Assignment #1

The device I chose was my cell phone.  

Good Aspects of this Device:

1. The size makes the device very portable.

2.  The device allows for quick communication over very long distances.

3. The phone allows for many ring settings both volume and style.

4. The phone has a phonebook that keeps track of names and phone numbers.

5. The device keeps track of phone calls made and received.

6. Provides other functions like calculator, camera and watch.

Bad Aspects of this Device:

1. Allows everybody access to you no matter where you are. (Provides no peace and quiet)

2. The phone has a small battery that won't last very long.

3. Part of the phone has many holes that allow dust into the unit.

4. The device has a screen that is easily smudged and blocks vision.

5. The device doesn't appear very durable.

Functionality:

1.  The device takes photos.

2. The device makes phone calls.

3. The device allows for voicemail usage.

4. The device tells time.

5. Keeps track of phone numbers in phone book

6. Keeps track of recent call list.

7. The device can play simple games.

Tasks a User Wants:

1. A user wants to be able to make phone calls.

2. A user wants to take messages.

3. Keep track of phone calls made and received.

4. Keep track of phone numbers that are used frequently.

5. A user wants to be able to tell time.

6. A user wants good reception.

The functionality is greater than what the typical user would want.

Usability Goals:

The device needs to be efficient to use.

The device must be easy to learn.

The device must be safe to use.

The device must be effective to use.

User experience goals:

The device needs to be enjoyable.

The device must be fun.

The device must be helpful.

The most important ones are safety because that effects if the users have fun and enjoy the product as well as the company that creates the product is successful.  The second most important one is if the experience is helpful because this makes the product useful to society an creates a big demand for it as well as can increase the enjoyment that a user gets out of the device because it accomplishes a task that they view as helpful.  The third most important one is whether or not the device is easy to use  because this effects whether or not the device will be used and how helpful it is.

Questions:

1. Is the Device easy to learn?

2. Is the device safe to use? Why?
 

3. Is the device helpful? Why?

The device is easy to learn within a couple of minutes anybody can learn how to make a phone call and end one.  The most basic necessity of the device.  It takes a few more minutes to learn how to store phone numbers and listen to voice mail but this is still relatively easy to do.  The safety of the device is the next thing to look at.  The device itself appears to be safe their are no sharp parts and it won't hurt to lift it.  However, there is the question of possible cancer causing waves that would be a very bad safety issue.  The device is definitely helpful it allows people to communicate on a level that before was not possible and has also saved money on long distance. 

Design Concepts and Usability Principles:

The device must have good mapping.

The device of the phone must be consistent with both itself and other phones.

The device needs affordance.

The device needs flexibility and efficiency of use.  

The device needs error prevention.

The most important one is consistency which allows for the user not to be confused from phone to phone or operation to operation.  Having flexibility and efficiency of use allows users of varying skills to enjoy and use the device.  Having good mapping is important or users don't enjoy the device and it can be hard to learn to use.

Questions:

Is the device consistent to use with other phones and itself?

Is the device flexible to use? Does it allow for increased efficiency?

What does the device do have good mapping?

The device operates under the same concepts that most other cell phones do so it is pretty consistent in that regard.  The device also is consistent with itself, you do the same task the same way every time.  There is a pad in the upper middle of the phone that has up down left right aligned in a circle so that it makes sense to the user.  The numbers are also aligned in a normal pattern so that the mind follows from one to two to three and so on.

Possible Improvements:

The basic idea behind the cell phone has been pretty much perfected most phone can make calls consistently which is the primary use.  The other operations that the cell phone does can be improved like the camera and phonebook.  The camera could take better quality pictures and have a zoom lens and the phonebook could also have and address book to allow more information to be stored.  This particular phone could have better protection against dirt and grime.