Reflection - This was a very short class but was fun. We learned about a really helpful tool for analysing the usability of an interface. These are all lessons that we have gone through since 1st year but seeing them out in this way with each area being assessed and checked was really helpful, applying them fully.

There is a good article by Jakob Neilson about the 10 usability heuristics for user interface design. There are 10 general principles that are broad rules for designs.

1. Visibility of System Status: Keeping the users informed about what’s happening, through feedback.

   1. Clearly show the system state.
   2. Give feedback as soon as possible.
   3. Builds trust by the continuous communication.

2. Match between the system and the Real World: Design and write with familiar language to the user, making fit in more with humans to create the best usability.

   1. Use words the user is using in their life making it as smooth as possible.
   2. Make sure it's basic on user research and never assume.
   3. It's for the user not for the person who's building it.

3. User Control and Freedom: People make mistakes allowing them ways to exit or fix them will give them freedom and choice.

   1. Include an undo or redo button.
   2. Provide clear options to exit.

4. Consistency and Standards: Making things the same over platforms means that the user doesn't have to relearn or adjust to a new interface.

   1. Improves the experience as no new learning is needed with consistency.
   2. Consistency across a family of interfaces will increase trust.
   3. Follow the industry conventions.

5. Error Prevention: Error messages to inform the user and confirmation messages to try to prevent errors.

   1. Focus on the big issues and then the small ones.
   2. Set defaults to try and prevent mistakes.
   3. Add warnings and undos to limit the damage.

6. Recognition Rather than Recall: Making elements visible and the same across all interfaces will reduce the users memory load.

   1. Allowing for information to be recognised than remembered.
   2. Provide context instead of memorising.
   3. reduce the amount users need to remember.

7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: designing for different people levels, giving them shortcuts that speed it up.

   1. Through touch gestures or keyboard shortcuts.
   2. Allow for personalisation to make it quicker.

8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design: Straightforward designs make for a better user experience, as they can distract and confuse people.

   1. Make sure the content and design just focus on the essentials.
   2. Make sure it supports the primary goals and doesn't take away from them.

9. Help Users Recognise, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors: They should clearly say they are an error, what is the problem, and how to fix it.

   1. Keep it traditional with big error messages.
   2. Keep it in words they understand.
   3. Tell them how to fix it.

10. Help and Documentation: Most likely will not be needed but if documentation is, it should be clear and concise.

    1. Adding a search option for accessibility.
    2. The help and support should be in the right context.
    3. Adding steps helps the user understand fully.

The 10 heuristics rules are about making the user's experience the best it can be. It creates designs that work with them, are accessible, and are effective. This should be considered to reduce the amount of frustrations and errors for the user.

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/

To make sure that these are all met there is an audit that can be performed which assesses each part of the design, takes notes on which one is broken, where the heuristics are done well, and how badly they affect the user's experience.

We were given an exercise that required us in groups to analysis the TransLink website and do an audit on it. We really had fun looking at the website and discovering if there were issues where they are and what they affect user-wise.