Tuesday, February 8, 2011

HUCOMIN FEB 8 ACTIVITY

This activity is intended to serve as an introduction to the topic user-centered design.

Form your group, select two members' mobile phones to be analyzed, compared and contrasted in this activity. Perform and answer the following on a yellow paper.

1. Identify the two mobile phones to be compared (example, Nokia N70 and Samsung Omnia)
Draw the main interface of each and include the main function labels.

2. Test the phones in terms of basic functionality and efficiency. Put your evaluation in a table (similar to the table shown) and apply a 0-3 stars rating.



Sending an sms with a bank account number - how
Sending a business card -- is the v-card received with complete information
Forwarding a message
Tracing/recalling conversations
Voice command
Organizing/keeping SMS/conversations

*Predictability refers to the intuitiveness of the commands & requires minimum understanding.

3. Test again the phones in terms of management of CONTACTS & TASKS in terms of Very Good, Good, Poor, Needs Improvement. Create a similar table.

Many information of the contact can be inputted
Easy searching and handling of contacts
Movement and transfer of contact from one device to another
Availability of image information


3. Describe the personal user experience in using the mobile phone. You may ask the phone users on this aspect.
On durability
a. Is the phone sturdy enough to handle occasional drops/misuse/water splurge?
On aesthetics
b. Is the phone aesthetically beautiful, you want to show it off?
c. Is the phone ergonomically shaped to fit your hand? Do you like touching, holding, squeezing your phone?
On personal satisfaction
d. What amenities do you have in the phone that is a source of satisfaction? (Example: camera, video, audio recorder, radio, music player, etc.)

ALL HUCOMIN Peeps, please be ready for a discussion on this topic over Twitter from Feb. 9-10.

Your papers will be collected by Paolo for S15 and Mark for S14. Thanks.

HUCOMIN HW FOR FEB 17

This is an individual assignment to be submitted on Feb. 17.

1. Differentiate explicit HCI and implicit HCI.
2. Describe the context environment of HCI in terms of physical, user and virtual.
3. What is a user-centered design? Cite an example.
4. What are the methodologies commonly applied in understanding user-centered design? 5. Cite at least two and explain each methodology.

Be ready for a discussion on this assignment.