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GR2 - Designs

Scenario

Preconditions and Assumptions

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1. Learnability
   • Pros
     • Address book metaphor and mailbox metaphor together maintain some external consistency with grandparent’s existing method of keeping contacts, and thus lowers the learning curve.
   • Cons
     • Address book metaphor combined with dialing the desired contact may confuse a new user. In real life, one does not add to a paper address book by dialing the person’s number.
2. Efficiency
   • Pros
     • Grandparent never needs to type on the keyboard.
     • Recording a voicemail is less time intensive than typing an email (provided the speech interface is easy to use).
     • Younger family member receives voicemail as text, so can check message while doing other activities.
   • Cons
     • Grandparent must always go through a two-step process of selecting the desired contact before selecting the mode of communication (call vs. send voicemail).
3. Safety
   • Pros
     • Because the main page is never out of sight (all other functionality appear as overlays), cancelling an unwanted action is more visually intuitive; the “default” mode is always visible.
       

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“Phone Metaphor” Design

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1. Learnability
   • Pros
     • Metaphorical consistency helps the grandparent understand the basic concept and functionality of the system, thereby lowering the learning curve
     • Basic controls only - no complex actions beyond pointing and clicking
   • Cons
     • If they don't know how to use a phone, then this interface fails completely
     • Automatic addition of contacts may seem confusing initially
2. Efficiency
   • Pros
     • Easy one click calling and messaging
     • No need to type at any point in time
     • Voice chatting and recording are quick and simple
     • Can sort contact shortcuts by most frequently called to make calling common contacts even faster
   • Cons
     • Delay for phone dialing and audio feedback may annoy experienced users
     • If you have a lot of contacts, it may be difficult to find a specific one, unless searching is somehow implemented
3. Safety
   • Pros
     • Can clearly see the numbers as you are dialing them
     • Button feedback allows for certainty when clicking an item
     • Large buttons help those with poor motor skills still accomplish the tasks
   • Cons
     • “One click dialing” means you can end up calling the wrong number before you get a chance to cancel
       

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       “Voice search and action wheel” Design

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Storyboard

Design Highlights

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1. Learnability
   • Pros
     • Not many (different types of) clickable buttons on the interface at any given time. The user can easily see what actions are possible and make a simple decision.
     • No abstract concepts such as an account number or email address. Searching for a contact is done by speaking the person’s name.
     • No technical jargon except possibly “click”.
     • Very simple interface at any given time. No two different concepts shown at once (when there is an overlay, the background is assumed to dim).
   • Cons
     • Lack of metaphor and thus little external consistency with the real world.
     • A user may not expect that the computer can comprehend human voice.
2. Efficiency
   • Pros
     • No initial phone conversation needed. Just search the person by voice.
     • No keyboard strokes necessary (except for sending an email, which is optional).
     • The action wheel makes mouse navigation more efficient.
   • Cons
     • Two clicks instead of one are required to call, email, or send voicemail to a person.
     • Audio prompt of “Please leave a message …” may be inefficient for experienced users.
3. Safety
   • Pros
     • Any time an overlay is present, the user may cancel the action in case it is a mistake by clicking the background.
     • If the person has spoken a name incorrectly or slipped his tongue, the search can be repeated by clicking “Not Listed?” or clicking the background.
     • If the wrong person is called, simply click End Call (which is a big button).
   • Cons
     • A voicemail cannot be cancelled once some message has been spoken. (This can be fixed by introducing another button)
     • The user may not realize that the background is clickable when an overlay is present. There needs to be some hint of that, or a X button at the corner of each overlay.
       

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