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- Several users took more time on the filtering task than the other tasks, partly because the task itself is more complex.
- Most users took longer than we expected to find the "Filter" tab. The filtering interface went through the most changes in the iteration step. In the initial design, users accessed the filtering interface by switching tabs at the top, but most users had trouble finding the tab in the first place. When we replaced it with a button, users learned the interface much more quickly.
- Our "Advanced Filter" options button looked more like a header than a button. Some users didn't immediately understand what the advanced filter options referred to. On paper the "Advanced Filter" text surrounded by what were supposed to be disclosure arrows looked more like a header than a button. Since our task required using an advanced filtering option, users were slow to complete it. One user who couldn't find the "has a hyperlink" advanced option added "http" as a keyword search instead, which was creative and may have been as effective.
- Some users wanted to preview the results of their filter, showing filter options alongside the items in the reading interface.
- Initially, users were unsure how to apply or save their filter. After we made the buttons more prominent in the updated prototype, users figured it out quickly.
Design Iteration
We performed half of our paper prototype tests before making any considerable changes to the interface. Our major iteration included the following changes:
- Switched from a tab metaphor to a popup for changing the current filter. Users now applied the filter by pressing "Execute" instead of switching back to the "Read" tab
- Modified the first index card to “find something interesting to read”, rather than “read something interesting”
- Changed the description of the button that reveals more options in the filter from “advanced options” to “more options”
- Added “shrink” buttons to expanded content that was accidentally missing them
We noticed these changes had the following general effects on our subsequent users:
- Users more quickly and confidently navigated through our filtering task
- Users were somewhat less confused about how to access the hidden filter options in the filter menu
- Users interacted more with the reading interface (the first task was clearer)