Virtual Book ClubVirtual Book Club

Info 608Spring 2009

Group 5

Adam Lerman

Evan Freas

James Mallon

Kong Phang

Doug Traher

Executive SummaryExecutive SummaryVirtual Book Club (VBC)

◦Designed for use with Internet Public Library (IPL)

◦Easily adapted to other online libraries

◦Based on traditional book clubs, adapted for the online experience

Executive Summary Executive Summary (cont.)(cont.)Features of the Virtual Book Club

◦Reviews of books ◦Discussion forums◦SubGroups

Users are encouraged to form Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

◦Blogs User Blogs Author Blogs Professional Blogs

Executive Summary Executive Summary (cont.)(cont.)General Concepts of the VBC

◦Adaptive Easily adapted to other media (i.e. video) Easily adapted to other formats (i.e

traditional libraries that maintain an online presence)

◦Open Non moderated User maintained Free form

Executive Summary Executive Summary (cont.)(cont.)The prototyping project

◦Conducted by the entire group◦Spanned the entire semester◦Made use of numerous volunteers

Elements◦Requirements Gathering◦Final Requirement & Requirement

Evaluation◦Prototype development

Executive Summary Executive Summary (cont.)(cont.)Elements (cont.)

◦Heuristic evaluation◦Cognitive Walkthrough◦Usability Testing◦Iterative Prototype improvement

Web 2.0 Application Web 2.0 Application IntroductionIntroductionInitial thoughts centered around

our physical library observations.◦Lots of traffic and activity◦All ages◦Books, magazines, periodicals,

newspapers, internet PC’s, wireless capability, multimedia section, kid’s section, teen section

◦Meeting place

Web 2.0 Initial Web 2.0 Initial ApplicationApplication• Initial Applications– Virtual book/music/movie club

• Initial Features– Review forums– Rating system– Add and view various media sources– Social networking site– RSS feed for updates– Targeted content for different age groups– Individual user profile

Web 2.0 Final ApplicationWeb 2.0 Final Application• Our Selection– An online book club

• Why an online Book Club?–Natural extension of a physical library– Easy integration into the IPL– Extend the collaborative and social aspects

of the IPL– Platform could be extended to include a

music and or movie club– Available to all age groups within the IPL

Requirements GatheringRequirements Gathering• Interview Demographics–Male and Female– Age range between 23 – 65–Diverse occupations

• Interview Results– Interaction with physical library– Usage and time spent at physical library–Membership in social organizations– Likes and dislikes of social organizations

Requirements Gathering Requirements Gathering (cont.)(cont.)

◦Internet usage◦Digital library experience◦Features of online book/music/movie

club◦Design of virtual club◦Experience with popular websites and

social networking sites. Ex: Amazon, MySpace, etc

◦Access interest levels with new technology. Ex: Blackberry, iPhone, tablet, etc

Final Requirements & Final Requirements & EvaluationEvaluation

Functional Requirement

s

Usability Requirement

s

Performance Requirement

s

Additional Requirement

s

Support multiple popular customizable user interfaces

The application shall allow global reach

Support at least 5000 concurrent user sessions at all time.

Comprehensive search function

Support full text search capability

Support WYSIWYG interface

The system shall be scalable to support unlimited participants

User recommendations for books

First ten search results shall return with 5 seconds

Simplistic and uninformed design across all platforms

List of genres

Allow users to organize activities and invitations.

Application shall have archived section

Complete book list

Support private messaging among the users

Support sort and list of most popular titles

Chat feature

Final Requirements & Evaluation Final Requirements & Evaluation (cont.)(cont.)

Functional Requirements

Usability Requirements

Performance Requirements

Additional Requirements

Allow all users to monitor friends

Support information sharing and socialization

RSS feed for each club

Support tracking on all posts

Allow users to reserve books online

Edit functions

Support handheld devices such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle or a tablet

Provide recommendations based on profiles

Ability to add media

Support a diverse selection of titles

Support privacy policy of the organization

Link in side-menu bar to the IPL homepage

Support user rating of products, and services

Support discussion forum with pluggable look and feel template

Final Requirements & Final Requirements & Evaluation (cont.)Evaluation (cont.)

Functional Requirements

Usability Requirements

Performance Requirements

Additional Requirements

Support fixed chat room hours

Support a moderator to reduce clutter and senseless comments

Support access to membership roster and schedule of events

Allow users to post content anonymously.

Support access to group directory and announcements board

Allow user to develop communities and subgroups by association or interest

Support blog feature by authors and active users

Access to the application shall be free

Allow users to read books online

Support all forms of active content

Prototype DesignUsability Goals

◦Effectiveness◦Efficiency◦Utility◦Learnable◦Memorable◦Safety

Not taken into consideration for prototype

Design PrinciplesVisibilityFeedbackConstraintsConsistencyAffordances

Initial Prototype Demonstration

Initial Prototype Demonstration (cont.)

Heuristic Evaluation (HE) Heuristic Evaluation (HE) DescriptionDescription• HE -Technique & Problems• HE - Sections Evaluated • HE – Results Statistics• HE – Results Analysis

HE – Technique & HE – Technique & ProblemsProblemsVisibility of system status Consistency and standards Aesthetic and minimalist design User control and freedomError prevention Recognition rather than recall Flexibility and efficiency of use Help users recognize, diagnose, and

recover from errorsHelp and documentationMatch between system and the real

world

HE – Sections EvaluatedHE – Sections EvaluatedThe IPL home pageThe KidSpace page

Math and Science Computers and the Internet

The TeenSpace page Homework Help FAEQs (Frequently Asked Embarrassed Question)

HE – Result StatisticsHE – Result StatisticsHeuristic Average Number of

ViolationsAverage Severity

RatingVisibility of system status

1 3

Consistency and standards

9 2.25

Aesthetic and minimalist design

6 2.5

User control and freedom

3 2

Error prevention 2 3Recognition rather than recall

1 2

Flexibility and efficiency of use

3 2.5

Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors

0 0

Help and documentation

2 2

Match between system and the real world

1 3

HE – Result AnalysisHE – Result Analysis

Cognitive Walkthrough Cognitive Walkthrough DescriptionDescription• Purpose - evaluate detailed list of tasks –Simulates how a user would potentially

utilize a product–Determines whether or not it is designed

properly for ease of problem-solving and learning as intended

• Steps:–One - determine characteristics of potential

users (personas)–Two - create a prototype that focuses on a

set of sample tasks to be performed and assessed–Three - use a scenario to guide the tester

through the chosen tasks

Cognitive Walkthrough Cognitive Walkthrough TasksTasksChosen Tasks – establish precise

sequence of steps to accomplish them◦Task 1: Read reviews of Grapes of Wrath◦Task 2: Write a review of Grapes of Wrath◦Task 3: Search for ‘American Literature’ club◦Task 4: Join the book club and website◦Task 5: Navigate back to the home page◦Task 6: Sign in

Cognitive Walkthrough Tasks Cognitive Walkthrough Tasks (cont.)(cont.)For each step of a task it is necessary

to answer a set of questions:◦Will the users try to achieve the right

effect?◦Will users be able to easily identify what

to do to complete the task?◦Will users associate this action with the

effect to be achieved?◦If the correct action is carried out, will

users be given proper feedback to know this?

Cognitive Walkthrough Cognitive Walkthrough OutcomesOutcomes• No problems performing

cognitive walkthrough• It was determined that:• Users would know what effect to

achieve• They would know an action is

available and the one that they choose was appropriate

• Users would know that they were completing the task correctly

Usability Testing Usability Testing DescriptionDescription• Goal – assess whether or not a product may

be efficiently utilized as intended by a specific population

• Formal approach – uses a number of design testers with no previous experience regarding the product– Observes hands-on how they interact with it and

the problems they incur• Steps:– One – initial background survey is given to

participants– Two – observe users carrying out specific set of

tasks on a prototype as instructed by the evaluator– Three – reaction survey is presented to ascertain

testers’ thoughts• Use think-aloud technique

Our Usability Test Our Usability Test DemographicsDemographicsTen different users

◦Seven female, three male◦Seven users in the 18-30 age range

bracket, one in 31-45 bracket, two in the 46-60 range

◦Selected from diverse backgrounds and occupations

Our Usability Test (cont.)Our Usability Test (cont.)Process:

◦Users were given background surveys◦Users were briefed on the prototype,

including its purpose and tasks to be carried out

◦Users performed tasks and were encouraged to think out loud Evaluators dictated notes on their

observations

◦The session concluded with a reaction survey Assessed users’ thoughts about the prototype

User Testing Summary and User Testing Summary and AnalysisAnalysis• Generally, users could follow the

scenarios provided and choose the tasks as expected

• A few problems were uncovered–Terminology disagreement between

one tester and the designers–Search bar was not fully functional and

was not anticipated to be used–One user clicked on discussion board

which was not functional and did not lead to reviews (the task at hand)–One user could not readily find the links

available to read and write reviews

USABILITY TESTING DATAUSABILITY TESTING DATAUsability Testing Background Survey Information (Averages)

Traditional Library

Experience

General Web Experience

Social Site Experience

Interest in Social Sites

Likelihood of Using Online

Library

Likelihood of Using Online Book Club

3.2 3.1 3 3.1 3.3 2.8

Usability Testing Reaction Survey Information (Averages)

Overall Prototyp

e Impressi

on

Ease of Use

Usefulness of

Features

Ease of Navigati

on

Control Placeme

nt

Appear-ance

Organization

How well it

conformed to

expectations

Likelihood of Using this

Prototype

6.6 7.7 6.9 7.3 6.9 6.4 7.0 7.0 6.5

Iterated PrototypeRemoved link for discussion board

◦Board was not implemented, so no link was necessary

Clarified ability to click book covers◦Some users were not aware covers

were also links to details page◦Added text directing users as such

Search bar enhancement◦Search bar can now be used to search

for book titles as well as individual book groups

Iterated Prototype (cont.)

See More Titles link◦Link was not implemented in 1.0◦Allows users to see all titles in

alphabetized listBook-specific links

◦i.e. Read/Write reviews, Reserve, Read online

◦Moved to right sidebar◦Made larger

Minor Aesthetics◦Hyperlinks all colored blue and

underlined

SummarySummarySemester Long ProjectEnd Result, a workable prototype for a

virtual book clubAcademic Results◦ A working knowledge of many aspects

of HCI Requirements Gathering Prototyping Functionality Analysis Usability Testing