Dechow - Instruction Draft

Attached is a draft of my instruction project. My usability questions are as follows: 1. Were you able to effectively perform this task? 2. Do you feel that the pictures were helpful? 3. What, if anything, would you change about the pictures? 4. Were any of the steps unclear? 5. Any other suggestions about the layout?
Submitted by mdechow on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 09:50. categories [ ]

Andrew - Usability Testing for Dechow

Submitted by aswart on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 10:16.

1. If I were to actually do this it seems that I would be able to perform it. However, I don't know who your audience is so remember to keep that in mind...that may make a difference in the detail of instructions.

2. The pictures were certainly helpful. This task would be difficult for a beginner to achieve without them. It would not hurt to use a few more pictures though. A screen shot at each table is good but since you have a fair amount of white space on each page a few zoomed-in shots may be helpful to clarify what the user is doing. Also, you may refer to figures more and edit the picture with the timeline in it. When you first mention this it is awkward to have to look back. This would be ok if you maybe edited it in paint and drew a circle around the timeline to verify what you are talking about.

3. Use more!

4. Adding pictures would help clarify some of the steps better. When you are telling the user in steps 5 and 6 to click on frame 30, I feel as though there should be a picture of the timeline in your table illustrating this event.

5. The layout looks a little boring. However, don't get carried away with adding colors and watermarks to spice it up. I think that by adding more pictures, this will help the overall layout and appearance flow better.

-- Andrew

Dechow - Usability Assessment

Submitted by sludingt on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 10:17.

1. I did not successfully run the program. I couldnt get past step 7 of selecting the circle and moving it to another corner. I had to create a new circle in that corner. Perhaps at this point your steps should be revised to reflect more accurate descriptions.

2. The pictures were helpful. I think you could find better pictures than the drop down boxes that appear when you right-click the mouse though. I think it would be more descriptive to use a picture of the timeline or something else that was referenced in the directions.

3. see above

4. step 7 and 9. I was unable to "select the ball and move it around the screen".

5. you havent instructed the user on how to locate the adobe program. . is that needed? When I opened up adobe flash, there was not "file" option to select. I only had to click on Adobe Flash File, the ActionScript 3.0 is the only way I knew how to open what you wanted. Consider revising step 2. Step 3: find better words than button with rectangle, maybe say the 8th button down or however many it is to avoid confusion?. On step 4, I would show a picture of the timeline rather than the box you get when you right click. Also you have a lot of white space, and its pretty bland. Think about formatting the design differently.

Allen usability of Dechow

Submitted by shrapnel on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 11:23.
Attached is my usability report.

Mike Shaw - Usability Response

Submitted by mlshaw on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 11:34.
1.)I thought the directions we very clear and that I could perform the task. 2.)yes, the pictures really added to the instructions. 3.)I think the pictures are good as they are. 4.)Your steps are easy to understand.