Degree
Master of Science in Computer Science
Department
Department of Computer Science
Faculty / School
Faculty of Computer Sciences (FCS)
Date of Submission
2018-01-01
Supervisor
Syed Asim Ali, Visiting Faculty, Department of Computer Science
Document type
MSCS Survey Report
Abstract
Evaluation is the phenomenon of determining the significance, worth, scope of a subject. Anything can be evaluated based on judging its merits and demerits over sets of established standards depending on cultures, demographics etc. Usability is a broad subject that mainly refers to the ability of a user to learn and operate a system with maximum ease. The need for systems to be user friendly has been around ever since the introduction of personal computers. Almost three decades ago study of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Usability Evaluation Method (UEM) gained popularity as computers became mainstreamed and developers aimed at making easy interfaces for user satisfaction. Developing a software is an iterative process with many complexities on the way. Evaluation of a design is needed to help developers understand the needs and desires of users. Usability evaluation can be considered as a systematic process of addressing the gap of what may want and what he really needs. The ultimate goal of a design developer is to provide a simple and easy to use interface that completely satisfies user's needs. Over the last decade, the rapid improvement in technologies have resulted in computerized systems being a necessary part of a human life. Humans interact with electronic devices consisting of different and complex interfaces in almost every second of the lives. This sudden constant interaction with electronic interfaces has seen a sudden surge in usability experts and technology developers to focus and invest more in their user interfaces. The easier yet comprehensive interface of a system, the more chances it will have to observe a decent sale and profits. Companies are considering user experience as the utmost quality factor as it's vital to achieve maximum profits in a competitive world like today. Numerous UEMs have been developed over the years to ensure user satisfaction. This paper focuses on some of the most popular usability evaluation techniques implemented and tested over various applications by renowned usability professionals and experts. In this paper we have thoroughly researched the usage and benefits of heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, pluralistic walkthrough and thinking aloud evaluation methods. Focus group of few people was formed to gain insight on how user experience can be improved by implementing usability techniques. Usability evaluation techniques were applied and tested on ESPN Cricinfo, torrent and Patari.
Recommended Citation
Naveed, H. (2018). Usability evaluation comparative study (Unpublished MSCS survey report). Institute of Business Administration, Pakistan. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/survey-reports-mscs/71
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