Smart Homes Reading Exercise (Block 3)

I have read and looked through the Techno Homes article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/features/2003/interiors/techno_home.shtml

Questions:

Q1. Read the document and decide where/what the interface(/s) is (/are).

Answers:
1.
Gadget 1: Multi -store CD player
This gadget or device interface will most likely consist of a remote control that will allow input from the user to the device. This will also control how the devices works through its navigation and interface. Taking for example: how the music is going to be formatted (by album or artist name in alphabetical order).

Gadget 2: Universal remote controls
This gadget will be very interesting and will probably be for lazy people, considering that it will control every single appliances around the home. Taking for example (DVD, Radio, Television etc), which the remote itself is the interface as it has buttons and different controls.

Gadget 3: Organised home entertainment
This can allow the user to record shows or programs in to a hard copy, using a DVD and
Video player. This will also allow the user to set a time start and end record.

Gadget 4: Domestic robots
This domestic robot will vacuum a room but most probably having some kind of interface to allow the user to control it, in terms of which part of the room it has to vacuum. Keeping in mind that the interface will have to react instantly with domestic robot in order to clean everything that needs to be vacuumed accurately.

Gadgets 5: New generation cooling
The interface for a fridge would be located at the front next to the door handle. Which mostly like have a displaying screen "LCD" with buttons that will allow the user to select and change different settings. Taking for example: Temperature "low or high".

Gadget 6: Clever cleaning
As a clever cleaning gadget, this would probably be a small control panel to allow the user to con trol the functions of the bathing temperature. For example on what water temperature you want in the bath. The functions might also be controlled by another sort of remote device.


2. Decide what usability methods (from this week's lecture), you could apply to evaluating these interfaces. Justify your choices.

If I had to decide on what usability method to apply in evaluation these interfaces mentioned above. I would most definitely choose Heuristic evaluation because it think it would provide me with various kinds of relevant information in terms of identifying the problem and how it can be resolved.

3. For one example, go into detail about exactly what you would do to apply the evaluation technique to the interface

In applying the evaluation technique to the interface of a universal remote control, I would use the Heuristic evaluation or analysis by doing the following:

Visibility of system status
Does the remote control respond instantly or within a reasonable amount of time when its pressed by the user. How effective is it?

Match between system and the real world
Allowing the user to switch to different devices (eg: TV to Radio), without having any form of complications. Meaning that does the remote control provide a good level of simplicity language.

User control and freedom
In terms of providing simple short cuts. Does the remote control allow the user to navigate without providing too much instructions and regulations to the users.

Consistency and standards
Allowing the user to navigate through same style, formats and layouts in each devices that its controlling. For example the VCR and DVD having that stop and pause button at the same location, not one down and other up.

Error prevention
An error message that contributes as a warning, which re-confirms the users actions in different settings that they want to change to.

Recognition rather than recall
Allowing user to user the remote without too much thinking, in terms of what did the previous say or mean.

Flexibility and efficiency
In the repeatedly amount of times that the user has used the remote control. There should be
a facility or feature for shortcuts, allowing the user to go straight to where they want to go to easily.

Aesthetic and minimalist design
This should have relevant information and content for the user to navigate around with no complication, without too much thinking.

Help users recognise, diagnose and recover from errors
If there is an error message, this should provide the user with a simple alternative on how this can be resovled with nodes (simple plain English).


Help and documentation
It is a great advantage for system include a help option, which this could either be with a manual or a help feature in the different menus. This is only when a user does not understanding something or gets lots somewhere.