CS160 Midterm Exam Spring 2007, version 1 User Interface Design, - - PDF document

CS160 Midterm Exam Spring 2007, version 1 User Interface Design, Prototyping, and Evaluation

Total number of points on exam: 100

Instructions

This is a closed book, individual test. You are not allowed to use your notes, texts, or laptop

• computers. You have the full class period for this exam; there are 100 points total. Use your time

accordingly. You have brought a blank 8 ½ by 11 blue book. Do not write on the blue book until it is handed back to you. You will hand in the blue book just before the exam starts. The TA’s and/or I will shuffle the blue books and hand them back. Write your name and student number on the front cover of the answer booklet. Write the version number of your exam on the front cover the answer booklet. Place your name and student number on each page containing screen shoots. When you hand in the exam, place the annotated screen shots into your answer booklet. Each question is numbered. Number your answers with the same number as the corresponding question. If you find a question ambiguous, document your interpretation of the question. Label your interpretation as “Question Clarification.” If you write a question clarification, then label your answer “Question Answer.” The questions on the exam are not intended to be ambiguous, but there may be other interpretations that we did not take into consideration.

Short Answer (60 points out of 100 total)

1 – 5 points

Explain how an interface error that costs the user a few seconds per transaction can cost a company a large amount of money?

2 – 5 points

What are the steps of the user-centered design process?

3 – 5 points Name five of Shniederman’s Eight Golden Rules, please use no more than eight words to describe each rule.

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CS 160 Midterm Exam – Spring 2007, version 1

4 – 5 points

Why do you normally get better information about how a person performs a task when you observe him rather than ask him how he performs the task?

5 – 5 points You are deciding between using a menu based interface or an icon based interface. List the advantages and disadvantages of each. For a hand-held application that is used often, which is most likely a better choice? 6 – 5 points

On of Nielson's usability heuristics is recognition rather than recall. Explain how this heuristic relates to the model human processor.

7 – 5 points

Why is it good to draw a user in the first frame of a storyboard being used to help develop an interface?

8 – 5 points

How do windows support task switching?

9 – 5 points

Name 4 things you can do to elevate ethical issues in performing a usability study.

10 – 5 points

Name 5 of Grudin challenges for CSCW?

11 – 5 points

If a user has not yet reached the concrete stage of learning relative to an interface, what would user not be able to do?

12 – 5 points

Define what it means for a breakdown to happen in an interface metaphor and give an example. Page 2 of 6

CS 160 Midterm Exam – Spring 2007, version 1 Long Answers (40 points out of 100 total)

L1 – 20 points

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the three different methods of testing interfaces described in class. Page 3 of 6

CS 160 Midterm Exam – Spring 2007, version 1

L2 – 20 points In the following screen shots from an application, identify violations to Nielsen’s Heuristics (listed below). Annotate the screen shots to describe (1) which heuristic was violated, (2) what part of the screen shot is problematic, and (3) briefly why the heuristic was violated. You should look at all screenshots; all of them could have usability violations. However, not all screenshots will necessarily have usability violations. Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics:

• 1. Visibility of system status
• 2. Match between system and the real world
• 3. User control and freedom
• 4. Consistency and standards
• 5. Error prevention
• 6. Recognition rather than recall
• 7. Flexibility and efficiency of use
• 8. Aesthetic and minimalist design
• 9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
• 10. Help and documentation

The following shows the user interface of wGetGUI: a graphical front end to a webgrabber application. A webgrabber allows complete sites to be downloaded ( including pictures and sounds) onto a client machine for "offline" browsing. wGetGUI allows users to visually set webgrabber’s flags to control what will be downloaded. Page 4 of 6

CS 160 Midterm Exam – Spring 2007, version 1 The application supports both novice and an expert interfaces: Page 5 of 6

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