Types of Evaluation for Interfaces in Programming Tools

Types of Evaluation for Interfaces in Programming Tools
If you're a programmer or a software developer, you know that the interface can make or break your application. So, how do you evaluate your interface? Here are seven types of approaches you can take to evaluate the user interface of your programming tools.
by Jaloliddin Rayimnazarov
Task-Based Evaluation
What is it?
Task-based evaluation is a method of evaluating the usability of a user interface by measuring how well users can complete specific tasks.
How is it done?
Participants are given a list of tasks to perform on the interface and are asked to complete them while the evaluator tracks their progress and collects data.
What are the advantages?
This evaluation allows a clear understanding of how users interact with the interface and will expose the strengths and weaknesses of the interface.
User-Based Evaluation
Methods
Description
Advantages
Surveys
Collecting feedback on UI from users through online or paper questionnaires.
Easily accessible. The results provide information about the users who participate.
Interviews
Face-to-face discussion with users about their experience with the UI.
Allows direct communication with the user and provides detailed feedback and suggestions.
Usability testing
Users are asked to complete tasks while being observed by the evaluator.
Provides first-hand insight into how users interact with the UI and can quickly identify usability issues.
Expert Inspection
Expert inspection is a method that identifies usability issues in the user interface through an evaluation by an expert. Experts can include usability specialists, designers, and developers who possess extensive knowledge in the context of the system and the needs of the users.
Heuristic Evaluation
1
What is it?
Heuristic evaluation evaluates the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of the UI using a set of predefined heuristics, or usability guidelines.
2
How is it done?
The evaluator applies a set of established heuristics to the interface and proposes design solutions, considering the heuristics' violations.
3
What are the advantages?
It is highly effective and cost-effective, as usability experts can evaluate interfaces independently and rapidly highlight design issues.
Cognitive Walkthrough
A maze that represents the complexity of mental processes.
A person contemplating a difficult problem.
Cognitive Walkthrough is a method that examines the user experience of the interface by modelling the problem-solving process that users encounter as they interact with the UI.
Comparative Evaluation
What is it?
A method that compares different interfaces using the same criteria.
How is it done?
The same set of tasks are performed on different interfaces, and the users' interactions are observed and measured.
What are the advantages?
Comparative evaluation is an effective method for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a design when compared to other designs, providing targeted feedback for further improvements.
Approaches to Interface Evaluation
Task-based evaluation: Evaluating how well users can complete specific tasks.
User-based evaluation: Collecting feedback on UI from users through surveys, interviews, or usability testing.
Expert inspection: Conducting evaluations by usability specialists, designers, and developers who possess extensive knowledge in the context of the system and the needs of the users.
Heuristic evaluation: Assessing the interface against usability guidelines.
Cognitive Walkthrough: Examining the cognitive processes required to use the interface.
Comparative evaluation: Comparing different interface designs using the same criteria.