Heuristic Evaluation



Contents

Heuristic Evaluation principles3

Visibility of the system Status3

Match between system and real world3

User Control and freedom4

Consistency and standards4

Prevention of Error4

Recognition rather than recall4

Flexibility and efficiency of use4

Minimalistic design5

Help and documentation5

General Design principles for all type of interfaces5

Knowing your audience5

Listen to the users6

Provide full Accessibility6

Avoid feature cascade6

Using Metaphors7

Putting the user in control7

Heuristic security checklist7

Alternate interaction devices8

How social media can improve its usability10

Heuristic Evaluation principles

Neilsen and Molich introduced the concept of the heuristic evaluation in 1990 in one of his influential paper named “Heuristic Evaluation of User Interfaces”. Neilsen kept on researching over this evaluation technique and later in 1994 a book was published over heuristic evaluation by Neilsen. Heuristic evaluation technique adopted by Neilsen is used to review and evaluate the user interface by using general principals and set of guidelines. This helps in determining the problems that a user may encounter while working over any system. The set of heuristic usability principals developed by Neilsen to evaluate any system are as following (Nielsen, et.al, 1990).

Visibility of the system Status

The system should be designed in such a manner so that it continuously keeps on informing the user regarding the current status of what is going on. The user should have access to the current operation that is being carried out by the system

Match between system and real world

The operation carried out in system is based on logical and complex set of instructions that are designed to conduct various tasks. However the interaction of the system should be quite user friendly, the system should interact with user using the language and the instructions that could be understood by the user.

User Control and freedom

Sometimes user performs some unwanted operations by mistake that affects the overall performance of the system hence user must have the freedom to undo and redo the tasks they performed (Nielsen, et.al, 1990).

Consistency and standards

Such standards should be flowed that should not confuse the user between different words, situations or actions means the same thing. Few words and situations make it difficult for the user to differentiate. This condition must be avoided.

Prevention of Error

Error detection method must be used in order to make the users aware regarding the mistake they are making. Sometimes due to small errors at the beginning of the operation affects the overall performance of the system.

Recognition rather than recall

The instructions that are commonly used must be easily visible to the user in order to minimize the load over the user memory to memorize different objects. The user should not have to remember the one part of the dialogue to another (Nielsen, et.al, 1990).

Flexibility and efficiency of use

The system must be compatible with both the sort of beginner and expert users. They speed of the system may be set according to the efficiency of the user.

Minimalistic design

The dialogues should not contain any irrelevant and extra information. Every information provided must be précised and to the point that helps the user to read it and understand it properly (Nielsen, 1992).

Help and documentation

It is necessary to provide help ...