AUI Usability Test Plan

What is AUI?	This Discovery project is to determine whether this is a good time to bring new user interface elements to the Athena desktop, and if so, how should it be done. The goal of the project is to provide an easier entry for newcomers to Athena. The project has created a prototype GUI using GNOME and wants to test it before moving on

Goals of AUI usability testing	To determine whether users unfamiliar with Athena, but familiar with other platforms such as Mac and Windows can easily navigate in the Athena environment using the GNOME interface. Secondarily, to determine how Athena proficient users will react to the interface and use or abuse it.

Tests	We will use three testing methods in this effort Paper prototyping to determine how potential users understand icons in the task bar. See Athena Usability Testing: Icons . Card Sorting to help the developers build a coherent menu structure. Talking protocol usability test to determine whether and how users navigate Athena and perform assigned tasks using the GNOME interface. See Athena User Interface Usability Test. We will also ask the testers to complete a survey that collects information about their levels of expertise on various platforms and some of their qualitative reactions to the new interface.

Identifying test participants	We will solicit testers from one of the freshman seminars. Although these students are not new users, they are still relatively new users and close enough to their initial experiences with Athena to be able to compare. We will also ask faculty members and administrative staff to be testers,

Testing schedule	October 2000 through January 2000 First two rounds of paper prototyping testing of icons complete. First round of card sorting and Usability Testing complete

More information on the AUI project	AUI Notebook AUI in IS&T Work AUI Usability Guidelines AUI Usability Testing Procedures and Plans

Results	Results of the tests will be compiled, problems analyzed, and recommendations will be made and delivered to the developers, and posted on the Usability Team site.

What is AUI?

This Discovery project is to determine whether this is a good time to bring new user interface elements to the Athena desktop, and if so, how should it be done. The goal of the project is to provide an easier entry for newcomers to Athena.

The project has created a prototype GUI using GNOME and wants to test it before moving on

Goals of AUI usability testing

To determine whether users unfamiliar with Athena, but familiar with other platforms such as Mac and Windows can easily navigate in the Athena environment using the GNOME interface.

Secondarily, to determine how Athena proficient users will react to the interface and use or abuse it.

Tests

We will use three testing methods in this effort

Paper prototyping to determine how potential users understand icons in the task bar. See Athena Usability Testing: Icons .
Card Sorting to help the developers build a coherent menu structure.
Talking protocol usability test to determine whether and how users navigate Athena and perform assigned tasks using the GNOME interface. See Athena User Interface Usability Test.

We will also ask the testers to complete a survey that collects information about their levels of expertise on various platforms and some of their qualitative reactions to the new interface.

Identifying test participants

We will solicit testers from one of the freshman seminars. Although these students are not new users, they are still relatively new users and close enough to their initial experiences with Athena to be able to compare.

We will also ask faculty members and administrative staff to be testers,

Testing schedule

October 2000 through January 2000

First two rounds of paper prototyping testing of icons complete.

First round of card sorting and Usability Testing complete

More information on the AUI project

AUI Notebook

AUI in IS&T Work

AUI Usability Guidelines

AUI Usability Testing Procedures and Plans

Results

Results of the tests will be compiled, problems analyzed, and recommendations will be made and delivered to the developers, and posted on the Usability Team site.

Usability Testing of Athena User Interface (AUI)