Download Cooperative Evaluation Project

This watermark does not appear in the registered version - http://www.clicktoconvert.com
CS6021 - Foundations of Interactive Media – Usability Project
buttons surrounding it. Indeed if the user is using the D-pad (navigation pad), it is noticeable
that the users thumb covers the ‘C’ button on occasions. A solution for this problem could
be found in clearing the space covered by the users thumb and placing the buttons in more
recognizable locations.
·
As regards the D-Pad, the users were continually frustrated by the button associated with it.
The users often found that they pressed the arrows by mistake. This meant that the users had
to scroll back up the menu to the desired location and then attempt to press the button again.
Leaving the D-Pad as just a navigation pad would be an ideal solution. The selection buttons
at the bottom operate in much the same way and work to do the exact same job. At the
moment it is a very frustrating feature which could easily have been avoided.
·
One user commented how the icon representing the main menu button was misleading. The
user didn’t know what to associate with the button. The icon does not in any way look like
representing a menu and a more obvious icon would be appropriate, for example just text
saying menu or an icon representing a drop-down menu for example. If the user doesn’t
know which button brings them to the main menu, they would lose out on many of the
features of the N-Gage.
·
When writing a text message, users entered into the text message screen with little bother,
however the ‘To’ field at the top of the text message caused a lot of trouble. Users thought
initially that they could enter in a contacts name in the field and continue. However, the
keypad only entered numbers not characters and the users could not see how to enter a
contact. The users didn’t think it obvious to select the ‘Options’ command and enter the
contact from ‘Add Recipient’. Users thought that the process was complicated and could
have been achieved by simpler means. Indeed, a solution could be found by looking at other
Nokia phones. With these the user enters the text message first and then once they have
completed writing the message are transported to another screen associated with entering a
contact. By separating the tasks, the user can focus on one task at a time and the menu
options become less complicated. Putting both together results in a rise in the number of
options available to the user, resulting in a more complicated menu system.
·
When entering into the music player it was found that the previously viewed track was
displayed to the user. Often, users thought that there were only one song in the music player
and exited the application. This eventually led to confusion and distress for the user. This
misleading display could be rectified by showing the list of songs available on entry to the
music player.
M.Sc. Interactive Media, University of Limerick, 2003
Page 38 of 70