Studio 11: Applying Quantitative Usability Methods

Group Members: Me, Sharaz Amin

Chosen Device: Samsung D600 mobile phone

The purpose of the evaluation i will design is to see to what extent the phone is successful in terms of visibility.

‘Visibility-The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time’.

The method we will apply for this evaluation is to do quantitative technique call usability engineering. We feel this is an appropriate method for this particular scenario because as it states in the lecture notes it is a ‘powerful tool for evaluating prototypes’. Therefore we can consider the already made phone to be a prototype.

Basically the users will be given instructions to complete two tasks. While doing these tasks they will be observed by us and all results will be noted down. The results will include the time taken to complete each task, the number of errors the user made and any gestures or comments they made which would help the evaluation. There will be 2 users all together. As this is Sharaz’s phone he will be taken as an experienced user and he will undergo the tasks first and i will be observing. Once he has completed the tasks, his times will be compared against a second user who does not own the same model phone. The difference in experience will determine how well the phone is generally usable, more specifically in visibility terms (Nielson Heuristics).

Attributes:

• Visibility of the system status.

Measures and Metrics:

• Time taken to complete each task.
• The number of errors that occur
• User comments

Users (2):

• Sharaz Amin (experienced user)
• Inexperienced user

Tasks for the user:

• Add a new contact with complete details; email, telephone number, name, address.
• Take a picture of the classroom, while zooming in. Then view the picture just taken.

Instructions for the User:

We are carrying out a usability test on the Samsung D500 and we will be grateful if we could just take two minutes of your time and you could complete the simple tasks stated below. After you have completed each task please put the phone down and give us a brief feedback on the task you had just completed. Any comments are welcome.

You can begin each task once we say go and have pressed the start button on the timer, this way we can record your timings.

Task 1) Add a new contact with complete details; email, telephone number, name, address. Make a call to that person.

Tasks 2) Take a picture of the classroom, while zooming in. Then view the picture just taken.

Thank you

Studio 10: Smart Homes

Imerge MS5000 Media Server

1) The Imerge MS5000 Media Server combines state-of-the art functionality in one beautifully-integrated AV device. A High Definition hard disk-based single source video server is seamlessly united with a 5-source audio SoundServer, a multi-terabyte network RAID server, an integrated DVD player (with HD up-scaling) and a first class CD player. Dual video outputs provide independent main-room and multi-room TV user interfaces allowing simultaneous control of music and movies.

MS5000 provides fast, responsive access to any movie or piece of music from a central media library into any room of the house. Automatic titling and cataloguing of movies and music makes it easy to build a superb entertainment library. Collections can be easily browsed and control screens can be matched to home decor. Personalised genres, playlists, 1-touch presets and jukebox-style playback bring new dimensions to home entertainment, and music can be transferred between computers and portable players. The removable RAID hard disk means all of your home entertainment libraries are protected in the event of a hard drive failure.
2)

Philips TSU9600

The sensational looking Philips Pronto gives you complete control of all your audio visual entertainment, lighting and music throughout your entire home. With a 3.7" screen, ergonomic design and built-in stylus the Pronto is both convenient and comfortable to use. The user interface can be personalised to match your unique tastes and preferences, and multiple devices can be controlled with a single touch, even if the device is in another room.

Arcam Solo Movie 5.1

The Arcam Solo Movie 5.1 is the epitome of audiovisual engineering with world class picture and sound performance. It combines a DVD player, amplifier, DAB radio, and once connected to speakers can deliver stunning surround sound. Music and video can also be seamlessly integrated using either Arcam's rDock or rLead. The Solo Movie 5.1 takes over the control and amplification with all iPod text appearing on the front panel display of the unit.


Runco RS-1100 and RS-1100 Ultra 1080p DLP™ projectors
span style="font-family:arial;">Both models incorporate single-chip, digital light processing (DLP) based light engines, engineered and calibrated for the finest video reproduction.

Both the RS-1100 and the RS-1100 Ultra are available with Runco's exclusive CineWide™ scaling technology. This enables the picture to be stretched vertically, so the black bars at the top and the bottom are eliminated and the active picture area fills the screen. The anamorphic lens then stretches the image again, horizontally this time, restoring the picture to its original, geometrically correct, and full 2.35:1 CinemaScope aspect ratio. The resulting image fills the entire screen, producing an image that is 33% bigger with no black bars and increased resolution and brightness.

The RS-1100 Ultra is also available with AutoScope. With this option the anamorphic lens is motorized to allow maximum resolution on both 2.35:1 and 16:9 screens, ensuring the most accurate reproduction of either 2.35:1 aspect movies or 16:9 HDTV material.
Both models also feature Runco's proprietary SuperOnyx™ light engine and Selectable Lamp Intensity Control™ (SLIC) which provides two selectable lamp intensity levels to allow maximum flexibility for screen size, ambient light conditions, brightness, contrast balance and preservation of usable lamp life.


Artcoustic Diablo Panel Subwoofer


The Diablo Sub Panel floor standing and wall-hanging subwoofer is the perfect complement for all the speakers in the Artcoustic range. It employs twin 10" X2 long-throw woofers and the X2 bass system to precisely control airflow and pressure inside the cabinet, achieving a bass response down to 20Hz. All of this, in a compact slimline design that can be placed on the floor or hung on a wall. The Diablo Sub Panel comes with a PA-300: a 300 watt amplifier. The Diablo Sub Panel is ideal for use in high-end installations, where sound quality is paramount, such as in medium to large sized home cinema installations.



Keyton Dune and Dynamic massage Chairs

Keyton, Europe's top producer of massage chairs, have gone from strength to strength by introducing a host of innovative products since the arrival of the first ergonomic massaging robot in 1993, In 2004, Keyton patented a new and revolutionary technology called Sensor Scan, which scans an individual back's state and personalises the massage to the needs of each person.
The latest additions to the range of massage chairs are the Keyton Dune and Keyton Dynamic, both featuring the Sensor Scan option.

Each massage will activate the touch receptors in your skin with the appropriate level of pressure, which has been shown to reduce stress, combat insomnia, alleviate neck pains, eliminate tension in the shoulders, relax the dorsal muscles, reduce back pains, alleviate lumbago, combat heavy legs, and stimulate circulation - all at the touch of a button.
Keyton Sensor Scan - The first massage chair that identifies and meets the needs of your back.