Heuristic evaluation for artificial realities tool and its application for the evaluation of educational technologies

Abstract

Recent developments in usability evaluation have centered upon the formulation of quick-fire methodologies and tools for purposes of rapid prototyping and redesign specification. This paper presents an overview of the Heuristic Evaluation for Artificial Realities’ Tool (HEART) that consolidates many of the philosophies and techniques of these methods, stimulating a template for effective and efficient report authoring. HEART has been conceived to support evaluation for technologies of mobile Augmented and Virtual Reality systems and their applications within education and training. The tool has a threefold purpose: in providing guidance towards the initial design supporting generic user needs, evaluation in accordance to severity and in providing a summative and quasi-quantitative analysis of the results. The paper presents an example application of the tool for the mobile Augmented Reality CONNECT system, a science education technology