AIRCC's International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Heuristic-Based Approach for Usability Evaluation of Academic Portals


Affiliations
1 Information Systems Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 

Human computer interaction (HCI) is concerned with the practice of usability, which is a measure that evaluates the simplicity of using a system, software, or interface design for performing particular tasks. Evaluation is a process by which designers gather information about a systems usability to improve its user interfaces features. This research presents a study of a usability evaluation of EduGate, an online academic portal of King Saud University. In this research the heuristic evaluation method was chosen to evaluate the usability of the EduGate. Our results show that, the EduGate suffers from certain usability problem and some recommendations were proposed to enhance the usability of the EduGate. A questionnaire was then used to collect the feedback of real users (i.e. students) on the value of these recommendations. The participants supported 80% of the proposed recommendations to improve the usability of the EduGate.

Keywords

Usability Evaluation, Usability Problems, Heuristic, Academic Portals.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Tatnall A., Gateways To Portals Research. International Journal Of Web Portals,1(1):1–15, 2009.

  • Manouselis N., Kastrantas K., Alonso S.S, Caceres J., Ebner H., Palmér M., Architecture Of The Organic Edunet Web Portal. Ijwp. 1(1):71–91, 2009.

  • Nielsen J., Molich R., Heuristic Evaluation Of User Interfaces. In: Proceedings Of The Sigchi Conference On Human Factors In Computing Systems. New York, Ny, Usa: Acm, P. 249–256, 1990.

  • Preece J., Benyon D., University O., A Guide To Usability: Human Factors In Computing. 1st Ed. Boston, Ma, Usa: Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc.; 1993.

  • Hix D., Hartson H.R., Developing User Interfaces: Ensuring Usability Through Product & Process. New York, Ny, Usa: John Wiley & Sons, 1993.

  • Carroll J.M., Hci Models, Theories, And Frameworks: Toward A Multidisciplinary Science. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, Usa, 2003.

  • Preece J., Rogers Y., Sharp H., Benyon D., Holland S., Carey T., Human-Computer Interaction. 1st Edition. Wokingham, England ; Reading, Mass: Addison Wesley; 1994.

  • Danino N., Heuristic Evaluation - A Step By Step Guide Article, Sitepoint. 2001, [Internet]: [Cited 2016 Aug 19]; Available From: Http://Www.Sitepoint.Com/Heuristic-Evaluation-Guide/

  • Carroll J.M., Hci Models, Theories, And Frameworks: Toward A Multidisciplinary Science. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, Usa, 2003.

  • Rogers Y., Sharp H., Preece J., Interaction Design: Beyond Human - Computer Interaction. John Wiley & Sons, New York, Ny, Usa, 2011.

  • Shackel B., Richardson S.J., Human Factors For Informatics Usability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Uk, 1991.

  • Nielsen J., Usability Engineering. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, Usa, 1994.

  • Wd Iso. 9241-11. Ergonomic Requirements For Office Work With Visual Display Terminals (Vdts). 1998.

  • Baecker R.M., Readings In Human-Computer Interaction: Toward The Year 2000. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, San Francisco, Usa, 1995.

  • Nielsen J., Usability 101: Introduction To Usability, 2003. Available From: Http://Www.Nngroup.Com/Articles/Usability-101-Introduction-To-Usability/

  • Badre A., Shaping Web Usability: Interaction Design In Context. Addison- Wesley Professional, Boston, Ma, Usa, 2002.

  • Friedman V., 10 Principles Of Effective Web Design, Smashing Magazine, [Internet], [Cited 2016 Aug 19]; Available From: Http://Www.Smashingmagazine.Com/2008/01/31/10-Principles-Of-Effective-Web-Design/

  • Wallace M.D., Anderson T.J., Approaches To Interface Design. Interacting With Computers, 5(3):259–278, 1993.

  • Pinelle D., Wong N., Stach T., Heuristic Evaluation For Games: Usability Principles For Video Game Design, In: Proceedings Of The Sigchi Conference On Human Factors In Computing Systems. Acm ,New York, Ny, Usa, P. 1453–1462, 2008.

  • Dringus L.P, Cohen M.S., An Adaptable Usability Heuristic Checklist For Online Courses. In: Frontiers In Education, Proceedings 35th Annual Conference. P. T2h– 6. 2005.

  • Wentz B., Lazar J., Usability Evaluation Of Email Applications By Blind Users. Journal Of Usability Studies. 6(2):75–89, 2011.

  • Hussain, A. B., Abbas, S. A. A., Abdulwaheed, M. S., Mohammed, R. G., & Abdullah Abdulhussein, A. Usability Evaluation Of Mobile Game Applications: A Systematic Review. International Journal Of Computer And Information Technology. 4(3): 547-551, 2015.

  • Yousef, A. M. F., Chatti, M. A., Schroeder, U., & Wosnitza, M. A Usability Evaluation Of A Blended Mooc Environment: An Experimental Case Study. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distributed Learning,16(2): 69-93, 2015.

  • Iqbal, M., & Warraich, N. F. Usability Evaluation Of An Academic Library Website: A Case Of The University Of The Punjab. Pakistan Journal Of Information Management & Libraries (Pjim&L), 2016.

  • Arning, K., Himmel, S., & Ziefle, M. “Overloaded, Slow, And Illogical” A Usability Evaluation Of Software For Product Manufacturing Processes With A Special Focus On Age And Expertise Of Cam Users. In Proc. International Conference On Competitive Manufacturing, Pp. 553-558, 2016.

  • Choi, Y. M., & Li, J. Usability Evaluation Of A New Text Input Method For Smart Tvs. Journal Of Usability Studies, 11(3), 2016.

  • Thimbleby H., Interaction Walkthrough: Evaluation Of Safety Critical Interactive Systems. In: Interactive Systems. Design, Specification, And Verification. Springer; 2007.

  • Maguire M., Bevan N., User Requirements Analysis. In: Hammond J, Gross T, Wesson J, Editors. Usability. Springer, Usa, 2002.

  • Dumas J.S, Redish J., A Practical Guide To Usability Testing. Intellect Books, Exeter, Uk, 1999.

  • Osterbauer C., Lackner M., Weinberger G., Usability In Chemical Engineering. Trends In Chemical Engineering. 13:1–15, 2010.

  • Kellett M., How To Develop Children As Researchers: A Step By Step Guide To Teaching The Research Process. Sage, London, Uk, 2005.

  • Nielsen J. Usability Inspection Methods. In: Conference Companion On Human Factors In Computing Systems. Acm , New York, Ny, Usa, P. 413–414. 1994.

  • Nielsen J., 10 Heuristics For User Interface Design [Internet]. 2005 [Cited 2016 Aug 19];Available From: Http://Www.Nngroup.Com/Articles/Ten-Usability-Heuristics/

  • Reeves T.C., Apedoe X., Hee Woo Y., Evaluating Digital Libraries: A User-Friendly Guide [Internet]. 2005 [Cited 2016 Aug 19];Available From: Http://Www.Dpc.Ucar.Edu/Projects/Evalbook/

  • Polson P.G., Lewis C., Rieman J., Wharton C., Cognitive Walkthroughs: A Method For Theory-Based Evaluation Of User Interfaces. Int. J. Man-Mach. Stud. May 36(5):741– 773. 1992.

  • Rieman J., Franzke M., Redmiles D., Usability Evaluation With The Cognitive Walkthrough. In: Conference Companion On Human Factors In Computing Systems. Acm, New York, Ny, Usa; P. 387–388, 1995.

  • Bias R.G., The Pluralistic Usability Walkthrough: Coordinated Empathies. In Usability Inspection Methods. In: Nielsen J, Mack R.L, Editors. New York, Ny, Usa: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; P. 63–76, 1994.

  • Collura M., Human-Computer Interaction And Main Principles To Design Practice Human-Centred System. Management And Industrial Engineering Department. Universita Della Calabria, Cosenza. 2006.

  • Powell R.A, Single H.M., Focus Groups. Int J Qual Health Care. Jan 1;8(5):499–504. 1996.

  • Kantner L., Sova D.H, Rosenbaum S. Alternative Methods For Field Usability Research, In Proceedings Of The 21st Annual International Conference On Documentation. New York, Ny, Usa: Acm; 2003.

  • Tan C.K., Amin S.H., Mamat R., Using Voting Technique In Mobile Robot Behavior Coordination For Goal-Directed Navigation. Jurnal Teknologi, 36(1):55–70, 2012.

  • Sonnekus I.P., Pieterse V., Ascertaining Personal Qualities Of Computer Educators Who Are Destined To Achieve Results (Cedars). International Journal Of Learning. The Learner Collection, Vol. 10, 2010.


Abstract Views: 274

PDF Views: 136




  • A Heuristic-Based Approach for Usability Evaluation of Academic Portals

Abstract Views: 274  |  PDF Views: 136

Authors

Al-Dossari Hmood
Information Systems Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract


Human computer interaction (HCI) is concerned with the practice of usability, which is a measure that evaluates the simplicity of using a system, software, or interface design for performing particular tasks. Evaluation is a process by which designers gather information about a systems usability to improve its user interfaces features. This research presents a study of a usability evaluation of EduGate, an online academic portal of King Saud University. In this research the heuristic evaluation method was chosen to evaluate the usability of the EduGate. Our results show that, the EduGate suffers from certain usability problem and some recommendations were proposed to enhance the usability of the EduGate. A questionnaire was then used to collect the feedback of real users (i.e. students) on the value of these recommendations. The participants supported 80% of the proposed recommendations to improve the usability of the EduGate.

Keywords


Usability Evaluation, Usability Problems, Heuristic, Academic Portals.

References