Walkthrough Setup
Evaluation Completed by: Gary Thompson
Date: September 18, 2007
Environment/URL: Yale Info
Scope of Walkthrough
uPortal: Public/Guest page, Login, Yale Dining Menu, Logout
User profile(s) and context of use
Persona: Ed McClellan, Undergraduate
Ed is in his freshman year. Ed has used the portal a few times and recognizes that there are a few valuable (though not highly usable) services within the portal. Ed is accessing the portal via a public library computer.
User Expectations & Conventions
Scenarios
Ed wants to know what is on the menu for dinner at the cafeteria.
Walkthrough
Guest Page and Login
As I had to use the demo account, I could not properly evaluate the login. See: Notes on the guest page from a previous walkthrough.
Yale Dining Menu
Usability Issues |
Principle |
Priority |
Suggestions for solution |
Component Identified? |
Content was easy to find with good titles and labels (Yale Dining Menu, Today's Menu, Dinner) |
Match between system and the real world, Recognition rather than recall |
|
Adding a visual image (food) would probably increase findability |
Menu, List |
Dinner menu is listed out, follows standard list formatting |
Aesthetic and minimalist design, Consistency and standards |
|
A visual of the meal/dishes would both add to the recognition of the content and supply additional detail. |
Menu, Image List |
The menu items are probably links, but I had to mouse over one to know for sure. |
Consistency and standards, Error prevention |
|
Use underline for linked text to help users recognize links |
|
When I clicked a link (Roast Leg Of Lamb), I was whisked away from the portal to the Yale University Dining Menu website and presented with Nutritional Analysis & Ingredient Info for Roast Lamb. The YUDS website and interface is very different than the portal. I now have to re-calibrate my bearings. |
Visibility of system status, Error prevention |
|
Indicate to the user that they are going to be transfered to another application/site |
Menu, Search, External Link Indicator |
I will not evaluate the YUDS website, but will note that there was no way to get back to the portal from this interface (it had spawned in a new browser tab, however). |
User control and freedom |
|
Provide a means to return to the portal |
Host Panel/Frame |
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