The document summarizes the process of conducting a heuristic evaluation of the "Be the Change" radio website. Key points: - Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method where evaluators judge a user interface against recognized usability principles (the "ten heuristics"). - An evaluation of the BC radio site was conducted, identifying several usability problems related to navigation, flexibility, consistency and providing feedback. - Problems were prioritized based on their severity and impact on usability, with major issues like non-working links and unclear status feedback given high priority for fixing.

1. Heuristic Evaluation

2. What is Heuristic Evaluation?
Heuristic evaluation is the ‘discount’ usability
engineering method developed by usability
consultant Jacob Nielsen.
As compared to formalized user testing, this
evaluation method proves fast and easy in
discovering numerous usability problems, as it does
not require access to real users or specialized labs
or equipment.

3. What is Heuristic Evaluation?
1 Visibility of system status.
2 Match between system and the real world.
3 User control and freedom.
4 Consistency and standards.
5 Error prevention.
6 Recognition rather than recall.
7 Flexibility and efficiency of use
.
8 Aesthetic and minimalist design.
9 Help users recognize, diagnose, and
recover from errors.
10 Help and documentation.
Nielsen’s Ten Heuristics

4. Product Info
Who made it?
“Be the Change” Radio was started by a
close group of musicians.
What for?
The web radio station was setup to
promote the vast Indian musical talent.
What is offered?
The website boasts of various music
genres like heavy metal, rock, funk,
regional music, various music festivals
and music channels.
Who offers it?
The bands that featured are mostly
fresh and are not of main stream
(Bollywood) music of India.

5. Our Goal
Broad Goal
To prepare a prioritized list of usability
problems.
Main Focus
This evaluation focused on the core
functionality of BC radio interface,
i.e. playing, selection, navigation and
sharing songs.

6. Process
Interviews
Spoke to users and a cofounder of BC
Radio.
Usability Goalsetting Tool
As per the interviews, filled the UGT.
Problems
First time users, users who had been
exposed to the product a little earlier
and users who frequently used the
product carried out tasks and listed
problems, doubts and expectations from
the product.
Heuristic Evaluation
The problems were then viewed in light
of the 10 Heuristic Principles and UGT
forms.

7. Prioritization of Problems
Severity Rating Definition
Cosmetic problem
only: need not be
fixed unless extra
time is available on
project
Usability ca-
tastrophe: imper-
ative to fix this
before product
can be releasedMajor usability
problem: impor-
tant to fix, so
should be given
high priority
Minor usability
problem: fixing
this should be
given low priority
I don't agree that
this is a usability
problem at all
0 1 2 3 4

8. “What do the first 2 icons represent?”

9. “Can't find homepage link.”
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 4: User control and freedom
Users often choose system functions by mistake and will need a clearly marked "emergency exit" to leave
the unwanted state without having to go through an extended dialogue. Support undo and redo.

10. “I like this artist. I want to know more about him.”
User can't explore more about song/artist easily.
A link was expected, the tiny facebook page link went unnoticed.

11. “Who are they?”
About Us content is vague and fails to convey information about the
purpose or the makers of the site.

12. The links of "Business Dev", "Design & Social Media", "Artist
Relation", and "Web Coding" are not working.
There isn’t any indication in the design show them as dead links.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 1: Visibility of system status
The system should always keep users informed about what is going on,
through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

13. “I’m interested exclusively in Heavy metal.”
Categories are inflexible to user needs.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 7: Flexibility and efficiency of use
Accelerators -- unseen by the novice user -- may often speed up the interaction for the expert user such
that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent
actions.

14. “I’m interested exclusively in Hevy metal.”
Categories are very broad and inflexible to user needs.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 7: Flexibility and efficiency of use
Accelerators -- unseen by the novice user -- may often speed up the interaction for the expert user such
that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent
actions.
“I’ like a little of everything. Please surprise me”
FM won‘t start unless user chooses a category of music.
But playlist stick to only one category.
Defies the serendipity of radio.

15. “What’s going on? Has it started? Or what?”
Page loading takes time but users don’t know the system’s status.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 1: Visibility of system status
The system should always keep users informed about what is going on,
through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

16. “Oh, yeah bhi hai? I didn’t notice it.”
Even after using it for two days user’s missed the navigate accordian.

17. Explore by genre
Are the same as the categories on the hompage, but users are unable
to make the connection due to inconsistancy in labelling and icons.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 4:Consistency and standards
Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing.
Follow platform conventions.

18. “Which one’s the name of the band and which one’s the
name of the track?”

19. “There’s this awesome track I heard on this radio, but how to
search for it now?”
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 4:Consistency and standards
Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing.
Follow platform conventions.

20. “I don’t exactly remember the name of that band...”(search for band by entering its
name on the URL)
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 6: Recognition rather than recall
Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing. Follow platform conventions.
Neilson’s Heuristic Principle 9: Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from
errors
Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no codes), precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.

21. Thank you!