HumanSaga Heuristic Evaluation: Compiled Results

Key: Heuristic violation (Evaluator ID - severity ranking)

Search Results Page:

Redesign top of results page - put search specification at top left (AZ - 2.5)

Search criteria: word WHEN is repeated (if they specify a when) (AZ - 1)

People don't know what to expect when clicking on inline links in timelines: get new timeline, limit scope of existing timeline, or get encyclopedia article. Clarify. (AZ - 2) (JL - 2)

More - Less detail - confusing; unclear what it refers to. (AZ - 2) (MS - 1)

Timeline title / criteria should be closer to top of timeline. Also, remove extra <HR>separating. (MS - 3)

Pre-fill the "New timeline" search boxes with the current search criteria, to allow modification without re-typing. (JL - 2)

Front Page - General:

Explanation of contents of database - what type of things to look for - needed right up front (MS - 2) (JL - 2) (HJ)

Front page doesn't provide any context or information about the system (HJ)

Front Page - Layout:

Word "timeline" is not necessarily intuitive; maybe provide an explanation. Also, if we're going to use the word "timeline" as the search results heading, we should use the same word on the search/browse form. (MS - 2)

"This date in history" - only one link to more - don't also make the headline a link (unclear if they're the same or different) (MS - 1)

Home page - menu at top should be bolded (MS - 1)

Front Page - Browse Function:

"Browse" results - title unclear ("Browsing in: ..."). Makes it hard to know what happened / where you are. Instead, try something like "Timeline:..." (MS - 3)

Browse section on home page - layout is inconsistent: only "Authors" doesn't show sub-categories, but goes to a separate page. (MS - 1) (KN - 2)

Browse category selection: page for author names [ http://169.229.55.14/test/browse.php3?c=1000005 ] doesn't tell you where you are or what you just selected (KN - 3)

Use of the term "categories" is inconsistent with user expectations - When you select "Authors", "Authors" is the category; individual names are the members of that category (KN - 2)

Advanced Search:

Explanation/example of "merge" function. (AZ - 1.5)

"Merged search" - unclear what can be merged. (MS - 0)

Advanced Search - reformat to use less white space (KN - 1)

Relationship between Advanced Search and Merged Search - unclear from graphic design. Are they equal weight, or is one a subset of the other? (KN - 2)

Basic Search link on advanced search page might be misread as the title of the first section of the page (KN - 3)

Advanced Search - text describing the goals of a merged search would be helpful - how and why. (HJ)

Advanced Search - expecting a single box that accepted longer, Boolean searches. (HJ)

Error Message(s):

Confusing error message when using quotes. (AZ - 4)

Zero results Error message - put in standard search results framework, with previous searches, new search form, etc; also, repeat what the failed search criteria were. (AZ - 2) (MS - 2) (KN - 2)

Searching for a date with slashes gives a strange error message. Same thing for invalid ranges. (JL - 2)

Help:

Help - too many boxy lines and separators (KN - 1)

All Pages:

Remove "Advanced Search" from top menu - put only with search box. (AZ - 3)

Help button next to search boxes - linked to specific section of help page. (AZ - 2)

Search form - "Where" - provide examples of content - is it years, months, full date...? (JL - 2)

"Where" = "nationality of author" confusing; non-intuitive. (JL - 3)

Name of previous timeline: use [a shortened version of] the actual search criteria, rather than just numbering in order. (JL - 3)

Hemingway is a who, not a what. (KN - 1)

Small type is hard to read (HJ)

Expecting more graphics - pictures, maps, etc. (HJ)