Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method where one or more experts examine an interface and judge its compliance with recognized usability principles, called heuristics. The experts inspect the interface, identify any usability problems it may contain, and provide recommendations for improving the interface. The results are documented in a report that includes a description of any issues found on each page, which usability principles were violated, and a suggested fix along with a severity rating. Common usability principles that are evaluated include whether an interface is easy to use and learn, communicates effectively, avoids errors, and has clear system status.

1. Heuristic Evaluation

2. What is Heuristic Evaluation?
How is H.E. done?
Examples of H.E.
Usability principles

3. What is Heuristic Evaluation?
1 or more experts
+
1 interface
+
inspection / critique
=
Report

4. How is H.E. done?
Principle
Issue Rec. Severity
violated
Refer to Make a specific
Describe issue Assign a
principle that suggestion for
Screenshot severity rating
was violated change

5. Examples of H.E.

6. Usability principles
Usability principles Design principles
!

7. Usability principles Design principles
Ensure interface is... Ensure interface...
Easy to use Communicates effectively
Easy to learn Looks pleasant
Not confusing
Not disorienting

8. Nielsen’s 10 heuristics
1.Visibility of system status 6. Recognition > recall
2. Match between system &
7. Flexibility & efficiency
real world
8. Aesthetics & minimalist
3. User control & freedom
design
4. Consistency & standards 9. Error diagnosis & recovery
5. Error prevention 10. Help & documentation

9. What is Heuristic Evaluation?
How is H.E. done?
Examples of H.E.
Usability principles

10. Writing the Report

11. Writing the Report
I. Title page
II. Executive summary
III. Introduction: Purpose; Product description
IV. Methods
V. Results
VI. References