Final Project: Phase IV – UX Evaluation

Task: Improve on high fidelity prototype and do user testing

Finally, we have come to the final phase of our project. While continuing to work on adding and improving features of our high-fidelity prototype, we also tried to brainstorm and finalize what kind of holder would best suit our project. Initially, we wanted a holder that can be mounted to one edge of the square table in the restaurant. The holder should be able to extend so that all users on the table can have a good view of the LCD screen, and it should be able to rotate and fold under the table when not in use so that it will not block the waiters and diners during eating. Following these guidelines, Wingyan managed to get a lamp holder from Ikea, as shown below:

It basically consists of a clamp (to fasten to the table) and supported by two beams with a joint in the middle allowing the adjustment of height and lengthening of the screen which is fastened to the area shown by the lamp above. However more modifications need to be done, as the holder cannot be tilted 360 degrees and the supporting beams look flimsy. Also the holder for the screen needs to be custom built to ensure that it holds it securely so that the screen does not fall off.

We presented our holder to the class and even demonstrated its use by clamping it to the table in the tutorial room. However most of them did not like it due to its bulky and flimsy appearance, which could potentially block other diners sitting across from it. As we can't find a ready made solution, we shall sketch out the holder.

It is a stainless steel holder to be screwed to the underside of the table. The ePan can be slotted into it when not in use. In addition, we decided to make the ePan portable, so that it is now less cumbersome and more flexible to position on the table. Although the ePan is now portable, for security reasons, it will be chained to the holder. In addition, the ePan screen has two flaps at the back that act as stands to prop the ePan at an upright but inclined manner on the table.

A sketch of this holder is shown below:

Figure: Side view of holder with ePan slotted in

Figure: Back view of ePan screen being propped on the table

Over the week, I have tried to improve the interface. I added in the rest of the features (nutritional calculator and gallery) and background music. The buttons on the interface are designed to have a look of light reflection, to make it look 3D and intuitive that there is a button which one can press on. The colour of the buttons are changed to orange as it gives people a feel of vibrance and energy, and orange being the trio palatte colour with blue will compliment the blur background, reducing the "blue overload" effect, and creates a background and foreground differentiation. Initially only words describes the main menu buttons function, but in this improved version, icons are added to the buttons to allow audience who are not well versed in english to be able to intuitively navigate around the interface.

The intro screen is changed to have the fishes appear one by one in an animation sequence so it does not seem to wordy and introduce each of the features sequentially. Small bubbles effect is added to the home page to give the feel of being under the sea, to tie in with the theme of Fish & Co. being a seafood restaurant.

To allow more accurate user testing, I have added one a harder level of spot the differences which uses black and white graphics so as to throw an interesting challenge to large groups of friends who can work together to spot all the difference. We even tried it out in class and our classmates had a good time trying to pick them out. Below are some screenshots of the improved interface:

Figure: Welcome Screen

Figure: "Fish the Difference" Game

For the cartoons page, I took up Mr Reddy's idea to make the side menu hide so that viewers can watch the cartoons in full view.

Figure: Cartoons Screen

Figure: Nutritional Calculator

To gauge users’ reaction towards the ePan, we have conducted a brief reaction checklist questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale for ten users (consisting of teenagers and working adults). We also asked them four open-ended questions about the interface readability, their likes and dislikes about the ePan and further comments for improvement.

Generally, the ePan satisfied their physiological needs as using the stylus pen was comfortable and intuitive. As for the psychological aspects, the ePan was generally easy to use and navigate to the different features, although users were more ambivalent about the ePan being “fun” to use. The sociological aspects did less well though, with a couple of the users not finding the ePan to be a great social-bonding or social image-boosting tool, probably because they might prefer to chat with their friends instead of play the multi-player games as a form of social interaction. However, the ideological aspects of the ePan scored rather well with the users, with most of them agreeing that the ePan projects a hip and cool image and that it blends well with Fish & Co.’s theme, décor and ambience. Most users also found issues with the readability of certain fonts whose colour clashed against the blue background, and did not like the lack of variety of programmes catered towards the older diners. However, they liked the colourful and vibrant feel of the ePan and acknowledged that kids would be thoroughly entertained by it.

As we acknowledged that this version of the ePan is not the final one hence the presence of incomplete features and broken links may have impacted on their experience of the ePan when they tested it. Hence, we set about making changes to the ePan based on the user feedback, though we were sadly unable to add a greater variety of applications to it due to time and resource constraints. Hence, after adding the finishing touches to the ePan which included background music, corrections to the colour scheme and an eraser icon next to the eraser tool in the drawing pad, we let the same ten users test the ePan again, while sending them another questionnaire to help us gauge if we have improved for the better since the last testing.

Our findings on the whole are quite pleasing, that the interface has become much more readable and that the background music enhances the atmosphere of the ePan which contributes positively to the dining experience. However, some users still disliked the “childish-looking” interface which they feel is too elementary. As we are trying to cater to the needs of a broad target group, we have found this interface to be the best fit to project a fun image in line with Fish & Co.’s brand image, hence it is difficult to please everyone.

Given more time, we would have further improved the ePan based on these users’ feedback by conducting more extensive user research to better address the entertainment needs of the different groups of diners, especially older teenagers and working adults. We would have considered adding more applications such as movie trailers, advertisements and video clips that cater more towards this more mature group of diners. We could also take in the consideration given by a classmate where users can actually use the drawing pad to create templates for spot the differences, so that diners can have a stronger sense of belonging towards the restaurant.

In response to complaints that the interface was too “childish-looking”, we might in future even considering providing customizable “skins” consisting of a variety of different colour schemes and themes to choose from that personalize the look and feel of the ePan based on individual diners’ preferences. We might also have added more interactivity to the ePan by using more animations and sound effects which would have made the ePan more visually and aurally appealing.