How to estimate the time needed for a usability test? One of my favourite lists was discussing this recently. Formulae were proposed, variables discussed, and weighting factors considered. I was torn somewhere between a wry smile and an attack ofContinue reading… Back-to-front and inside-out estimating of testing
Author: Jane Matthews
Getting the video to talk to the audio
The call from the client was “Can we borrow your camera? We’ve only got one, and we need two for the next test”. We agreed a modest fee and the deal was done. Or was it? Close questioning revealed thatContinue reading… Getting the video to talk to the audio
Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
This presentation, given to the 49th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Nashville, USA, offers an overview of my work with the UK Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs). It records some our findings on usability, and the changes we made as aContinue reading… Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
You’re designing a form for the web and you want to make it easy for your form user to choose answers to your questions. There are five HTML form elements available: drop-down box, radio buttons, check boxes, type-in box andContinue reading… Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
Setting usability requirements for a website containing a form
This paper, co-authored with Sarah Allen Miller, was originally presented at the Society for Technical Communication Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2001 Why set usability requirements In traditional systems development, users were locked into systems and had little choice about whether to use them. If they wereContinue reading… Setting usability requirements for a website containing a form
Understanding the costs of data capture: paper, automatic and with the internet
Organisations have sometimes been surprised and disappointed when they re-engineer a forms-based data capture process but fail to achieve their anticipated savings. This paper, delivered to the CIMTECH conference, University of Hertfordshire, in 2000 explains: how capture costs are built up fromContinue reading… Understanding the costs of data capture: paper, automatic and with the internet
Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
If you want to create a usable form, the first step is to understand what a form is. By unpicking its elements, it is then possible to improve each aspect and put it back together in an improved state. This paperContinue reading… Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
‘How to’ manual on forms design: guidelines on font size
This paper presents some of the conflicting advice offered to designers on one particular topic in accessibility: the choice of font size for visually impaired people. This creates practical difficulties for designers when trying to apply the advice. It wasContinue reading… ‘How to’ manual on forms design: guidelines on font size