methods in HF

Question 1

outline HF in product design

Answer 1

• user centred design needs to be applied, the goal is designing a system that supports the users needs and not making users adapt.

Question 2

what is the human factors design cycle?

Answer 2

1) understand requirements of the business and who the product is aimed at.

2) use above info to design the technology and prototype.

3) ask users to test them and see if it does what’s needed, is it satisfying to use?

iterative process - a lot of going back and forth and tweaking.

Question 3

how to understand users

Answer 3

understand:
- who will use the product, they may all have different requirements
- tasks - what is it used for
- env. where will it be used.

Question 4

what is an iterative design:

Answer 4

design focuses on a cyclical process of designing, testing and analysing the product over again until it is perfect.

Question 5

what is user analysis

Answer 5

• user analysis predicts the most common users and characteristics they will have in common.
• the target audience needs to be understood, inc. age, gender, education.

Question 6

what is task analysis

Answer 6

• tasks performed using the product need to understood
• aims to understand how humans interact with systems.

Question 7

what are personas when creating a product

Answer 7

• these are fictitious representations of target users
• they help define who is going to use the product and potentially what for
• these bring the users to life
• users will have various goals and motivations.

Question 8

what is prototypes + paper prototypes

Answer 8

• everything organised, now the final product is to be developed and produced.
• paper prototypes are a drawn representation of the products, taken to users to say what they think.

Question 9

what is user testing

Answer 9

• used in high-fidelity prototypes, the target audience interacts with the design.
• this is tested for feedback, any improvements?

Question 10

what is user feedback in user testing

Answer 10

• users asked to verbalise their thoughts
• is it easy to use
• are there any errors of the design.
• are the users satisfied.

Question 11

what is expert appraisal in user testing

Answer 11

• HF experts look at the design
• aim is to pay close attention to design and identify where design principles are violated