CIS 577 Assignment 2
Winter 2008

This assignment will give you an opportunity to do some user interface reengineering work. You may work with a partner if you wish. Your redesign must feasible given today's technologies, but you will not to be required to implement your design.

You need to locate a program with a user interface that has some usability concerns (e.g. poor system messages or a bad interaction model) and has some accessibility problems for users with special needs. Your task will be to the catalog problems and build a paper prototype for a user interface that corrects these defects.

You are required to use the Purdue Usability Testing Questionnaire to assess the usability of the application interface. If you choose a web application, you might want to assess it using one of the WC3 web accessibility tools known as WC3 Tools. If you do not use an establised tool, you will need to describe your accessibility testing procedure and results. You might find it worthwhile to visit the User Interface Hall of Shame and User Interface Hall of Fame. The program chosen does not need to have more than one primary user dialog screen.

The deliverables for this project include:

· Overview of the original application

· Results of the usability and accessibility assessments

· Critique of the original design

· Screen shots of the original interface

· GOMS model for the redesigned user interface

· Paper prototype (storyboard) for the redesign with key screen layouts

· Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of your improved interface design

Assigned: 1/31/08
Date due: 2/21/08