Individual Evaluation: BESS

 

Total number of violations =

 

H1 Visibility of System Status = 1

H2 Match Between System and the Real World =

H3 User control and freedom = 1

H4 Consistency and Standards = 1

H5 Error Prevention =

H6 Recognition Rather than Recall = 1

H7 Flexibility and efficiency of use =

H8 Aesthetic and Minimalist Design = 1

H9 Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors =

H10 Help and Documentation = 1

 

  1. [H10 Help and Documentation] (Severity: 3)

There is a Login hotlink in the upper right area of each page (it turns Logout in Sell page). But how login can benefit the user is not mentioned in the pages, no even an explanation for its functionality. Clicking on Help, it gives less than under Account.

 

  1. [H3 User control and freedom] (Severity: 2)

In Sell Books page, user cannot use Shift- key or Ctrl- key to select multiple books at the same time, which is already a common practice in web page.

 

  1. [H4 Consistency and Standards] (Severity: 2)

In Find Books, clicking SIMS 202 will lead user back to home page. Clicking on any other class will let user stay in Find Book area.

 

  1. [H1 Visibility of System Status] (Severity: 2)

After user/seller edited the previous posting, the new page would not show the title(s) affected. Feedback to user is needed.

 

  1. [H8 Aesthetic and Minimalist Design] (Severity: 1)

Edit Posting page shows the cover picture of the book that user wants to sell, which consumes a trunk of screen and not necessary. Should only present information when it matters and needed.

 

  1. [H6 Recognition Rather than Recall] (Severity: 3)

In Sell Books page, user needs to enter personal information every time s/he wants to sell books out. Could be a tedious process if a second grade student wants to sell out a big part of inventory.

                       

  1. [H2 Match Between System and the Real World] (Severity: 3)

In Sell Books page, after user completes the posting steps, the new page will show a link for ‘View your new posting as it appears on BESS’. Following that link, the user will see all the other people who are also selling that book, and make an offer to buy! I can think of no task scenario for a user to buy and sell the same book at same time, so this function is out of place.

 

Positive things:

Neat interface and most of time, very straightforward navigation. Bright and fresh color scheme. Keep going!