GR6 - User Testing
Design
The purpose of PickFind is to facilitate the process of finding worthwhile games of pick-up basketball to participate in. With this in mind, we ultimately chose to focus the design of our interface around the master list of pick-up games. Overall, we tried to keep our design minimalist, employing a white background and a simple color scheme with sufficient contrast.
INTRO/LOG-IN The first page that the user sees is the login/intro page. There are two outlined boxes that fill the center of the page. The first is a quick description introducing the user to PickFind. The second is a member login that allows the user to enter his/her username and password to access their personal version of the site. We include a link to register for users needing a new account.
REGISTER The user is asked to enter a set of information to identify themselves to the rest of the community. We indicate that required information is marked with a red star next to the corresponding field. The Gender entry is a pair of radio buttons that can only be selected one at a time for either Male or Female. The self-assessed Skill rating is a slider from 1-9. We chose the slider for simple visual comprehension and immediate graphical feedback. We include a tooltip over the question mark to explain the meaning of skill to the user.
MAIN The main page of the site focuses on the list of games that are available to the user. There are options for filtering, searching, and clicking for further details. A sidebar includes the user's personal schedule and news feed for following activity. The core functions of the site are delineated by location, position, color, and in some cases, borders. In order to avoid inundating the user with details, we minimize some pieces of the site that can be expanded upon use.
GAMES The available games are displayed as individual boxes on the main page of the site. Primary attributes are all formatted consistently in the same size, location, and color across all games. The boxes themselves are colored according to the user's role in the game. We chose to design the boxes in this way so that users will be able to quickly visually distinguish between his/her different roles in each game. We include large buttons for adjust the game itself or the user's participation in the game.
FILTER Games may be filtered according to several desire parameters. When the site is first loaded, the filters box is minimized so the user is not confronted with too much information. Clicking on Show Filters expands the box and allows the user to choose which games to display. The filter works using AJAX to keep the displayed games up to date as the user sets controls.
SHOW MORE Once the user scrolls down to the bottom of the list of displayed games, he/she can click on Show More Games to display additional games that fit the filter parameters. This button saves the page from having to load excessive information and allows the user to choose how much to display.
SIDEBAR The side bar includes a schedule of games that the user is participating in and a news feed for following activity. An abbreviated set of game information is provided for each entry. Game name links can be clicked to pop-up a more detailed game box.
DETAILS Game names with blue links can be clicked to pop up a complete game box with full details. The remainder of the page is shaded to reduce visually conflicting information.
USER The upper right corner shows which user is currently logged in. Mousing over the name drops down a menu with which the user can use to view profile, change password, or logout. All of these tasks were grouped for similar functionality. The search bar allows the user to search through all established profiles.
PROFILE User fills in relevant personal information to create a profile viewable by the community. Large icons indicate capabilities to edit profile and change profile picture.
FOLLOWING List of other users that you are currently following. Users are displayed by profile picture. Clicking on the picture links to their profile page. The total number of users displayed is capped, but can be expanded using a link. Search bar allows user to sort the people you are following.
UPCOMING Upcoming games are displayed using the same game box structure as in the main page. Game history for past games also uses the box structure.
