How to Redesign a Website, Using Adobe Muse?

 How to Redesign a Website, Using Adobe Muse?

In this project, there were three masters developed, for example, Master A, B, C. Master A is the Main Master. In Master B, it was used for different pages, such as, services, massage, facial, prices, schedule an appointment, team, Rolita, Brenda, and contact and confirmation page. In the Master C, it was used to design the Wireframe for each page on the site. Using the Master tool, it allows the designer to give names to each Master tool used for the site, for example, a master tool can design different components of the site, and it can be used as demonstrated in this project and separate pages for clients to easily see all the work done in one file as demonstrated in Muse.

Next, it had met the requirements of the client and users, designing the Wireframe and Prototype, which the Wireframe provides information about the architecture of the site and the Prototype provides information about the redesign of the site and the easy navigation process.

Therefore, the mastery skills apply to understanding and applying the technical knowledge to perform requirements, gathering techniques to assemble user and client requirements for the development of usable interfaces. Such mastery skill was developed through analyzing the importance of human factors in the design of graphical user interfaces, and creating a visually appealing web interface by applying user-centered design best practices, techniques, and principles. In addition, these skills had developed the appropriate web controls and design elements that align with user- and client-defined requirements, and developing a usability testing plan that incorporate commonly used approaches for testing, analyzing test results, and implementing improvements. On the other hand, the expectation was to meet the client requirements of the spa owner for redesigning the website, for example, landing page, contact page with form, and services introduction page. The landing page, contact page with the developing a form, and service page where the main idea of the redesigned site to meet the needs of the client and users. Appropriately, the redesign includes two of services page, for example, massages and facials. Each of them includes one page for each of the two services.  In these pages, they include a price of service and the length of time the service requires. Next, the staff introduction page is created to provide information about the two-staff member, namely, Rolita and Brenda. On the team page both therapists are added to give the user and client that opportunity to select either therapist, landing them of the choice of therapist to provide services to the customer; therefore, when the customers land on the team page they can decide on either therapist to service them. Each of the therapist’s pages was designed with HTLM Page, having similarity information for customers, such as, each page contains an availability calendar for the staff member, and scheduling page allows the users to schedule one or more of the spa’s specific services; therefore, if the user prefers a specific staff member for services, the page allows the user to choose that staff member. However, a registration page linked is created on top of each HTLM page, when clickable, it allows potential members to register. On the other hand, essential information about the customers were extremely important that the appointments, ask for the customer name, customer phone number, date of the appointment, time of the appointment, the service or services selected, the duration of the appointment based on the sum of all services and select a staff member.

The purpose of the surveys and interviews were used to design and develop the redesign of the website. With the information collected, the information was used in creating a prototype, using the Adobe Muse. In the prototype, it incorporates the user-centered design best practices and principles, and a visually appealing and easy to use, which meet the needs of the client and user requirements. In this report, the justification of the design and development of the redesigned website, which create  a plan for usability testing. The usability testing included each customer survey and interview. The survey results had provided information about the needs of the customer, such as, selecting an age group and gender to participate in the usability test, and a rating of average performance was  recommended to use in the usability test to compare the new and old website, and the type of service most used by users help create a HTLM page for the users, and the registration button was created because most customers are comfortable registering with their email, and in the scheduled appointments and the registration page, most customers prefer a text message; therefore, it was important to make sure all customers’ phone was collected through the registration, login and appointment page. Understanding the need of discounts, this information was great for marketing, increasing customers and economic growth. In the surveys, the gathering-information of the customers had provided information that allows customers to participate in the usability testing; therefore, it was easy to select a group on usability testing.

In the interviews, it had revealed the needs of the customers and client to redesign the site for easy and quick access to resources. Therefore, the phone number, services and prices were essential parts of redesigning HTLM pages. These pages had included designing and developing an scheduling an appointment with allowing day in advance to confirm or cancel link and one day advantage notice by email reminders of appointments and cancellations, therefore, the SaaS was created, contact including phone number, and designing and developing a page for each therapist so that customers can choose a therapist, and each therapists’ page included a business card, schedule appointments and available appointments, and designing and developing a registration and login were created for easy access to site and therapists, including surveys and interview question to update the website and keep customers informed about changes or updates or discounts of the services.

·         Persona

In the persona, it is recommended to add the interview questions and surveys’ gathering-information of the customer. Asking questions from the interviews and surveys will help the spa to better service the customers and meet the needs of them. It also provides information about the geography and demographics of the customers. 

·         User Journeys

The customers will enter the landing page, which was designed and developed with questions from the surveys and interviews to meet the needs of the customers. The landing page give accessibility to all the pages linked to the site including the need of customers and client from the surveys and interviews. In addition, customers can easy find all the information they need from the landing page and each page was created with the customers in mind.

·         Customer Experience Map

      It is recommended to create a customer experience map that illustrates the path a customer will take to complete the same task you identified for the user journey component. 

In the prototype, also included a Wireframe of each HTML Page; therefore, including the Wireframe in the prototype, the client can easily see the prototype and Wireframe from one file. Each page needs Wireframe plus the name of the page, for example, Home Page’s Wireframe, Services’ Wireframe, and Contact’s Wireframe. The Wireframes are designed, using the Master’s C in the adobe Muse.

Prototype

The pictures that are used in the index (Home Page):

The colors have a behavior and relationship that connect the users and the site (Color Psychology, n.d.).  Therefore, the colors that are used in the site, for example, green, orange, and blue (Color Psychology, n.d.).  The reason for green because it is an attractive color that is in the eyes of the globe, which this color is a normal color to the eyes (Color Psychology, n.d.).  It also symbolizes renewal, growth, balance, calm, harmony, and natural environment (Color Psychology, n.d.).   Next, blue was used because it is a popular color, meaning peace, and calm, intelligence, relaxation, and stimulate. Then, there is orange, meaning affordable services, with a combination of red and yellow, but red means energy and stimulation but yellow means happiness and cheerfulness. Therefore, the colors align with the organization’s mission and objectives.  It is the color that gives you shelter by not allowing you to sink into grief or disappointment (Color Psychology, n.d.).  It brings a high degree of positivism, always rejuvenating us in the most difficult moments (Color Psychology, n.d.).  The great and invigorating benefits of the orange color should be used every day, even if it is just a small object, like a mug or a pen, which we use in our daily tasks (Color Psychology, n.d.).  

The reason for the graphics is to connect users to the site. In this project, the graphics tell a story, it explains what the site is about and how it connects to the needs of customers. For example, the index (home page) as shown in figure 1. The browser size picture of a waterfall is a presentation of mineral springs. In figure 1, it provides the connection between the health of the water and customers. According to Visualization (n.d), visual media are increasingly generated, manipulated, and transmitted by computers, and when well designed, such displays capitalize on human facilities for processing visual information and thereby improve comprehension, memory, inference, and decision making.

In the index (home) page, the three below pictures are used so that users can click the picture for information on a subject, for instance, clicking services will open the page to the service page, and this page displays two types of services that customers can find information about either the massage or facial treatment. Once the customer click a subject, for example, the massage picture, it opens the page for a massage. The massage page provides information about a massage, price and minutes. On the page, there is a blue box that customers can click and open the facial pages as shown in figure 1.1. The purpose of the blue box is to design easy navigating around the site. When the facial page is opened, it provides detailed information, price and minute. Therefore, the customer opens either the massage or facial page, it provides prices and minutes, so that customers understand the price and minutes of the type of service they chose.

The home page also has a schedule an appointment page, and clicking this page, it opens to the appointment page and customers are given options to choose a spa therapist as shown in figure 2. The customers can arrange an appointment with either Rolita or Brenda, for example, a customer click Brenda to make an appointment, the page will open as shown in figure 3. In addition, when Brenda’s page is open, customers can click the click here text to schedule an appointment, and list of open appointments, allowing customers to know the days that can schedule an appointment, and a business card with the address, and a note allowing the customers to make an appointment by using the email address or phone. On the other hand, a Rolita’s page is set up the same way as Brenda to meet the needs of the customers and client. Each therapist page allows customers to chat with either therapist, which a live chat symbol is available. Therefore, customers are always connected to their therapist online. However, the contact page provides customers with valuable information, such as, a contact form, business card and map as shown in figure 4. Customers can find information on how to contact the Spa.

The Message and Facial Page were designed to give customers an idea of a relax and healthy feeling as in the message and facial picture. It provides a developed relationship between the customer and the therapists. Furthermore, the pictures demonstrate how they connect to the human factors. Moreover, customers can see how the services work to make them feel healthy. According to Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. (n.d.), human factors leverage fundamental knowledge of human capabilities and limitations, and the basic understanding of cognitive, physical, behavioral, physiological, social, developmental, affective, and motivational aspects of human performance to yield design principles; enhance training, selection, and communication; and ultimately improve human-system interfaces and sociotechnical systems that lead to safer and more effective outcomes.

Usability Testing Plan

Interview Stakeholders (Services, Phone Number and Schedule an Appointment)

Survey Stakeholders (Demographics, and Geographic)

Hypothetical Questions (Navigating the website, finding what you need and advantages and disadvantages of the site)

Literature Reviews (Navigating the website, finding what you need and advantages and disadvantages of the site)

Cognitive Process (Site Performance, Site Memory, and Site Activity)

Social Environmental Relationship Process (Motivation, Goal, Success)

Environment and ecosystem Process (The impact of the website environment and customers’ activities, and how the customers feel about their surroundings, and interconnection with the system)

Evaluation Process (causes and effects of the site, qualitative (reason, opinions, and motivations) and quantitative (numerical analysis and computational techniques).

Decision Making Process (identify the decision, gather information, identify alternatives, weigh the evidence, choose among alternatives, take action, and review your decision (Mass, n.d.).

Training and Development (teaching and developing skills)

References

Color Psychology. (n.d.). Green Color Psychology and Meaning. In Color Psychology. Retrieved December 23, 2016. From http://www.colorpsychology.org/green/

Color Psychology. (n.d.). Orange Color Psychology and Meaning. In Color Psychology. Retrieved December 23, 2016. http://www.colorpsychology.org/orange/

Color Psychology. (n.d.). Orange Color Psychology and Meaning. In Color Psychology.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. (n.d.). Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. In Human Factors Ergonomics Society. Retrieved December 23, 2016. From http://www.hfes.org/publications/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1

UMass. (n.d.) Decision-making Process. In UMass|Dartmouth. Retrieved December From http://www.umassd.edu/fycm/decisionmaking/process/

Visualization. (n.d). Main Page. In Stanford. Retrieved December 23, 2016. From http://web.stanford.edu/class/cs448b/cgi-bin/wiki-fa16/index.php?title=Main_Page

What is User Analysis and Usability Testing?

What is User Analysis and Usability Testing?

In the information gathering, it is important to gather information from the internal and external environment of the organization who are impact of the system (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). This is called the user requirement analysis (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). The user requirement analysis will provide an idea of the processes that are currently taking place through investigation, examination of the elements, discussion, interpretation. The structure of the website, inspection, survey, and tested (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to Maguire, N. and Beyan, N (2002), this helps ensure that the needs of all those involved are taken into account, and stakeholder analysis identifies, for each user and stakeholder group, their main roles, responsibilities and task goals in relation to the system; in addition, here a questionnaire is completed to capture the characteristics of the users, their tasks and operating environment as in table 1.

The purpose of the user interviews relates to a commonly used technique where users, stakeholders and domain experts are questioning to gain information about their needs or requirements in relation to the new system (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to Maguire, N., and Beyan, N (2002), seeing the environment also gives a vivid mental picture of how users are working with the existing system and how the new system can support them (Mander and Smith, 2002).

It was recommended that requirements workshop is given for a reason to help users and designers break out from a current situation and thinking (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). In addition, it gives an opportunity to ask questions about both the old and the new system and how the new system meets their needs (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). Moreover, it gives an opportunity to learn what the stakeholders are expecting from the new system (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to Maguire, N. and Beyan, N (2002), workshops bring all stakeholders together to agree on goal and objectives related to the new system, and they then seek to establish a process by which it can be achieved, but, another variation is to define new technological developments, discuss when they might be attained and what implications this might have for the user organization

Asking questions to the stakeholders, it helps to make decisions and determine the needs of users (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). Creating a user survey, it is normally composed of a mix of closed questions with fixed responses and open' questions, where the respondents are free to answer as they wish (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to this method is useful for obtaining quantitative as well as some qualitative data from a large number of users about the problems of existing tasks or the current system.

They were recommended because they give detailed realistic examples of how users may carry out their tasks in a specified context with the new system (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). In addition, it is important to understand and clarify the user requirement so later usability testing applies (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). Furthermore, giving the ability to identify usability targets and task completion times, this is expected using the scenarios and use cases (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to Maguire, N. and Beyan, N (2002), the method also promotes developer buy-in and encourages a human-centered design approach, and scenarios of use are sometimes called use cases, although the term is also used by software engineers to refer to the use of functions.  In addition, it was recommended to use personas, which a caricature is created with a name, personality and picture, to represent each of the most important user groups (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). Therefore, evaluation can be applied against the needs of a particular persona and the tasks they are expected to perform (Maguire, N. and Beyan, N, 2002). According to Maguire, N. and Beyan, N (2002), personas are used by innovative design groups to stimulate creativity rather than refine a design solution (Cooper 1999).

However, each technique has drawbacks, for example, according to Kujala, S. (2003), the disadvantages of Usability Analysis tend to be qualitative in nature and therefore the relative significance of the costs and benefits is impossible to estimate (Wilson et al., 1996, 1997). In addition, it was learned that there was a lack of communications in the workshop (Kujala, S., 2003). Moreover, other disadvantages relate to identifying appropriate users was difficult, obtaining access to users and motivating the users,  and users lack information to what the designer needs to know (Kujala, S., 2003). Also, other disadvantages needed to be known is that users lack information about what the design process meant, users was introduced to new concepts and they were not able to give feedback, and to many user groups (Kujala, S., 2003). Cons also recognize when educating users about the design, users were unaware of implementation constraints, and contacting users and arranging meetings, and users had lacked confidence or motivation and were reluctant to talk to the designers, and others not able to understand the task model used (Kujala, S., 2003).

First, information gathering would benefit the design of the spa’s new site because the information collected from the internal and external users of the organization will provide some information where the testing is needed to help meet the needs of all users of the organization. In addition, it will help users to understand that their information is valued and it is used to meet their user experience with the system.

Secondly, user interviews are always a high recommendation because it gives a one on one interview with a user and help to understand their user experience and get to learn the user, personally. In addition, interviews can help the users to think outside the box, and feel comfortable talking about their user experience, give them privacy about their user experience, and give them a special feeling of importance. and give them to ask questions about the system.

Thirdly, the requirements workshops relate to providing a reason that they are needed to meet the requirements of the users and stakeholders. In this paper, it had discussed the Usability Analysis and Usability testing.  Each usability is extremely important. First, the usability analysis is a discussion and activity workshop. It was recommended that a workshop should include four different types of learning activities (Kolb, D. A., 1984). The four types of activities are a reflection, assimilation and conception, experimentation and practicing activities and planning for application activities (Kolb, D. A., 1984). In reflection, it is recommended that the users focus on the reason for disapproving the website (Kolb, D. A., 1984). It was suggested that they reflect on their own behavior in a way that prepares them for new learning and change (Kolb, D. A., 1984). According to Kolb, D. A. (1984) it is important to identify the experience they had with the old website, to invoke and to do so in an engaging way that can be linked to the workshop topic, and have participants break into pairs and briefly answer questions about their experience related to the topic. Secondly, it was recommended that assimilating and conceptualizing activities are used in the workshop with new information because it provides outside information in the form of theories, data and facts, or can inform users about their experience with the old website and the new website so they can transform to using the new site and comparing the differences between the sites (Kolb, D. A., 1984). Thirdly, the use of experimenting and practicing activities encourage users the new information to meet their objectives by providing an opportunity for users to practice and involve themselves in new behaviors and skills. According to Kolb, D. A. (1984), planning for website activities provides a stimulus for implementing and utilizing new learning outside the workshop, which prepare users for using the new website, and it is important to identify ways to have users look toward the future and identify specific ways to put new learning into practice, and one way to do this is to have each user complete an action plan at the conclusion of a workshop.

Next, the reason for user surveys relate to questions that are needed to correct the system and understand the likes and dislikes of the system.  In addition, it was explained that surveys have a great impact on profits, and it can create a competitive advantage (n.d., The Important of Customers Surveys). Over the years, they were known to have given customers a chance to voice their customers and give their opinion about the benefit of the product or service (n.d., The Important of Customers Surveys). It is also a great way to open communication with a consumer and predicting consumer behavior and feelings (n.d., The Important of Customers Surveys). However, they have their advantages and disadvantages related to the advantages of surveys had explained that the capability of representing a large population, which allow a better description of the relative characteristics of the users, and it has a low cost (n.d., Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys). On the other hand, changing the original survey is inappropriate because it can be viewed as a weakness of the survey method (n.d., Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys). Yet, not answering questions related to question that bear controversy because not able to recall information related to them (n.d., Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys). Furthermore, it was explained that all general questions may not be appropriate for all the users (n.d., Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys). In a case that questions are not appropriate for all users; it is recommended to use the questions collected from the users and include questions needed to design the site. This will allow the survey to fair for both the users and designer, meeting their needs to design and achieve a friendly user experience.

Next, it is important for each technique. Each Technique is needed to contain all the information from the different internal and external users to help redesign the website for accuracy and the website is configured to fit it for a designated task, and test the website so that the website meet their needs. The techniques will provide all the information needed to help them achieve validating schedules, able to schedule without remembering the code from the service page, increase customers, and keep existing customers, and usability testing. Appropriately, staff is scheduled to meet the needs of the customers. Therefore, each technique share knowledge and experience of the old technical issues of change and creating innovation for the new technical development for the website, which later the innovation and ideas from each technique will collaborate with testing the website to measure adaptability, acceptance, quality, agile and satisfaction of the customers. On the other hand, usability test is based on how easy the website is to use. In this case of misconfigured website, usability has been defined as the ease at which an average person can use the website to achieve specific goals (Churm, T., 2012). After testing the website, customers will learn the meaning of the use of usability, which is comprised of learnability, memorability, efficiency, satisfaction and errors (Churm, T., 2012). In addition, the customer will learn how easy it will be to use the website and accomplish their tasks and they will feel the memorability of the website based on how easy the website is to use and come back to use the website (Churm, T., 2012). Each technique helps learn how quickly users can complete a task by testing the website (Churm, T., 2012). Moreover, each technique share an innovation to align with the need of testing, which meet the needs of satisfying customers and the understanding the severity of the errors and how easy they are to recover from (Churm, T., 2012).

The usability testing is held to deserve, the importance of its use and usefulness of the website. When users benefit from using the website, it demonstrates the merit of the website to measure it to the quality of being good and worthy of returning to visit the site again. In addition, users that find a website that align with outstanding merit, they are guaranteed to return to the site and tell others about the merit of the website, encouraging enough to merit further investigation of the site. This is called the word of mouth marketing that allow users to experience the worthiness of the website and tell others about the site. Others can encourage other users to A good website also increase customers and keep existing customers, having a high opinion of the website. Users; in addition, they gain confidence and trust in the site, supporting its great value. Moreover, a good website can build relationship between the website owner and the users. Therefore, it is recommended that building a website with values, ethics and standards.  According to Usability Matters (2015), the importance of usability testing is to target audience, and observing how the audience uses and feels about the site is critical in creating a successful experience. When users have a good experience with a website, they will continue to use and enjoy the site (Usability Matters, 2015). According to Usability Matter (2015) users often have biased opinions.

However, it was explained that usability testing often experience user testing cannot find certain minor problems (Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J., 2007). In addition, later in the development process, it was found that testing, usability known to perform (Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J., 2007). Moreover, it is not unusual that users had experience difficult to process, during usability testing, and it was hard to find others that will test the system (Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J., 2007). Often testing is expensive relate to the time that it takes to test the system, and finding users to test the system (Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J., 2007). It is also known the type of prototype used can affect the many errors in the system (Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J., 2007).

It is recommended to have users to test the navigation, Scheduling process, and retrieval process because it allows the process of accurately ascertaining the user’s position and planning and following a route as follows:

·         Service Page: Clicking the service page to land on the correct page for scheduling services. This would allow users to know that the navigation for the service page is working properly

·         Schedule services: Scheduling an appointment with the correct staff to meet the need of the customers without remembering the code, but redirecting the page to the appropriate session of the site

·         Validate Schedule: Testing the system for validated schedule so to prevent nonexistent or wrong services and preventing scheduling the wrong staff personnel. This would include another paper land related to the scheduled was validated on a time and date and the name of the staff who had been scheduled.

·         Appointment Schedule Testing: testing the system to ensure that appointment schedule is accurate to meet the need of the users. This would include landing on another page related to the appointment was scheduled, giving the appointment date and time

· The type of usability testing that you would use after designing the website prototype and your justification for using that type

Philosophical Usability Testing is recommended because it allows users to practice and remember a belief about the site, and provide logic. Logic gives the users an understanding of the reasoning conduct of principles of validation, and providing a system of principles, underlying the arrangements of elements in the site as to perform a specified task. It also gives the users, the nature of knowledge, ethics, reality and existence of the site, which provide a theoretical basis of sight and the knowledge and experience gained from the re-designed site. According to (n.d.) Why Study Philosophy, it was explained that philosophy uses the tools of logic and reason to analyze the ways in which humans experience the world, and it teaches critical thinking, close reading, clear writing, and logical analysis; it uses these to understand the language we use to describe the world, and our place within it.  However, it was recommended to use the task realistic method because it provides the best task to direct users in the appropriated matter (2014, Turn User Goals into Task Scenarios for Usability). Realistic task makes it easier for the user to know what to select and how to use the system in a way that make the system easier to use (2014, Turn User Goals into Task Scenarios for Usability). In addition, Realistic task asks question direct, providing a communication language that the user can understand and follow. According to (2014), Turn User Goals into Task Scenarios for Usability, it was recommended to allow the users to define their own tasks, for example, you could recruit users who are in the process of buying a car and let them continue their research during the session, instead of giving them a task scenario, which field studies are ideal for observing users in their own environment as they perform their own tasks, but field studies are more expensive and time consuming.

References

(n.d.). Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys. In Explorable. Retrieved November 12, 2016.    From https://explorable.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-surveys

(n.d.). The Important of Customers Surveys.  In National Business Research Institute. Retrieved November 12, 2016. From https://www.nbrii.com/customer-survey-white-papers/the-  importance-of-customer-surveys/

(n.d.). Why Study Philosophy? In University of Washington. Retrieved November 12, 2016. From https://phil.washington.edu/why-study-philosophy

(2014). Turn User Goals into Task Scenarios for Usability Testing. In Nielsen Norman Group. Retrieved November 12, 2016. From https://www.nngroup.com/articles/task-scenarios-usability-testing/

Allen, J., Drewski, E., Engelhardt, A., and Kim, J. (2007). Project 3: Usability Testing vs. Heuristics Evaluation. Retrieved November 12, 2016. From  http://jenniferleeallen.com/portfolio7_docs/OneStartClassifieds_HeuristicEvaluation.pdf

Churm, T. (2012). An Introduction To Website Usability Testing. In Usability Geek. Retrieved    November 10, 2016. From http://usabilitygeek.com/an-introduction-to-website-usability-testing/

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Retrieved November 10, 2016. From http://ccvillage.buffalo.edu/Village/WC/wsc/workshop_design_strategies/four_fundamental_types.html

Kujala, S. (2003). User involvement: a review of the benefits and challenges (Vol 22 (1) pages 1- 16. Retrieved November 10, 2016. From  http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/Computing/prothwell/hci/papers/UserInvolvement.pdf

Maguire, M., & Bevan, N. (2002, August). Kluwer Academic Publishers. In User requirement analysis. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.89.2102&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Usability Matters. (2015). The Value of Usability Testing. In Usability Matters. Retrieved November 10, 2016. From http://usabilitymatters.com/the-value-of-usability-testing/

The Pencil Tools for creating a Wireframe

The Pencil Tools for creating a Wireframe

It is a Pencil Project, which can be installed and use to create mock-ups in popular desktop platforms. According to Zukerman, E. (2013), it provides a canvas, which widgets are available for the canvas, dividing into categories like Basic Web Elements, Windows XP Widgets, Android ICS, iOS UI Stencils, and other related categories. It also has an available Google code repository and for free, and there are two sets of stencils, and pencil available hidden stencil as needed.

It is recommended to use this tool before engaging in an expensive tool because it allows you to get the practice of a professional before investing in expensive tools, having little or no experience. It is suggested also having a free, open software provides information that can be developed and allowing you to make better choices for Wireframe Tools if needed after understanding, knowing and learning how Wireframe tools best works with your needs and your customer’s needs. According to Zukerman, E. (2013), the Wireframe Tool has its pros and cons, for example, Pros is that it is free, simple to use and features a wide selection of stencils; however, the cons are stencils do not always play well together, and some stencils cannot be resized, and no documentation; vendor unhelpful.

According to Creative Blog Stuff (2016), it is a free and a Pencil Project, Open Source Wireframing tool, which is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac. In addition, the open sources can create multi-page document, external object import, as well as aligning, z-ordering, scaling and rotation, including different types of templates, exporting HTML, PNG, Openoffice.org document, Word document, and PDF.

References

Creative Blog Staff (2016). The 18 best wireframe tools. In CB, CREATIVE BLOQ.  Retrieved December 5, 2016. From http://www.creativebloq.com/wireframes/top-wireframing-tools-11121302

Winchester, M. (2014). Wireframing using pencil. In YouTube. Retrieved December 5, 2016. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBzjz92TYBI

(n.d.). An open-source GUI prototyping tool that’s available for ALL platforms. In Pencil Project. Retrieved December 5, 2016. From http://pencil.evolus.vn/Default.html

Zukerman, E. (2013). Review: Pencil lets you rough in mockups for mobile apps, website, and desktop software. In PCWorld. Retrieved December 5, 2016. From http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027726/review-pencil-lets-you-rough-in-mockups-for-mobile-apps-websites-and-desktop-software.html

What You Should Know About User-Center Designs?

 What You Should Know About User-Center Designs? 

User-centered design

According to UCD in a Sentence (n.d.), It is a process for developing an interactive system, ISO 13407 (1999), meaning that a human center design is an approach to interactive system development that focuses on making the system usable, and having multi-disciplinary activity. It is also considered the user interface design process that focuses on usability goals, user characteristics, environment, tasks, and workflow in in the design of an interface (UCD in a Sentence, n.d.). Furthermore, it relates to methods and techniques for analysis, design, and evaluation of mainstream hardware, software, and web interface (UCD in a Sentence, n.d.).  In addition, its process is an iterative process, where design and evaluation steps are built in from the first stage of projects, through implementation (UCD in a Sentence, n.d.).

The right approach of the user-center’s design

According to Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E. (2012, January) and Krippendorff (2006, p. 230) identifies three features shared by different human-centered design methods, for example, design method that employs both divergent and convergent thinking, and the processes are concerned with how the stakeholders themselves attribute meaning through the use of the proposed design and the methods include prototypes and other ways for the stakeholders to test the design ideas themselves since a projected future cannot yet be observed. It is also important; however, utilizing human-centered design processes have been shown to increase productivity, improve quality, reduce errors, reduce training and support costs, improve people’s acceptance of new products, enhance companies’ reputations, increase user satisfaction and reduce development costs (Damodaran, 1996; Maguire, 2001 and Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E., 2012, January). On the other hand, the poor design of the site also prompted many users to abandon their task and either call for an appointment, which took a toll on the receptionist, or decide to go to another spa altogether. However, the transformation of the website will align with excellent techniques, using the state-of-the-art artistic work to develop a friendly and easy to use website that executes high performance, and advance techniques align with the development and progress of the plan, and the plan introduces a general acceptance. According to Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E. (2012, January), the human-centered design processes and methodologies which have emerged in recent years share a focus on the users and other humans in the design process, they differ in their motivations and how the user/humans are involved; yet, Damodaran (1996) describes a continuum of the user involvement in human centered design from informative, through consultative, to participative; yet,  it is important to explore the customers and their environment through

ethnographic inquiry, and then building working models to capture that information.

The user-centered design description for best practices

It innovates strategic planning for the website redesign for a local spa. The reason of this plan is to redesign the website in a different way that will transform the rudimentary basic principles to more advanced techniques. In addition, the plan is developed to create a systematic, intelligent process, evaluate, specify concepts for devices, or processes, function or satisfying a specified set of constraints” (Dym, Agogino, Eris, Fey and Leifer, 2005, and Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E., 2012, January). For the purpose of the website is to align it with proficiency, efficiency and accessibility, according to Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E. (2012, January), the philosophy of the redesign is to develop an effective design, using professional skills needed for human-centered design to be created, an understanding of the ways in which users understand and experience human-centered design is needed, and the human-centered approaches to design contribute to innovations in engineering design and have been shown to increase productivity, improve quality, reduce errors, improve acceptance of new products, and reduce development costs. Therefore, the strategic plan will defuse the confusion of customers, decrease administrative work for office staff, allow customers to schedule service from the service page, and transform different issues related to identifying a validation and implementation, focusing on nonexistent or wrong services being scheduled, products, services, environments, organizations, and modes of interaction; in addition, the processes included multi-disciplinary collaboration in order to make products and services useful, usable, and desirable (Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E, 2012, January).

References

UCD in a Sentence (n.d.). In 3WC. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from             https://www.w3.org/WAI/redesign/ucd

Zoltowski, C. B., Oakes, W. C., & Cardella, M. E. (2012, January). Students' Ways of Human-    Center Design. Journal of Engineering Education/Southern New Hampshire          University, 101(1), 28-59-39.

Speech Recognition Promotes Users’ Acceptance

Speech Recognition Promotes Users’ Acceptance

Speech Recognition is growing rapidly. It promotes user acceptance. Organizations are using speech recognition for their website. Using speech recognition on your website or mobile devices, it helps build a relationship with customers, increase customers’ satisfaction, and build a user experience and journal maps. In addition, speech recognition allows the customers to express their thoughts and feeling and address issues that matters. It also allows organizations to identify for with customers need and meet the needs of customers. Furthermore, the organization learned their audiences and deliver the highest standard of performance and products or service. Speech Recognition is both efficient and effective for any organization, meeting high demand for increasing customers, economic growth and sustainability. In this blog, there are videos on speech recognition by different vendors, for example, Five 9, RedShift, Vox Sciences, and NeoSpeech:

Five 9

RedShift

Vox Sciences

NeoSpeech

According to http://www.capterra.com/speech-recognition-software/, it is recommended to learn “Top Speech Recognition Software Products.”  The article is about several different types of speech recognition software that is available for different industries, such as, business, legal and medical, and diverse organizations.

Growing at a rapid speed, Microsoft has a Windows speech recognition, according to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12427/windows-speech-recognition-commands, Windows Speech Recognition lets you control your PC by voice alone, without needing a keyboard or mouse. 

Speeding up technology with speech recognition, according to http://www.pcworld.com/article/2055599/control-your-pc-with-these-5-speech-recognition-programs.html, Dragon has long ruled supreme over the landscape of speech recognition, but no more. Simpler or less expensive (if not quite as powerful) options are carving out little fiefdoms, for example, Windows Speech Recognition is free and it is on your Windows 10, and to access the speech recognition, it is suggested to go to your Start menu and in the search box bottom, type speech recognition, Google Voice Search, which has a little microphone at the right side of the search bar in Google, and TalkTyper.

 Google Voice Search

TalkTyper

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