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Overview

We sequentially tested two paper prototypes on six different users. Each user is referred to as User A to User F. Users A, B, C tested prototype version 1 and Users D, E, F tested prototype version 2.

Due to the nature of our application, we wanted to emphasize testing the usability of our user interactions. As such, we focused primarily on trying to figure out the user's intuition for performing various interactions. Our goal is to have common actions be highly intuitive, so this prototype is our chance to test if they are intuitive enough. Our prototype is therefore low fidelity in breadth; the side panels are not very accurately represented since they should not be used in the tasks at all.

Unfortunately, one problem of the paper prototype is that it is not a computer. The user may not apply the same intuition as he would if he were using a computer application with the same mechanics. Therefore, we were not too picky with the details of running the prototype. If the user seems to be performing the right interaction, we let it pass. We did not expect users to be very accurate with their finger pointers.

Summary of Interactions

With cards on main table

Input	Action
left click	select top card at location
double left click	select entire stack of cards at location
nothing selected, drag	select box
card(s) selected, drag	move selected card(s)
nothing selected, right click	nothing
card(s) selected, right click	flip selected card(s)
card(s) selected, right click hold	enter rotate mode

With cards in player’s hand

* Note: In the hand, up cards are selected cards. Down cards are unselected cards.

Input	Action
left click on down card	puts card up
left click on up card	puts card down
left double click on down card	puts card up
left double click on up card	puts card down
right click	nothing
left drag on down card	moves grabbed card
left drag on any up card	move all up cards

Briefing

Metadeck by Haitao Mao and Victor J Wang

Metadeck is a card playing user interface that emphasizes user control. The main objective is to provide users with intuitive interactions with a virtual deck of playing cards in free-form, mimicking the experience as if users were playing with an actual deck of cards.

You have three tasks:

Shuffle the deck of cards.
Deal deck of cards evenly to 4 players. Every player should end up with 13 cards.
Play cards from your hand onto the table (as instructed by the facilitator).
1. First, player one card that the facilitator picks.
2. Second, play a group of cards that the facilitator picks (for example, all the hearts in your hand).

Important things to keep in mind:

Pretend that your hand is the mouse cursor to interact with the UI. Feel free to move your hand around and point to where you want to click
Please tell us when you want to single click, double click, left click, right click, or drag your simulated mouse cursor (i.e. your hand)
Do NOT pick up the playing cards - the facilitator will perform all the system's changes for you

Scenario Tasks

1. Shuffle the deck of cards
2. Deal deck of cards evenly to 3 other players
3. Play cards (as instructed by the facilitator)

Version 1 Testing

Observations

User A felt our had difficulty selecting the entire deck and became visibly flustered
Users B and C were surprised when single right click on a card flipped the card over rather than show a pop-up menu
During dealing, Users B and C felt manually giving each player a single card sequentially was very inefficient, both asking “is there a faster way?”
Users C had difficulties selecting 13 cards simultaneously from the stack using dragging
User A and C expected to use the shift key in parallel with left clicking on cards to select multiple cards. Both were disappointed when nothing happened.

Usability Analysis

Visibility

not all options visible. users had to explore and use trial and error
ungreying of shuffle button not obvious

Learnability

users had difficulty selecting groups of cards in a stack

Efficiency

manual dealing took long time, “faster” method required verbal hinting
playing multiple cards simultaneously from hand was enjoyable

Errors

users expected right click to produce pop up menu, but card flipped instead. easily recoverable error however

Version 2 Changes (From Version 1)

We made three major modifications to the second iteration.
Modification 1) Pop-up Menu

Right click on selected cards produces pop-up menu of options

Modification 2) Simpler group selection of multiple cards in a stack

Left click on card in middle of stack inclusively selects all cards above

Modification 3) Quick play of cards in hand

Double click on “down” card immediately plays that card. Double click on “up” card plays all “up” cards

Version 2 Testing

Photos

Menu

Dealing

Playing