume it would allow me to edit the profile information that is listed on the page.

P: What do you think that you would do after you were done editing your profile

U: well I see recent posts is down at the bottom. So I would probably scroll through there and see what I’m supposed to be doing

P: and what would you expect to find in recent posts?

U: recent posts about I assume trading swipes for insights or whatever is going on on the site

P: what do you think these icons at the top are? What would happen if you clicked each button

U: the first one looks like a picture . I assume that would be my picture and would take me to  my profile. Then next one looks like an email button or a message button. I assume that would send an email to someone or send a post or send a message out somewhere. The last one looks like a logout button so I assume that that button would log you out of the site once your done.

P: So this would actually open  up to the main page. Once you logged in, it would go into this page after you were done creating your profile. So could you lead me through your thought process once you got on this page.

U:  “I’m kind of blind” (?)

P: If you were a student and were looking to learn something about the university and you want to post on here., how would you navigate through this page?

U: it looks like there would be multiple messages or posts. So I would scroll through these if I didn’t know what I was looking for. Otherwise,  if I did have a better idea of what I am looking for, I would click on these filters which I would assume would bring up criteria for searching. If I found one that was interesting, I would click responds. SO I might do that next.

P: So if you did respond,  how do you think you would get to this page (messages?)

U: umm maybe through your profile? ?? I guess… or .. yeah I guess through your profile or after you respond if it takes you here if they respond to you.

P: what are the different things you could do with this page?

U: well first I would check my inbox, because it looks like I have 2 messages.  Or some sort of activity going on there. So I’d probably click on those and see what was going on and how I would respond to those. I assume they are personal messages. It kind of looks like a basic email setup or IM or FB posts kind of thing.

P: We’ve gone through all of our website, can you speak about the layout of the web site, or how you would get to different things or how it would make best sense to you  and the branding as well.

U: I think the branding looks really good. It looks really clean. It’s easy to navigate. Umm going through the pages I think was pretty easy. It’s set up like basic messaging which is really easy to use. And I think if it was functioning it’d be even easier to use so I think that’s just the limitations of wireframes. Yeah I thought it was overall pretty easy to navigate.  Maybe like this page. I’m not sure entirely if I would definitely go through my profile. I would feel more comfortable if there were some sort of navigation to get to my inbox or these features. I might figure it out but it might take one or two extra clicks.

Midterm Presentation

Wire Frames