User Analysis
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def
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the process of understanding the end users of a system in order to design an appropriate interface
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goal
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converge the end user's mental model with the design model
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key questions
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are users trained professionals, technical workers, or clerical workers?
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what is their level of formal education?
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are they expert typists or keyboard-averse?
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what is the age range and primary spoken language of users?
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what are the consequences if a user makes a mistake?
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are users experts in the subject matter addressed by the system?
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7 steps to understanding your users (Galitz)
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understand how they interact with computers, especially when facing a badly designed interface — both psychologically (confusion, frustration, panic, stress) and behaviorally (abandoning the system, using only part of it, working around it, modifying the task)
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understand human characteristics relevant to design — perception, memory, information processing, skill, attitude, and motivation
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identify the user's knowledge/experience level — computer literacy, system experience, application experience, education, reading level, typing skill
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understand the nature of the user's tasks and job — mandatory vs. discretionary use, frequency of use, task/need importance, lifestyle
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understand psychological characteristics — patience, stress level
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understand physical characteristics — age, gender, handedness, disabilities
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use real data collection methods — visit user locations, talk directly with users (avoid intermediaries), observe or videotape them performing tasks, learn the surrounding work organization, use think-aloud protocols, try the task yourself, run surveys/questionnaires, and set testable behavioral target goals
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related