Final Evaluation: Margaret Hadley

Cognitive Walkthrough

The TV Interface

Margaret is shown the presentation.

Oh, so now I can still see the telly while I use the menu? That seems much better. My husband won't complain nearly so much.

Referring to the button navigation

This seems simple enough. I hope I don't accidentally hit the alarm button by mistake, though. Hmm, if the remote doesn't hang too low around your neck, it won't have much slack for you to point it at the TV and such, will it?

Referring to the Main Menu

I don't think I'll ever use the shopping feature, but I suppose it's not going to hurt having it there.

Referring to the Manage My Home menu

Ah, you added hot water in there, that's good! No timer though? That's a pity. Can we still set these features in the ordinary way if we don't want to use the TV? All right, that's fine.

Referring to the Lighting menu

I think this seems simple enough. I think maybe the outline that shows you which button you're on could be a bit more distinguishable - the colours are all a bit dull and at a distance I don't know if it would be that clear. The grey arrow could be a bit bolder, too.

Actually, I have more than one light in my living room. What if I just want to, say, switch the lamp by the armchair on and turn the rest off? It doesn't look like I can do that.

Referring to the Shopping functionality

Can we pick which supermarket we can order from? I don't think I'd be using this feature at all, but I can see how it would be useful, especially now you don't need a bank account and such to do it.

It looks a bit time consuming to set up your shopping list, but I suppose once it's done, you only have to press one button to order it again the next week. But shouldn't it give you the time you're going to get the delivery BEFORE you say it's okay? It doesn't look like there's any way to cancel, so that could cause trouble. My friend Mavis, who orders from Iceland sometimes, says she gets to pick what times of the day her delivery should come.

Final observations

I do like it, it seems quite simple. I think even my husband could pick it up. But since I wouldn't use the shopping feature, I don't know, it seems like there's not much else to it. Maybe more features would make it a bit more impressive.

The external scenarios

After reviewing the 'user falls' scenario

I'm glad you get feedback on the alarm pressing. It would be a bit frightening to be lying there wondering if you pressed it hard enough, or if the system was broken.

After reviewing the 'system detects fire' scenario

You could still be trapped in the home, even if you're alerted to it. Maybe the remote could also give you instructions on what to do to stay safe in the meantime, like blocking up the door, damp towels, all that?

After reviewing the 'user falls unconscious' scenario

No real comments here. Wait, if you have more than one contact, does it call all of them?

Issues derived from this analysis

• In general, the revised interface seems much clearer and intuitive in its usage.
• However, some of the simplifying we've done to the functions e.g. making it possible to switch lighting off only on a room-wide bases as opposed to individual lighting fixtures might actually limit the usefulness of the system.
• One flaw in particular was highlighted in ordering on the shopping system - the confirmation process is a bit too abrupt and currently has no direct way of cancellation. The user also suggested being able to pick your own delivery time ranges e.g. 1-2pm, 2-3pm or 3-4pm in the afternoon, which would probably be more acceptable and convenient.
• We narrowed our focus down onto two main features, but if one of the two features isn't used, potentially the interface system could be dead weight. Given another design iteration, I think it would have been a good idea to consider extra functionality.
• Improving the feedback from the remote seems to have been a good idea.
• Potentially, we could improve the scope of feedback and do things such as offer context-sensitive advice to users who find themselves in emergency situations.
• Some aspects of how the system works could be made even clearer.