HCI Design: Evaluating Appropriate Users

Involving appropriate users can be critical in proceeding with a proper evaluation of a new system. As mentioned previously, an accurate user profile can help create a sense of what the typical user is like. In order to create this profile and select the appropriate users, the analyst must gather data that reflects the users' varying backgrounds. Attributes that can be screened:

Ø User Experience - this refers to how much prior experience the user may have in the applicable field or with similar technology. In this case it may be appropriate to allow both users with experience and without due to the rarity of handicapped systems.

Ø Physical Characteristics - this refers to any physical attributes that may be in demand because of their affect on the system. A visual impairment system would obviously place great emphasis on users who are handicapped visually. Additionally, it must be taken into consideration whether there will be secondary or tertiary users, without impairment, that will interact with the system. If this is the case, inclusion of these user types is necessary.

Ø Age Range - this attribute refers to restrictions the system may have based on age. In this case, visual impairment has no relationship to age, so users from a variety of age backgrounds would be necessary. If the system were designed for the workplace, selection would be restricted to adults.

Ø Personality - this refers to the relation of personality to the interaction of the system. In the case of visually impairment HCI, it is unlikely personally traits would need consideration for user selection (other than cooperation).

These are just some of the attributes that can be taken into consideration when selecting users for evaluation. Analysts may further look in to education background, cultural background, biases, etc. The best way to obtain these attributes is through various forms of data gathering. In this case, analysts may choose to gather statistics on users through surveys, get to know users personally through interviews, or perform some form of ethnographic study. An ethnographic study would be very helpful in helping to choose appropriate users for evaluation. This allows analysts to observe all of the users that interact with the current system and would therefore be responsible for interacting with the new system. Observation can help determine the distinctions and separations between various users. Once data is analyzed, decisions on user selection can be made.

Overall, the selection of users for HCI design evaluation is an important factor in creating and effective system. These users must be selected based on their applicable attributes to the given system. For a visually impaired system, a variety of physical and experience characteristics would help determine whom to select.