The document summarizes the results of a heuristic evaluation of the Instagram mobile app. The evaluation assessed 10 usability heuristics and found violations of 3 heuristics: consistency and standards due to an inconsistency with chat shortcuts, error prevention because errors did not provide sufficient information, and recognition rather than recall since some information required memorization. Overall, the evaluation found Instagram to have good usability with clear icons and layouts, feedback on uploads, and intuitive metaphors.

1. HCI
AddHeuristic Evaluation on Instagram
Tasmiya Muddaser FA15-BSCS-209
Qurratulain Mushtaq FA15-BSCS-200
Sana Aslam FA15-BSCS-199
Asma Naz FA15-BSCS-207
Zahid Waqas FA15-BSCS-208

2. Heuristic Evaluations
App : Instagram

3. 1. .Visibility of System Status
The user should be informed of what’s happening in the system. Feedback is important
to engage with the user.
Response time is also very important, the user feels frustrated if it has to wait a lot for an
operation to complete.
The Instagram’s progress bar when uploading a photo or a video keeps the user informed
of the state of the system.
Heuristic Violated :No

4. 2. Match between System and the Real World
The app speaks the user language. It’s easy to read and the platform uses
common words.
We can use metaphors to achieve this. One example is Instagram’s profile menu
where is we can easily understand what “Followers” and “Following” means.
Heuristic Violated :no

5. 3. Consistency and Standards
The principle of least surprise. Has to hold standards related to wording, color,
size, position, and order. Instagram has a simple and clear button design all over
the platform. Colors are used consistently.
Add chat shortcut inconsistency
heuristic violated :yes

6. 4.User Control and Freedom
You should allow the user to wander
around the app.
There has to be clearly marked exits,
cancel and undo operations. Users
should not be trapped by the interface.
One easy example is the option of
deleting a post, a comment or remove a
like from a post in Instagram
heuristic violated: no

7. 5. Error Prevention
Instagram makes it apparent when something
has failed to upload and the reason why it
failed.
The example below shows that the photo did
not upload because there was no Internet
connection.
Heuristic Violated : yes

8. 6.Recognition Rather than Recall
All information needed should be visible.
The user has to use less memory load as possible. For example, when searching
for a friend or a hashtag in the Instagram app, you don’t have to know exactly
how the hashtag is spelled or how exactly it’s spelled his username.
heuristic violated :yes

9. 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
Instagram has the option to see a post in the
“Explore” menu without going to another
menu. Just press and hold down the post and
the app zooms in a preview of it.
heuristic violated :no

10. 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design
Keep it simple, Stupid (KISS)! The app
design should be clear and simple.
Less is more.
The Instagram app has a really good
icon set.
Every icon has a clear meaning.
There are a lot of white space, giving
the app a minimalist overall design and
a well organized layout.
heuristic violated :no

11. 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and
Recover from Errors
When something that should not
happen, happens, the error messages
should be constructive, polite and non-
blaming.
heuristic violated:no

12. 10. Help and Documentation
If some task is not easily understandable you should attach some additional
information to the system.
Documentation should be contextual, searchable and concise.
heuristic violated :no

13. THANK
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