To rent....or not to rent?.. that is the question...

The last two weeks have been about exploring Steve Krug's methods for usability testing. We watched a video that gave us an insight on how to approach usability testing using 2 users. By doing this, we developed a better understanding of various persona's and scenarios that can be determined while using all kinds of websites. The two tasks that users were supposed to accomplish are as follows:

***using the website: www.zipcar.com for week 1:

1. You don't currently own a car, and you can get almost everywhere you need to go without one, you are about to sign up for a class that you can't get to using public transportation , and there are other times when it would be more convenient to have a car. A friend has been very happy using Zipcar for occasional trips, so you decide to explore that option. To get to class, you'd need a car one afternoon a week about three hours to make a 50-mile round trip. You'd also like to have a car one Saturday a month to run errands all day. Figure out what this would cost you each month.

2. You're concerned about whether you'll always be able to get a car when you need one. Find out what Zipcar promises about availability.

I found that by encouraging the user to talk out loud, it was easier to figure out what was wrong with the site, what was confusing, what was frustrating and just the overall thought process. the first user was a young male and he was able to accomplish both tasks with very few questions. However, some things on the site were unclear to him such as "EVP". This was not clear to the user that it stood for "Extra value plan". He said that it looked complicated. He also was unsure of what "rollover" meant. By clicking on the link, he was able to understand the term better. On the other hand, the other user that was tested was an older male. He was able to complete the tasks but needed to be prompted to check out the EVP plans. He also did not know was that stood for and was also confused by it. For the second task, he experienced some frustration because he was unable to find it. He has to be prompted to go to the FAQ section. The font was smaller so it was easy for him to miss relevant information.

For week 2 we were asked to perform the same tasks but with a sister website: www.drivemint.com

Task 1 stayed the same but Task 2 was as follows:

2. You realize after recieving your vehicle you need the car for a couple more days. Find out what drivemint guarantees about extending reservations.

The same users were tested for this website. They both were able to complete the first task with minimal problems. They both mentioned that "join mint" was seen on all pages, which took them straight to a page that talked about rates. Both users concluded that pay as you go was the better option in comparison to the smart saver which seemed complicated to figure out. Both had trouble finding information regarding renting on a weekend. This is because it was located on the bottom of the page in smaller font. They also agreed that the site was definitely visually appealing which would convince them to take a look at what they have to offer. The second task was accomplished with no problems but was NOT detailed enough.

Both of these sessions were recorded using CamStudio which is a screen capture program. It also records audio which makes it convenient to show developers various issues that arise from their program or website. Below is a tutorial on how to install and use CamStudio by Jimmy Rusk. It was downloaded from youtube.ca

Why I consider my blog well designed

I consider my blog to be well designed for the following reasons:

1. My search engine is located at the bottom of the blog and is powered by Google's search engine which is one of the most widely used search engines.

2. The content is readable as I have a black background and white writing, which is a nice contrast. The titles of the posts are slightly bigger and green so they stand out more. The content is the main focus of my blog.

3. The sidebars are quite useful for reading through all the posts in my blog.

4. Reader's can find my best content by using the search engine located at the bottom of the blog.

5. My design is very simple and user friendly. There are no crazy backgrounds that take away from the post and make it unreadable.

6. As mentioned previously, my colour scheme is as follows: Black background, white writing and green titles. This scheme creates a nice contrast.

7. In my opinion, I feel that the theme is unique because of its simplicity. I also made sure that the headlines stand out more to catch the user’s attention but are also informative. There are also no advertisements which eliminate the chance of them taking over my blog. I also added some videos to make it more interesting to users.

8. The blog loads fairly quickly to help cater to people who have short attention spans. People sometimes like to skim through the content to see if it appeals to them, they also do not like waiting for pages to load.

9. As soon as the user enters my blog, on the right hand side it gives the user the option to become a follower of my blog and sign in if they are a member. The user can also click on “create blog” which is located at the top of the screen. This allows them to get started on their own if they like.

10. If the user wishes to comment on my posts, there is a comment section right below each post for them to fill out. It will be displayed at the bottom under “recent comments” once a comment is posted.

11. All my posts for this project are located in one blog which is one page. All the user needs to do is scroll down to keep reading. Each post is located on the right hand side of the page. If the user would like to read a certain section, they can just click the link and it will take them to that part of the blog.

Invention of Facebook - the billion dollar site!

Facebook is a social networking website that was invented by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004. He was attending school at Harvard as a sophomore. In 2003, his girlfriend had broken up with him, and he needed to get his mind off of it. He began writing code for a site called Facemash which is a site like Hot or Not. After complications with school (breaching the security, violating copyrights etc.) Zuckerberg continued his project over the next semester. It was made available to everyone September 26, 2006 and had many companies (such as google and Microsoft) trying to buy it. Zuckerberg wanted to keep it independently owned however, on October 24, 2007 Microsoft announced that it had purchased a 1.6% share of Facebook for $240 million, giving Facebook a total implied value of around $15 billion.

I think Facebook is also well designed. It allows people to communicate with people all over the world. I am able to keep in touch with friends from elementary school, highschool, and Uninveristy. I can also keep in touch with relatives all over the world. People can create events, upload pictures, upload and view videos, share memories, chat etc. the user interface is friendly and visually appealing. Facebook is something I use on a regular basis.

Invention of the iPod series - Apple forever changes multimedia

In 2001, the iPod was introduced by Apple. It was to replace all the big, chunky walkmans and CD players that had terrible user interfaces. At first, the reactions were confused and hostile, critics lambasted the $400 price tag, the unconventional scroll wheel and the lack of Windows compatibility. Despite all this, the iPod sold beyond everyone's expectations, went on to revolutionize the entire music industry, and the rest is history.

The iPod is also well designed. It has a nice user interface, unconventional scroll wheel, and a touch screen. It is also light and can come in a smaller size (namely the shuffle), which is good for working out at the gym or going for a run. You can also hook the iPod up to a iPod dock or iPod capable stereo for a much louder experience.

Invention of Scuba - A pleasant swimming experience!

In 1943, Jacques Cousteau and Emily Gagnan invented the "Aqualung" which is commonly known as SCUBA (Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). This invention allowed for more in depth ocean explorations, while providing the divers with a more mobile and revolutionized experience. Every year, there are at least 1 million people who get certified for recreational scuba diving.

Today, there have been many advances to these suits. scuba technology has made it easier to put on, safer and affordable. These suits have been made to make it easier to breathe underwater, modify temperatures, visibility and buoyancy. These suits also allow for a more pleasant underwater experience.

Invention of the GPS - Know where you are!

The Global Positioning System (GPS) was established in 1993 however, the proposal of the idea occurred in 1973 by the U.S Air Force and the U.S Navy. Our GPS is maintained by the USAF 50^th Space Wing and costs $750 million per year to maintain, but it is worth every penny because people always seem to get lost. Anyone can use the GPS Signal as long as they own or have a GPS receiver.

GPS devices are generally well designed. They cater to the needs of people who require more information about their location. These devices are interactive and provide information such what route to take to get to your destination with options of avoiding highways, and getting there in the shortest time. Some GPS devices are provide information about restaurants and hotels that are near the current location.

Invention of the Internet - A whole new world!

The first invention that I think is most significant would be the invention of the Internet. It begun as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) which was developed in 1969 by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) of the United States Department of Defense. It was seen as the world's first operational packet switching network. It is the predecessor of the Global Internet.

Today, the Internet has greatly changed the way we communicate. For example, we can purchase almost any imaginable item online, do online banking, email, conduct business, entertain ourselves and find/retrieve information for research purposes. Anyone can publish anything online as well as view whatever they wish. People can also access the internet anywhere, making it very mobile. The Internet is a luxury that I think most people could not live without.