Human computer interface is designed with an aim of enabling users to easily accomplish their tasks. The systems should allow users to be able to navigate through the system very fast. Even if a system has good functionality, user will always judge the system by its interface. If the system is poorly designed it will be the major source of errors made in the system by the users. In many cases, people avoid systems that are not usable and such systems become unused for a long time.
The design of this system considered several human factors. These factors include the limited short-term memory of the users. Users understand and remember information if it is not overcrowded. Having few items on the interface or a single web page is important for quick remembrance. It is also acceptable that users make mistakes and may cause the system to go wrong. This system has alarms and messages to enable users to have easy time recovering from errors they have made while executing tasks on the website.
Another factor that was considered in this design is the fact that people differ in terms of capabilities. I designed the system not only based on the expert point of few but considering those who are not conversant with the website. There are difference interaction preferences, there are users who like interacting with the web site based on the pictures while other like text. Both text and pictures have been used in the system to enable users navigate through the website. The first prototype did not put into considerations the issues concerning the needs, experience and capabilities of the system users. The new technology has four characteristics which give them an advantage over the traditional methods. They have high storage capacity of data and transmission speed with faster access to the storage devices. The second characteristic is that new information communications technology offer a shared space where groups or individuals who otherwise could not have accessed similar store or products can do so effectively. The ability to reach many targets in dissemination of information a single web page can be accessed by many people worldwide concurrently. The fourth point is that electronic communication improves with time breaking the barrier of geographical location. The above characteristics have impacted on many businesses which have embraced new information communication technologies. New communications have been adopted into the business culture.
The user interaction design principles were used in the design of the final museum system. User familiarity is the principle which states that a designed interface should be similar to others in terms of the standard items such as the buttons and menu items. This enables users to use the experience of other systems they have interacted and are familiar with to easily learn of the system interface. Consistency is another concept that the final system focused on, there was a similar command menu and links in all of the website pages. The users can easily predict what will be outcome of each functionality of the system because surprises are minimized. Words that best describe the action of commands have been used so that users can easily know what they expect. Recoverability is another principle that the system used, there are buttons that when users press they can go back to the previous state.
How the site works
Use case of visitors visiting the museum
Walk through
The walkthrough scenario that the users worked on were as shown below
The users click on the main menu to initiate the session, click on eastern exhibition hall, browses through the artifacts, exits and clicks on European hall and looks up four artifacts. Then decides to look up of three more artifacts. Then exits the system.
Walkthrough observation form
Observer____________________________
Date________________________________ Time________________________
User feed back
The form above was used by the developer during the system test by different users. There were three testers of the system. Walkthrough test technique was used where users are allowed to use the system and they are observed. The developers observe how users are interacting with the system without interfering or helping them even if they make mistakes. After the test the average time used to navigate or accomplish the stated task is computed. This was one of the measures of the usability of the system. The first reaction and other issues such as users straining to read text on the website or not was also used as a measure.
Evaluation of the new site and the success of the project
The achievement of the main goals and objectives of the project are best indicators of the success of a project. The main objective of this project was to design usable and attractive website for the MAC museum. The other objective was to develop an additional application for online purchase of the product. The most important goal was to ensure that the online system is up and running.
The performance of a website can be evaluated with the following checklists. The usability of the website implies that the website is easy to use and users are impressed with the interface. This can be tested by carrying out a survey if the users like the site and would like to use it again. Navigation is how easy the uses move from one page to another to get what they want. The content of the website can also be used to evaluate the performance if the users are satisfied with what they wanted. Browser compatibility can also be used to measure the performance to the website. The overall performance of a website can be measured by evaluating the number of users using the website and successfully placing their orders.
Conclusion
Traditional museum communication support used to be face-to-face and later telephones but technological advancement, there are new form of communication in museum. Software developers are coming up with different communication applications that are significant in business transactions. New information technology communication such as the internet gives business different new ways of selling and buying process. Online support system is another method of offering customer support services. To be able to come up with an online store one must clearly come up with a business plan. The question of how much capital should be well planned. The type of business is also key success whether it is a sole proprietorship or a partnership. There are many ways of setting up online stores. Online support system platforms can be provided by professionals to set up and run an online store for you or one can decide set up an online system and run it.
The final system for the museum support system is based on the user requirements and offers the best solution to the customers visiting the facility. The web site is usable and user friendly, it is assumed that users will not have difficulties because all the interface design principles were implemented.
