Nuotolinio bendravimo ir bendradarbiavimo priemonės – tai Web 2.0 aplinkos, leidžiančios naudotojams sąveikauti, kurti turinį ir juo dalintis. Šiose priemonės naudotojai nebe pasyviai vartoja pateiktą informaciją, o sukuria didžiąją dalį turinio. Trimačiai virtualieji, priklausantys nuotolinio bendravimo ir bendradarbiavimo priemonių grupei, išsiskiria navigacine sistema, naudotojo atliekamomis užduotimis ir naudotojų bei virtualių objektų sąveikos būdais. Tradicinės programinės įrangos panaudojamumo vertinimo metodikos neapima šių specifinių virtualiųjų pasaulių apsektų, todėl magistro baigiamajame darbe atlikta išsami nuotolinio bendravimo ir bendradarbiavimo priemonių panaudojamumo analizė, kurios pagrindu kuriama trimačių virtualiųjų pasaulių panaudojamumo vertinimo metodika. Kuriant šią metodiką taip pat panaudoti atlikto naudotojų patirčių tyrimo rezultatai. Aprašytas euristinis vertinimas taikytas pasirinktiems trimačiams virtualiesiems pasauliams ir tokiu būdu metodikos aktualumas pagrįstas ne tik teorinėmis prielaidomis, bet ir praktinio tyrimo rezultatais. / Online communication and collaborations tools are Web 2.0 applications, which allows users’ interaction, content creation and sharing. In contrast to websites where users are limited to the passive viewing of information, these tools are dependent on content which is created by users. Online virtual worlds belongs to the group of online communication and collaborations tools and distinguishes by navigational system, user tasks and manners of interaction between users and objects. Traditional methodologies do not cover these specific aspects. Therefore this paper presents the thorough analysis of online communication and collaboration tools usability. On the basis of this analysis, there is a methodology created for evaluation online virtual world’s usability. Development of this methodology required the results of literature review analysis and performed users experience research. Described heuristic assessment was applied for chosen online virtual worlds, thus the relevance of methodology was reasoned not only by theoretical assumptions, but by results of practical research as well.

A globalização das economias, aliada ao avanço das comunicações e à chegada da Internet, está tornando a integração virtual cada vez mais viável. O comércio eletrônico com as empresas, a web social e a inclusão das pessoas deverão se beneficiar dos serviços que estão sendo disponibilizados na web reforça a necessidade de uso das páginas. Com isto, surge a necessidade de tornar as páginas da Internet cada vez mais agradáveis, fáceis de serem utilizadas e eficientes em seus objetivos e, desta maneira, facilitando a todos. Nesse novo cenário, portanto, é primordial torná-las cada vez mais práticas de serem utilizadas, ou seja, o estudo da usabilidade se tornou uma necessidade para os projetistas das páginas de Internet para que a qualidade da Interação Humano-Computador(IHC) seja cada vez melhor. Deve-se pensar também em como verificar/avaliar se essas páginas foram construídas de forma satisfatória a atender aos interesses dos usuários. Neste contexto, foi interessante desenvolver algo que fizesse uma coleta automatizada dos elementos de interação dos websites para servir de suporte e apoio no processo de avaliação de usabilidade, tornando-os, desta maneira, mais claros e com maior possibilidade de a interação com o usuário ser realizada de forma mais eficaz e eficiente. No desenvolvimento das atividades relacionadas a esta proposta de trabalho foi criado um protótipo de uma ferramenta que informasse quais elementos de interação estavam contidos em cada uma das páginas dos websites avaliados. Tal coleta visava auxiliar o desenvolvimento de ferramentas que apoiassem a avaliação da usabilidade, tanto de forma automatizada como, por exemplo, por meio da apresentação de questionários confeccionados por essas ferramentas de forma prática, pois apresentariam apenas perguntas específicas aos elementos de interação que realmente estivessem contidos nos websites. Este protótipo também torna a avaliação da usabilidade mais eficiente e rápida, pois apresenta um levantamento prévio dos elementos de interação da página web uma vez que identifica os elementos da página com as suas características e disponibiliza para o avaliador todas essas informações em formulários web. / The globalization of economies, coupled with the advancement of communications and the arrival of the Internet, is becoming increasingly feasible virtual integration. Electronic commerce with businesses, web and social inclusion of people will benefit from the services that are available on the web reinforces the need to use the pages. With this, comes the need to make Web pages more and more enjoyable, easy to use and efficient in their goals and in this way facilitating all. In this new scenario, therefore, it is essential to make them ever more practical to be used, ie, the study of usability has become a necessity for designers of web pages so that the quality of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is better. One should also think about how to verify/evaluate whether these pages were designed to satisfactorily serve the interests of users. In this context, it was interesting to develop something that would make an automated collection of interaction elements of the websites to provide support and assistance in the usability evaluation process, making them, in this way, clearer and with greater possibility of interaction with the user be performed more effectively and efficiently. In developing this proposal related to work activities a prototype of a tool to inform interaction elements which were contained in each of pages of reviews websites was created. This collection was intended to assist the development of tools that would support the assessment of usability , both automated way, eg, through the presentation of questionnaires made by these tools in a practical way, it would show only specific questions to the elements of interaction that were actually contained in websites. This prototype also makes the assessment more efficient and faster usability, it presents a preliminary survey of interaction elements of the web page as it identifies the elements of the page with its features and available to the assessor all this information into web forms.

A globalização das economias, aliada ao avanço das comunicações e à chegada da Internet, está tornando a integração virtual cada vez mais viável. O comércio eletrônico com as empresas, a web social e a inclusão das pessoas deverão se beneficiar dos serviços que estão sendo disponibilizados na web reforça a necessidade de uso das páginas. Com isto, surge a necessidade de tornar as páginas da Internet cada vez mais agradáveis, fáceis de serem utilizadas e eficientes em seus objetivos e, desta maneira, facilitando a todos. Nesse novo cenário, portanto, é primordial torná-las cada vez mais práticas de serem utilizadas, ou seja, o estudo da usabilidade se tornou uma necessidade para os projetistas das páginas de Internet para que a qualidade da Interação Humano-Computador(IHC) seja cada vez melhor. Deve-se pensar também em como verificar/avaliar se essas páginas foram construídas de forma satisfatória a atender aos interesses dos usuários. Neste contexto, foi interessante desenvolver algo que fizesse uma coleta automatizada dos elementos de interação dos websites para servir de suporte e apoio no processo de avaliação de usabilidade, tornando-os, desta maneira, mais claros e com maior possibilidade de a interação com o usuário ser realizada de forma mais eficaz e eficiente. No desenvolvimento das atividades relacionadas a esta proposta de trabalho foi criado um protótipo de uma ferramenta que informasse quais elementos de interação estavam contidos em cada uma das páginas dos websites avaliados. Tal coleta visava auxiliar o desenvolvimento de ferramentas que apoiassem a avaliação da usabilidade, tanto de forma automatizada como, por exemplo, por meio da apresentação de questionários confeccionados por essas ferramentas de forma prática, pois apresentariam apenas perguntas específicas aos elementos de interação que realmente estivessem contidos nos websites. Este protótipo também torna a avaliação da usabilidade mais eficiente e rápida, pois apresenta um levantamento prévio dos elementos de interação da página web uma vez que identifica os elementos da página com as suas características e disponibiliza para o avaliador todas essas informações em formulários web. / The globalization of economies, coupled with the advancement of communications and the arrival of the Internet, is becoming increasingly feasible virtual integration. Electronic commerce with businesses, web and social inclusion of people will benefit from the services that are available on the web reinforces the need to use the pages. With this, comes the need to make Web pages more and more enjoyable, easy to use and efficient in their goals and in this way facilitating all. In this new scenario, therefore, it is essential to make them ever more practical to be used, ie, the study of usability has become a necessity for designers of web pages so that the quality of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is better. One should also think about how to verify/evaluate whether these pages were designed to satisfactorily serve the interests of users. In this context, it was interesting to develop something that would make an automated collection of interaction elements of the websites to provide support and assistance in the usability evaluation process, making them, in this way, clearer and with greater possibility of interaction with the user be performed more effectively and efficiently. In developing this proposal related to work activities a prototype of a tool to inform interaction elements which were contained in each of pages of reviews websites was created. This collection was intended to assist the development of tools that would support the assessment of usability , both automated way, eg, through the presentation of questionnaires made by these tools in a practical way, it would show only specific questions to the elements of interaction that were actually contained in websites. This prototype also makes the assessment more efficient and faster usability, it presents a preliminary survey of interaction elements of the web page as it identifies the elements of the page with its features and available to the assessor all this information into web forms.

<p><em>Tangible social network system is a home-based communication solution specifically designed for elders. Former researches indicate that insufficient communication among elders cause several challenges in their daily activities such as social isolation, loneliness, depression and decreased appetite. In addition, lack of social participation increases the risk of Alzheimer´s (Ligt Enid, 1990). The major cause of these challenges are that elders are increasingly removed from communication technology using emails, text messaging, interact with social network systems and mobile phones due to cognitive and physical difficulties. To overcome this problem, new suggested social network system incorporates photo frame and photo album based interaction which allows instantaneous participation to the social network. By designing the new social network system, I tried to create an easier venue for more active cross-generational communication between elders and younger family members.This paper discusses the early results of the marker based social networking system aiming to propose digital technologies to enhance the social life of older people, who live alone their home. A prototype combining a touch screen, photo frame and a camera are described. It allows the older people to manage their participation to the social network system and get in touch with their loved ones. This paper demonstrates a User Sensitive inclusive Design (USID) process from the generation of user needs to the evaluation prototype. A key theme of tangible social network system shows how usable and emotional design derived from a user inclusive design process can encourage elders to adopt new modern technology. A first evaluation has shown the usability as well as the good acceptance of this system.</em></p> / AGNES

近年來全球學習華語文蔚為風潮，且隨著資通訊科技和網路快速發展，華語文教學更逐漸向「數位學習」發展。臺灣僑務委員會為提供海外華僑及外籍人士學習華語文，設立「全球華文網」，該網站至2011年為止已突破四千萬的瀏覽人次，使用者眾。本研究即以「全球華文網」為研究個案，旨在探討該網站的優使性，進而歸納網站的優勢和尚待改進之處。希望透過本研究了解華語文教學網站使用者平日需求，及理想的網站應具備哪些功能，對未來建置類似的華語文教學網站時有所助益。 本研究之研究目的可分為以下四項：(一)探討華語文教學網站的內容和網站使用者需求。(二)探討優使性評估定義與優使性測試方法。(三)探討華語文教學網站之優使性及使用者滿意度。(四)分析使用者優使性評估結果，找出網站缺失與改善方向，歸納建議作為未來建置華語教學網站之參考。 本研究採用深度訪談、優使性測試和優使性問卷調查三種研究方式，研究對象為華語文教學學位學程博碩士生及華語文教學學分學程大學生二者。透過實證研究得出以下五點結論：(一)華語文教學課程修習者常使用的網站可分為三類：資料查找、教學輔助、提供相關資訊；(二)使用者使用教學網站通常是任務導向；(三)使用者不滿意「全球華文網」之優使性；(四)「全球華文網」亟待加強網站之分類與名稱、資源整合、檢索功能三者；(五)使用者對「全球華文網」抱持正面且期待的態度。 根據以上結論，本研究也提出建議，希望作為建置類似網站時之參考。首先網站應從使用者的角度出發，思考如何給予最簡單有效的功能，如教學網站在建立前應先釐清建置目的和使用對象，才能進一步提供相對應之資料；網站的選單名稱應易於理解，各項資源應給予簡單說明；教學網站可就使用者之身分不同提供其相對應的使用介面和資源，以上各項功能用以幫助使用者節省摸索網站的時間。此外，網站也應定期進行使用者滿意度調查以及優使性評估，使用者提供的寶貴意見是網站改進的依據，而透過優使性測試，則能夠讓網站建置人員了解使用者操作的實際情形，彌平雙方的認知差距。定期的評鑑能讓網站了解優缺並即時改善和加強功能，以符合使用者的需求。

隨著互動式資料視覺化工具越來越多，設計者需要一個方法來衡量其作品是否好用、能否被理解、使用效率高低。互動式資料視覺化需要透過使用者的互動才能觀察到資料的不同面向，再進一步產生洞見，然而現有的評估方式多僅聚焦於靜態資料圖表，設計者無法從中得知使用者的操作困難之處，並據此進行加強與改善，因此本研究提出一個整合量化分析與質化記錄的系統性評估方式，應用於互動式資料視覺化的優使性(usability)分析。 本研究的方法為追蹤使用者的眼動和滑鼠操作過程，先將其記錄成量化數據，透過興趣區域的標定與將轉換使用者行為成序列後，進行序列運算和統計分析；同時，從使用者經驗研究方法得到實驗過程的質化記錄，用來輔助解釋量化分析的結果。 本論文藉由兩個互動式資料視覺化工具來驗證以眼動與滑鼠追蹤評估互動式資料視覺化是可行的，我們提出了具體的實驗流程、量化紀錄與分析方式，並建議以下評估指標：吸引力、易發現性、困難度、易識別性、易理解性、精準表達程度、細部困難度、使用效率。 / As more and more interactive data visualization tools emerge, designers need an organized evaluation method to provide timely feedback and understand user behavior. In contrast to traditional graphical presentations, interactive data visualization tools call for user manipulation to gain specific insights. It is therefore imperative to study the intermediate operation process, rather than the final outcome, to provide a critical understanding of the developed tool. Toward this objective, we propose a systematic approach combining quantitative analysis and qualitative assessment to gauge the usability of interactive data visualization tools in this research. Firstly, quantitative data including gaze and mouse movements are collected. By combining the definition of area of interest, these trajectories can be converted into user sequences, which are conveniently accessible for further statistical analysis as well as path comparison. Secondly, qualitative information obtained by observing user operation is gathered to offer additional insight and complement/support conclusions obtained from quantitative analysis. Two interactive data visualization tools are employed to examine the feasibility and universality of our experimental and analytical procedure. To conclude, we come up with several key indicators to evaluate interactive data visualization, including attraction, discoverability, difficulty, identifiability, comprehensibility, precision of expression, difficulty(detailed) and efficiency.

Användbarhet är en term som används för att bedöma kvaliteten hos ett gränssnitt. God användbarhet är viktig då den ger en ökad produktivitet och andra affärsfördelar i form av färre misstag och bättre kvalitet på slutprodukten. Användbarhet är en viktig designprincip men är en svår egenskap att uppfylla hos applikationer. Studien behandlar användbarhet ur olika perspektiv, dels det teoretiska genom litteraturgenomgång, dels det praktiska genom intervjuer och observationer. Syftet var att förklara vad användbarhet är, hur det bedöms och vad man kan göra för att bygga in egenskapen i applikationer man utvecklar. För att exemplifiera och finna verklig förankring har jag valt att observera hur användare interagerar med ett existerande gränssnitt för bibliotek, Horizon. Slutsatser kring studien är att Horizon inte används till allt den var tänkt att användas till, vilket i princip är ett dåligt betyg för en applikation. Samtidigt är detta inget större problem då den negativa verkan på verksamheten kan i det här fallet vara en definitionsfråga: är studenternas produktivitet när det gäller att söka och beställa litteratur kritisk? När det gäller användbarhet i utvecklingsskedet kan man konstatera att även om intentionerna varit goda så har användbarhetsarbetet kring Horizon inte infriat förväntningarna. Vad som gått fel är varken sensationellt eller ovanligt; det har handlat om avsaknaden av slutanvändarens perspektiv, organisatoriska problem och möjligen också bristande kunskap om användbarhet i en eller annan form. En betydelsefull insikt som inte nämns i litteraturen men som togs upp är att beakta leverantörens marknadsställning när man ska köpa ett system. Trots bristerna, som ofta relaterar till brott mot designkonventioner, upplevs Horizon som ett bra och ändamålsenligt verktyg av sina användare. / Usability denotes the quality of a user interface. Even though usability is an important design principle, efforts to incorporate this quality in applications often fail. In this paper I study usability from a theoretical and a practical perspective. The goal is to explain usability and how to incorporate usability in applications. In order to exemplify, I study usability within the context of the library application Horizon. This study shows that Horizon is only partially utilized by its users which in principle is a bad grade for an application. Partial use is however in this case, not a serious problem since the negative effects partial use imply could very well be a matter of definition: is the productivity of students, when it comes to searching and ordering library material, critical for the organization? When it comes to usability in the development phases of a project, once again one can conclude that good intentions exist but efforts fail all the same and Horizon is no exception. This time we can attribute failure to the lack of the end users’ perspective, organizational problems and perhaps also unsufficient knowledge of usability in one form or another. An important conclusion, which has not been mentioned in the literature, is the importance of considering the market position of a presumptive vendor when buying a generic system. Despite the flaws (often related to violations of well established design principles) presented in this paper, Horizon is considered a good, effective and efficient application by its users.

The use of interactive e-learning tutorials is an effective form of teaching and learning. It is therefore important that attention is paid to their usability. This research relates to the evaluation of a CD-based e-learning tutorial for learning Business English, with the aims of investigating its usability and identifying problems. Particular attention is paid to aspects that hinder the learner from achieving the learning objectives. The study uses two usability evaluation methods (UEMs), namely controlled usability testing in an HCI laboratory and a user questionnaire survey. The main aim of the study is to compare the findings and determine the impact of using two methods in combination. The first outcome of the research was a synthesized framework of evaluation criteria that was applied in the two UEMs. Secondly, findings of the evaluations indicated that two UEMs identified similar problems, thus confirming their reliability in usability evaluation. Another finding was instances where one method produced results not obtained by the other, which shows the complementary value of two different UEMs. A third benefit of the study was that it identified usability problems in the target system. / Information Systems / MA (Information Systems)

Tangible social network system is a home-based communication solution specifically designed for elders. Former researches indicate that insufficient communication among elders cause several challenges in their daily activities such as social isolation, loneliness, depression and decreased appetite. In addition, lack of social participation increases the risk of Alzheimer´s (Ligt Enid, 1990). The major cause of these challenges are that elders are increasingly removed from communication technology using emails, text messaging, interact with social network systems and mobile phones due to cognitive and physical difficulties. To overcome this problem, new suggested social network system incorporates photo frame and photo album based interaction which allows instantaneous participation to the social network. By designing the new social network system, I tried to create an easier venue for more active cross-generational communication between elders and younger family members.This paper discusses the early results of the marker based social networking system aiming to propose digital technologies to enhance the social life of older people, who live alone their home. A prototype combining a touch screen, photo frame and a camera are described. It allows the older people to manage their participation to the social network system and get in touch with their loved ones. This paper demonstrates a User Sensitive inclusive Design (USID) process from the generation of user needs to the evaluation prototype. A key theme of tangible social network system shows how usable and emotional design derived from a user inclusive design process can encourage elders to adopt new modern technology. A first evaluation has shown the usability as well as the good acceptance of this system. / AGNES

The thesis focuses on the topic of benefits and limitations of various HMI user assessment methods. In the theoretical part of the thesis there is introduced the HMI theory, summarized HMI user assessment methods, presented knowledge about their utilization and the available tools are mapped. The goal of the practical part is testing of selected HMI user assessment methods related to the requirements of the commercial automotive sector. The result of practical part is a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of individual approaches and their specifics. The diploma thesis was prepared in accordance with the valid internal regulations of the Charles University and other methodological guidelines and normative documents. Keywords: user experience, UX, usability, user interface, UI, HMI, human-machine interface, automotive, usability evaluation, user assessment, user testing, usability testing