Project 2 Hints

Ensure that you focus your analysis on the interface of the two pieces of exercise equipment you choose.

There seems to be some confusion about mapping, it is a multi-layered subject.

Mapping in the design context involves anticipating the mental models, the tacit understandings, that people bring to their interactions with things – physical and virtual.

There is good mapping when the design supports people’s expectations, e.g. if the knobs controlling heat to the burners on a stove:

Bad mapping exists where there is no correct mental model “embedded” in the design, as in the case below. The user doesn’t know the relationship of the knobs to the burners based on this design:

In the context of this project what you are trying to determine is the extent to which the mapping of the interface designs do or do not support the actions of potential users.

To study this you can ask someone to approach the equipment and walk through all the actions needed to get it operational. The easiest way to track this is to videotape the process. Prompt the “subject” to vocalize each step they engage in and the extent to which it does, or does not help them. Afterwards you can do a diagram like the ones in Krug’s “Breadcrumbs” chapter on the stage of use (though yours may well be simpler):

Remember: there are two types of users: naïve and experienced; their points of view are different. Ideally you would study each but in this case you can choose one or the other.

Within the interface design itself there will be a variety of signifiers/affordances (e.g. buttons, perhaps a display) and perhaps some constraints (e.g. the “safety cord” on treadmills). Articulate the relationships of these to the overall mental model.

Ultimately you’re trying to “tell the story of use” of each of the two machines, from an interface point of view, and draw conclusions based on what you’ve learned of mapping, signifiers/affordances, and constraints as to how well each one does, or does not, support the activities of the user.


Formatting Tips

Again you will submit a PDF document through Oncourse.

You can “embed” video in the document [the tech sheet linked to yesterday’s blog gives hints about how you can do that, e.g. post your video on Vimeo or YouTube and link to it from your PDF]

Your AIs will give you additional suggestions on formatting your documents in class tomorrow.