Inspection based evaluations

Usability inspection methods (UIMs) remain an important discount method for usability evaluation. They can be applied to any designed artefact during development: a paper prototype, a storyboard, a working prototype (e.g., in Macromedia Flash™ or in Microsoft PowerPoint™), tested production software, or an installed public release. They are analytical evaluation methods, which involve no typical end users, unlike empirical methods such as user testing. UIMs only require availability of a designed artefact and trained analysts. Thus, evaluation is possible with low resources (hence discount methods). Although risks arise from low resources, well-informed practices disproportionately improve analyst performance, improving cost-benefit ratios. This chapter introduces UIMs, covering six and one further method, and provides approaches to assessing existing, emerging and future UIMs and their effective uses

A Napier88 Programmer Study

This report describes a study of Napier88 programmers with two aims. Firstly, to identify new tools that are required for Napier88 programmers and to provide initial input into the design of those tools. The second aim is to get feedback on the quality of two existing software visualisations for Napier88