Global

Individual page violations

Home Page
Email List Page
SFNight Sign-up Page
My SFNight Main Page
Search Page
Update Preferences
Event Profile
Event and Venue List

  * A student on a different team mistakenly thought her team was assigned SFnight for the evaluation assignment. Her inputs are included and addressed along with others.
     
Global Violations:  

 

1. [H2 Match Between System and the Real World] (Severity 3)
View My List button takes you to a page that immediately demands email input for mailing. This isn't what the label seems to mean, as viewing is more central than sending. (MT)

  
View My List is changed to View Email List. The design of the page is changed so that the list is on top, and add on email features on the bottom. See # 9
   

2. [H4 Consistency and Standards] (Severity 2)
The blue icon with the envelope and list has two different labels (See search page for example) Sometimes it's labeled "View My List." Other times its labeled "Send to Email List." (MT)

  
Changes are made to maintain the consistency of the terms. The team has agreed on Email List as the main term.
   
3. [H10 Help and Documentation] (Severity 4)
Little help. No in-depth explanations. Note: I found the Help link at the top of the main page by accident when I ran IE instead of Netscape. (MT) 		 
Comprehensive help and documentation will be developed later in the project. For this prototype, it is only partially developed.
     
   
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Home Page  

 
   
4. [H1 Visibility of System Status] (Severity 3)
After you choose to login, you are returned to the home page, with a very small Welcome message in an inconvenient area of the screen. This seems pretty abrupt. You aren't given any further elaboration regarding the account or introduction to personalized services. It's hard to tell what your account status is. (MT)		  
Welcome message is not supposed to replace the main page. It is displayed only in the personalized area, together with change of icon and color to signify successful registration. The team has discussed the use of a separate welcome page for user feedback. Users of the low-fi prototype did not find this to be a problem. We decided to do investigate how other info-centric sites, not necessarily ecommerce product sites, handle the situation. We'll then make the necessary design decisions. Also see #14.
   
5. [H1 Visibility of System Status] (Severity 2)
First page has nice graphic design, but takes too long to load-- even on SIMS PCs. The page also frequently crashed our systems. (MT)		  
This problem is due to complexity of nested tables in the page. It is already solved in Sfnight prototype by Monica.
   
6. [H2 Match Between System and the Real World] (Severity 4)
Need to run a spell-check and grammar check on entire site. Stefan would be put off by the many spelling errors. (MT)		  
Spell check and grammar check will be done at the final stage of the project to ensure that modifications in every stage of the development are checked.
   
7. [H8 Aesthetic and Minimalist Design] (Severity 4)
Middle panel is confusing. It's hard to tell the difference between the different features of this panel. (MT)		  
The middle panel is not part of this project. It is just supposed to be a place holder for main site development. It is out of the scope of 213 project.
     
   
^
Email List Page:  

 
   
8. [H3 User Control and Freedom] (Severity 2)
In the email event to friend interface, the delete button is located on the top. It's confusing, because the other buttons in that row don't let you complete an action. All the other buttons that let you complete an action are located at the bottom of the page. (MT)		  
Solved by solution to #11.
   
9. [H4 Consistency and Standards] (Severity 2)
The site displays inconsistent wording regarding the email list function. On the buttons it says, "send to email list," but when the user clicks on the button, the next page is titled "Venue and Event List," or sometimes "Send a (sic) E-Mail List," depending on where you click from. The user might think s/he went to the wrong page if s/he sees "Venue and Event List." Generally, I also think "Send to Email List" is not the best wording for this function. "Send" is too often associated with the email itself, so it's confusing to associate it with an event posting, too. How about "Add Event to Email List," "Send Event to my Friends," or "Add to My Mailing List"? (SE)		  


The link to "Venue and Event List" is pointing to an old and wrong page. Newer version does not have such problem.

The button is changed to "Add to Email List". We decided on using a button instead of graphical icon. See #1.
   
10. [H4 Consistency and Standards] (Severity 3)
It is very unclear how a user is supposed to enter more than one email address in the Email List form. There's only one small text box to use. Is the user supposed to enter more than one, then delineate with commas? Or spaces? Industry standards would suggest using a larger textarea box, having multiple text boxes, or using the widget where you enter an address then click a button to add it to a running list. (SE, SC)		  
The textbox for email address is enlarged to allow multiple email addresses separated by coma.
   
11. [H4 Consistency and Standards] (Severity 3)
The buttons at the bottom of the Email form are unclear and don't follow "Submit" and "Cancel" industry standards. The "Send Email" button should be bigger, more obvious, directly under the form, and separated from the other buttons, which are not as important. "Remove my List" is unclear. If you mean delete, say delete. You might consider changing "Save my List" to "Save List for Later" so users are more clear on what this button does. Also, I am not sure if the list will be saved automatically during this session, or whether I have to save it each time I add a new item. You might want to clarify this point. (SE)		  


A remove button is added to each item, allowing user to delete a select item individually. There is no need to select all the items to delete and then click remove. The convention will be used other places throughout the site, such as in MySFnight, see #19.

For functions where buttons are still required, a redesign is being considered. (See #15) The ability to save a list for later will be represented by a button indicating: Save for Later. Also decided to add a Clear List button.
   
12. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 3)
The event list on the Email Form has all the events' delete boxes checked by default. It would be way too easy for someone to hit the delete button by accident and erase all listings. Intead, have the default be unchecked. Also, the title of the column, "Delete This Item," is misleading. The wording suggests only one item is deleted when the button is clicked, but I assume that the button actually deletes all items that are checked. Clarify the wording on the button. (SE, SC, *)		  
See solution for #11.
     
*1 [H9 Help users recognize and diagnose. (Severity 3)
I think "Send your list to your friends" is more easy to recognize the function represented by the header: Send a E-mail List. I just felt I needed to enter my email address to receive the list to my email account. But from? So I realized what it was about. 		 
The header, if we end up keeping, will be changed to "Send Email list to friends".
   
^
SFNight Sign-up Page  

 
   

13. [H2 Match Between System and Real World] (Severity 2)
Language used to describe the categories on the SF night sign-up page unclear. What is a light-weight email? Also, boxes with explanatory text should be put next to the items they are explaining, or added to the headings. (MT)

 
Text will be changed. Still need more informal verbalization. We do not agree with the last point. The interface is supposed to be clear and intuitive. If this goal is achieved, no extensive help text is needed.
   
14. [H3 User Control and Freedom] (Severity 2)
Have a cancel button at the bottom of the form so users can change their mind if they need to. Also, don't say "Thank you for joining SF Night!" until the user has actually clicked on the button and the transaction is processed. This text makes it seem like it's already a done deal, when it is not. (SE)		  
Will implement a cancel/clear page button and rethink the wording and how to provide better feedback. See #4.
   

15. [H4 Consistency and Standards](Severity 2)
"Create mySFNight" button is kind of hard to notice, since it's way at the bottom below a big line. You might consider making it more obviously a submit button, either by using a real HTML button or by using a graphical button labeled "Submit." (SE, SC)

  
This will be part of the overall button redesign. See #11.
   

16. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 3)
My SFNight sign-up has checkboxes instead of radiobuttons, which could cause errors. For example, you should be able to choose only one age group or gender category. (MT, SE, SC)

  
Fixed.
   
17. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 4)
The yes/no option to receive a monthly SFNight newsletter should be radio buttons, not checkboxes. The yes/no option to receive information and coupons should be radio buttons, not checkboxes. (SC)		  
Didn't make the change in time for the first prototype. It is now fixed.
     
*2 [H7 Consistency] (Severity 2)
In the area for selecting newsletter and coupons, using two check boxes, one for newsletter and one for cupons, would be more intuitive and consistent with previous preference check boxes.
See solution for #17.
     
*3 [H8 Aesthetic and minimalist design] (Severity 2)
The sign "You must be 18-year of age to sign up for this service" is on the page twice. If you won't implement the procedure that restricts age, why have to indicate it twice. How about showing it once near the first part of the signing procedure?
Agreed, already changed.
     
   
^
MySFNight Main Page  

 
   

18. [H2 Match Between System and the Real World] (Severity 3)
One of the evaluators thought the MySFNight Calendar displayed two different dates under the Saturday heading. The individual weeks of the calendar blend into each other. It is easy to confuse next Friday's events with this Friday's. Perhaps you can draw a thicker line between the weeks. (MT, SC)

  
This is a tough one. A thicker line would only over power other elements. Different color is being considered. An alternative calendar design where only one week is displayed at a time is being explored from design and techical implementation standpoint.
   
19. [H2 Match Between System and Real World] (Severity 3)
The "Remove" icon is a checked box, which looks just like regular form element checkboxes, which are located all over the page. Users might mistakenly think that checking a box will delete the item, when in fact checking a box could be used for moving an item to My Picks or to an Email list. (SE) 		 
We are also changing the design to the convention where a remove icon and a move-to-my-pick-area icon will be next to each item. Same convention as in Email list page. See #11. This also address issues raised in #22 and #25.
   

20. [H3 User control and freedom] (Severity 2)
Why would I want to Minimize a calendar? Not clear of the purpose. (SC)

  
It's an option some users would want, especially frequent users.
   

21. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 3)
Preferences Box in table looks too much like the title of the whole table, which is confusing. The "Update" link could apply to anything--to the table, to the items, to my preferences. The "Minimize" link could also apply to the table, to the items, or to my preferences. Be consistent and decide what the verbs apply to, then indicate such with grouping. Or, just say "update preferences" and "minimize table". That would save a lot of confusion and errant clicking. (SE)

  
The Preference Box is being re-considered.

We decide to keep "Minimize" and see what other users think.
   

22. [H6 Recognition Rather than Recall] (Severity 2)
Icon key appears at top of table, but some icons appear throughout the page and user will have to remember what they mean. How about labeling icons instead? The blue icon for My List is confusing. Do you mean "email my list"? (SE, SC)

  
See solution for #19.
   

23. [H8 Aesthetic and minimalist design] (Severity 3)
Very confusing having two calendars. The Editor's Picks calendar looks too similar to the Your Picks calendar. Feature Your Picks more prominantly. Perhaps combine the calendars and mark the editor's picks differently.

  
We have had long discussions and different opinions about whether to do one or two calendars. The one calender option meant more design elements to differentiate Editors Picks from User's own Picks. It's also much more difficult to allow deletions of Editors Picks v.s. user's Your Picks. See also the discussion for #18 for a possible alternative design using two calendars still.
   
24. [H8 Aesthetic and minimalist design] (Severity 1)
The individual date is hard to see. Make the numbers bigger or bolder. (SC) 		 
Making numbers bigger and bolder does not work well. Will experiment with color.
   
25. [H10 Help and Documentation] (Severity 3)
I like the idea of being able to do one action on many events at once, using the Add, Email, or Delete icons. But can you make it more clear that this is the case? The icon key could be labeled better, indicating that icons perform the actions on checked items, not on everything on the screen. For example, "Add Checked Items to My Email List" instead of "Send to eMail List." (SE)		  
See solution for #19, which elminates this option.
     
   
^
Search Page    
   
26. [H1 Visibility of System Status] (Severity 3)
On the search page, there is only one column of check boxes and two potential labels for them-blue envelope label or MySF. It's hard to tell which column the checkbox belongs to. It's also unclear what happens if you were to check the box. What do you do next? Click on the labels closest or those at the bottom? What if you wanted to add the event to both your list and your MySF? Perhaps you could clarify in key to say "Add all checked items to Email List" or something of that nature.(MT, SE)		  
The search page is mostly not within the 213 project scope and has already been redesigned. We will check mainly for parts related to the "Add to My Email List" functionality when completing the 2nd prototype. Some of the suggestions will be considered by SFnight designer for future prototype iterations if the three issues have not already been addressed by current redesign.
   
27. [H3 User Control and Freedom] (Severity 1)
At the end of the search results, it's very unclear how the user proceeds to view more results. Should say something like "View next 10 results" in large letters. As is, it seems like there are only 10 results. Also, if a user scrolls all the way to the end of the list, s/he may want to search again if s/he didn't find something desirable, and there's no suggestion at the end of the list about how to find more events or how to fix an ineffective search. How about a link to search help? (SE)		  
   
28. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 3)
At top of search result screen, you have the option to search again, but this function seems to be labeled "Happening in SF." Users may think this is a different search engine or different function. (Maybe it is?) They may waste time searching again on the same criteria if they don't see what they want. How about labeling it "Adjust your Search and Try Again"? (SE) 		 
     
   
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Update Preferences  

 
   
29. [H5 Error Prevention] (Severity 2)
I don't think "Update Preferences" should go to a page identical to "Registration." Some things probably shouldn't be changed, such as userid. If a person changes their userid, will their old account be lost? Do people's genders usually change? (Well, okay, sometimes I guess they do). Anyway, consider bringing users to a new page that has unchangable information hard-coded, with only the preferences available for change. Also, consider changing the bottom button to read "Update my Preferences" instead of "Create My SFNight" so users know they're not creating a whole new account. (SE)		  
Agreed, a separate page showing the relevant information first will be designed. The user will have the ability to see and change other account information as well, but the page will not be the same as the registration page.
     
   
^
Event Profile  

 
   

30. [H6 Recognition rather than recall] (Severity 3)
Music icon next to the Map button is confusing. What is it supposed to do? Is it related to the map? (SC)

 
Not related to 213 project.
   
31. [H7 Flexibility and efficiency of use] (Severity 3)
What does Send to Email list mean? Is this My Preferences, or is this to my friends? Do I have retype all my friends' emails each time I add an event? This seems very tedious. (SC)		  
This will be the "Add to Email List" button, which is supposed to work the same way as the buttons from the search page.
     
   
^
Event and Venue List  

 
   
32. [H2 Match between system and the real world] (Severity 2)
"Remove my list" is vague. Use "Delete my list" instead. Can user have more than one list? If the user can only have one list, then "Delete my list" is unnecessary - just delete each item until the list is empty. Actually, the user always has a list, but it just might be empty. The original wording makes it sound that the member can have multiple lists. I think multiple lists are a good idea since the user may have different groups of friends. (SC)		  
This page is not meant to be part of the 213 prototype. We will not address both issues for 213 purposes. However, when combining the 213 project pages with rest of SFnight's pages, a check will be made for overall naming conventions and consistency.
   
33. [H2 Match between system and the real world] (Severity 3)
What does the button "Send my list" do that is different from emailing the list of friends at the top of the page? Why put the email form at the top of a page that says "Event and Venue List"? It seems that the user should see event titles first, and then be able send the events to friends. Currently, the "Send my list" button is at the bottom of the page, but the email addresses are at the top. (MT, SC)		  
   
^