Choice of Interactive System
The interactive system chosen here is the ecommerce website. The documentation of the system is provided bellow:
Description of the system:
The system is an ecommerce website that allows online shopping for the users
Name of the website:
“The Fashion trend”
URL of the website:
www.Fashiontrend.com
Purpose of the system:
The purpose of the system is to sell apparels online and allow user to shop online. Recently there is no supplication support for the website.
Target user:
The target user for the system is anyone who has the access to the internet and have the knowledge and ability to do online shopping
Features offered:
User gets the option to selects products online and chose from those. Users gets the delivery of the products to the provided address.
Design description:
As soon as the users enters the website, users are shown the available offers and the products that are recently released on the site. In the left corner of the website three dots are seen. When the dots are clicked it shows some useful link like “new items”, “category”, “sign in”, “order”, “contact”. These links are useful for any users accessing the site. The right corner of the website shows the cart logo and items that have been wish listed by the user.
The evaluation methodology that will be considered is the Think allowed protocol and Interview. The think aloud protocol deals with the testing of the system with the actual user (Bellamy et al., 2015). After the users test the system they will be interviewed to collect the opinion of the users about the system like what they feel, things they want improvement for (Boyer and Thompson, 2014). These two process will ensure that the system is evaluated correctly as it involves the evaluation of the system from the user point of view (Chastin et al., 2016).
The evaluation procedure that will be followed is listed below:
- Defining the user cases that will be followed for the testing for the website
- Asking the users to perform the selected task for the use case
- Collecting the user opinion and asking the users to rate the system against each of the user case
The use cases is defined as the collection of the actions or events. These are the events or the actions that the users take for interacting with the system (Flogie and Abersek 2015).
|
Use cases |
Deals with |
Primary actor |
|
1. BROWSE CATALOG |
Access of the products available on the site |
User |
|
3. creating new account |
New account creation for the inclusion of the user to the system |
User |
|
4. updating the account information |
The steps through which that is user update information associated with the account |
User |
|
5. cancelling the registered account |
user cancel or delete account related information on the ecommerce website |
User |
|
6. maintaining shopping cart |
The steps through which the user add or modify items in the shopping cart |
User |
|
7. making choice about the payment |
The choice that the users make for making payment against the item purchased |
User |
|
8. doing online payment |
The interface provided to the users for making payment |
User |
|
9. navigating payment related information |
The steps through which the user avails account related information |
User |
|
10. login/registration |
The interface offered to the user for logging or registering on the site |
Users (Customers, Administrators) |
|
11. initiating and processing the returns |
The request that the user make for returning product |
Shipping/Receiving Department, Support Personnel, Customers, Card Payment Vendor |
|
12. processing the help request |
The way a user interact with the customer and the avail certain help regarding shopping |
Customers, Support Personnel |
|
Use cases |
Evaluation criteria |
Reason for selecting the evaluation criteria |
|
1. BROWSE CATALOG |
· User interface · Browsing speed · Catalog and cart access |
One of the main requirement for the user while browsing the catalog is smooth and user friendly interface and speed in search. Hence it will be evaluated like how effective the speed and the interface is And how it connects with the user |
|
2. creation of new account |
· How complicated it is to find the “create new account” option · How easy it is to open new account · Amount of information enquired before opening a new account · Time taken for the account verification as well as activation |
While the user is opening the account it will be checked whether they find it complicated or it is easy to follow. Does it require a great amount of details or it only ask for relevant information. this criteria needs to be assessed for evaluating the usability of the website |
|
3. account information update |
· Ease of adding new account related information for the registered account · Time that the website takes to display the account with updated information |
The reason behind choosing these criteria is that user wants to have an easy and hassle free process. Apart from that speed for completing the project is another major requirement for the user friendly design |
|
4. cancellation of account |
· Interface offered to cancel account · Ease of account cancelation · Time taken for the account cancelation |
A user friendly website is that which not only makes the account registration easy, but also the account cancelation process is made simple and easy. Hence these evaluation criteria has been chosen for this use case. |
|
5. maintenance of shopping cart |
· How easy it is to access the items already offered · Interface offered for Updating the cart to add new item · How accurate the process is · Interface for Viewing updated cart and the level of reliability offered for the same |
User prefers online shopping as it lets the users to view, add, delete items as they want. Hence one of the primary requirement of the design is to include these features with required amount of stability and reliability. The cart should be updated with each of the transaction including adding and deleting of items. How well the user measure and apply these feature is a subject of evaluation |
|
6. making choice for payment |
· Availability of the options · Range of options · Security · Complexity |
The payment interface needs to be easy to access and secure too. These things, hence will be consider for evaluating the website against this particular user case |
|
7. online payment making |
· Design followed for the payment system · Steps involved · Verification for payment · Speed of the payment |
User wants to perform the online payment without any disputes. Therefore design of payment system needs to be attractive and at the same time simple. The speed and verification regarding the same should be hassle free. Measurement of these features has been included in the evaluation |
|
8. navigating the payment information |
· Interface for navigating the payment information · Ease of accessibility |
User prefers the payment navigation process simple and wants to view all the payment related information time of payment, amount of payment at the same place. Now how easily the users avails this information from the website is evaluated for this evaluation criteria |
|
9. login |
· Ease of the login · Ease of the logout |
User prefers ecommerce website that makes the login and logout process easier to follow. If the user cannot login to the system easily, chances are that they will find it less user friendly. The same applies for the logout process as well. Hence the website will also be evaluated on this basis too |
|
10. processing of returns |
· Ease of making return request · Approval for the return request · Confirmation about refund information |
Users prefer online process not only it just makes the shopping experience more versatile and time saving in terms of purchasing item but for it also makes the return process simple. These features are must for the ecommerce and investigating the same will help to understand where the website stands in terms of user preference |
|
11. processing of help request |
How easy it is to make help request regarding payment , delivery and other shopping related queries |
User often faces problem regarding online purchase be it delivery of the item, status of payment, tracking of the order and others issues. Hence, it is always preference of the users that the website offers easy access to the customer care executive along with variety of option for the same. |
With the purpose of discussing the evaluation method, basic use flow in each of the user case has been clearly defined. The use flow list the actions in sequence that is followed by the user to obtain the functionality that is offered for the particular use case.
Basic flow:
- User launches preferred web browser, type the URL and hits enter
- Web site is launched.
- Product link is clicked to access ‘Product’ list
- ‘Category Screen’ is displayed containing the available product
- User selects product link in ‘Products for this Category’ list.
- ‘Product Screen’ is displayed with the products that is selected in step 5
- The link ‘Items for this Product’ list is clicked by the user
- System displays ‘Item Screen’
Basic flow:
- ‘create new Account link’ link is clicked
- Account Information screen showed
- User enters following details
- Contact Information:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Street Address
- City
- State of Province
- Country
- Postal Code
- Telephone Number
- E-Mail Credit Card Information
- Card Number
- Card Type
- Card Expiry Date
- Update link is selected by the user
- Signing information page is displayed.
- User asked to put new Username with desired Password.
- User hits “update information” button
- System stores and validates the information
- New account is created
Basic flow:
- User selects the Sign in Link
- sign In screen is displayed
- Username and Password is provided by the users
- “Account Information” Page is showed
- ”update Account” link is provided to the user
- “Account Information” Page then allows the user to modify the information
- account information is edited by the user
- confirmation message “Account Information is updated” is showed
Basic flow:
- Signing Link is clicked.
- “Sign In” screen displayed.
- Username and Password is entered.
- Account Information Page shown.
- ”Cancel Account” link displayed.
- Confirmation message “Account deleted” showed on the screen
- an e-mail regarding the account cancelation is sent so that the user is sure that the account is deleted
Basic Flow
- User makes choice for the category of products, add items to the cart as per the choice.
- Then goes to the cart for seeing the items added to the cart
- The cart along with the added items, shows the subtotal for the added items.
- User if preferred can add or delete items with “update cart” or “remove item ” options available on the page
- The subtotal is updated accordingly to the items added or deleted to and from the cart respectively.
Basic flow:
- User clicks “payment link” option.
- “payment” main page is revealed
- User views the payment options
- User makes choice for payment mode
Basic flow:
- “Online payment” option is clicked by the user.
- “Online payment” main page is displayed.
- ‘Make Payments’ link, is clicked by the user
- ‘Payment Screen’ is showed.
- User is asked to provide following information.
- Applicant Information:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Mode of Payment
- If mode of payment debit/credit card
- Credit card number
- Credit expiry Date
- Card Type
- If mode of payment is cheque
- Cheque Number
- Routing Number
- Bank Name
- Account Number
- ‘Submit’ button is then clicked
- ‘Confirm the payment information again’ message pop up in the screen.
- User click ‘Confirm’ button.
- On successful payment, an email is sent to user for payment assurance and status.
Basic flow:
- User first login to registered account
- User then moves to the order section page
- User chose particular order or orders
- Then system asks the user to enter order for tracking the order
- The system then directs the user to the “payment details” page
- The page then displays payment information like mode of pay, payment date, transaction confirmations and other information regarding the payment
Basic flow:
- User opens the sign in page
- Username and password is asked
- User puts the required information
- System checks the details against the details provided during the registration
- If matched , access to the system is provided , otherwise asks to put the information again
- If wrong information is provided then the account is suspended temporarily and only the system admin has the option to activate it again
Basic flow:
- user login to the system
- system awards access
- user navigates “main menu” section
- user clicks “return item” option
- items are selected thereafter which needs to be returned
- return request initiated for selected items
- After the processing of the request is done, user gets an email. The email contains exact date and time assigned for item return
Basic flow:
- user selects “contact now” option
- contact information is displayed
- User initiates a call to the customer care executive
- Once the call is connected order id is asked so that correct information can be provided to the users
- details is given by the user
- if possible then the queries are resolved , if not then the users are asked to wait before it can be fully resolved
|
Use cases |
Usability rating (1 to 5) |
Things user said after using the system |
|
1. BROWSE CATALOG |
3 |
Increase in speed and an attractive interface that is more user friendly. As per the users the interface was not that attractive |
|
2. creation of new account |
4 |
It was good as per the user. The process were simpler and was easy to perform for completing the account creation |
|
3. account information update |
4 |
Easy access to the account information page and detailed information. according to the users the easier access to the information have enhanced the user experience and thus increases the usability of the system |
|
4. cancellation of account |
3 |
Steps involved in cancelation process need to be made simpler. Otherwise the process was easy to follow. The user complained that a lot of information was asked while cancelling the account and thus was not recommended at all. |
|
5. maintenance of shopping cart |
2.5 |
Cart should modify the price as soon as the products were added or removed from the cart. There is problem in synchronization with the cart value and the items modified |
|
6. making choice for payment |
3 |
The process needs to be simpler for making it more user friendly. Although the available payment option is good |
|
7. online payment |
4 |
It was good as per the user |
|
8. navigating the payment information |
2.5 |
The payment making process needs to be simpler |
|
9. login/registration |
3 |
The login process was simple enough to follow properly. However user raised concern against the allowance of login to the system from different devices at the same time. User wants these feature to be removed from the system as it might create security issues according to the users. |
|
10. processing of returns |
3.5 |
It received positive review from the users and they were satisfied with it. However some users though it to be complicated. However the overall response was good |
|
11 processing of help request |
3 |
The user complained that there were lack of option to connect to the customer care executive. The chat support should be integrated and majority of the users demanded that |
Conclusion:
After reviewing the user responses it was concluded that the system performs well in some section, while others sections were not user friendly as suggested and reviewed by the users. In order to perform the evaluation a set of user cases that were identified during the design of the website has been used for the reference. The users need to perform certain task under each of the use cases. In order to understand the user experience for performing the tasks that is listed for the each use cases, the response of the users were collected as it has helped a lot to review the website design from the user point of view. A rating system has also been developed for which users were asked to give rating based on the experience that they have encountered. As the rating of the users were collected, it provide a clear idea which sections of the design need further modification. As identified that features like new account creation, updating information, cancelling the account were good. Some additional aspect that were well designed were the online payment, return processing. However the return processing option received mixed review but largely good review. However things that were not recommended at all by the users were the payment information navigation, customer service options. Major improvement is need for these sections to enhance the user experience, thus improving the usability of the system.
References:
Bellamy, J.L., Mullen, E.J., Satterfield, J.M., Newhouse, R.P., Ferguson, M., Brownson, R.C. and spring, B., 2015. Implementing human factor in the system design. Research on the human centric system design, 23(4), pp.426-436.
Boyer, V.E. and Thompson, S.D., 2014.what is user case and what it means for system design. An interactive approach, 17(3), pp.19-32.
Chastin, S.F., De Craemer, M., Lien, N., Bernaards, C., Buck, C., Oppert, J.M., Nazare, J.A., Lakerveld, J., O’Donoghue, G., Holdsworth, M. and Owen, N., 2016. The importance of user experience for interactive design. International Journal of system design and principle, 13(1), p.83.
Flogie, A. and Aberšek, B., 2015.interactive approach of science, technology, engineering. A systematic review for effective design. Journal of modern system evaluation, 14(6), pp.779-790
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
