Nasa Demo

Siderean NASA Demo Process Commentary and UI Modifications

Proposal

Date: January 23, 2006

NASA Demo Process Commentary & UI Modifications Proposal

© 2006 Siderean Software CONFIDENTIAL Sykes, J. Ben of 9

1 DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................3 1.1.1 About This Document ............................................................................................................ 3

2 USER CONSIDERATIONS ...........................................................................4 2.1.1 Simple Questions – POV the Creator. ..................................................................................... 4

3 OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................5 3.1.1 Mission / Goals ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.2 Possible Issues ....................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.3 Solutions................................................................................................................................ 8



1 DISCLAIMER

1.1.1 About This Document This is a brief top level look at the current NASA/Siderean demo, and the “POSSIBLE” adjustments that may make the overall experience a better and more streamlined one. Given more time and information (ie. persona etc.), a more accurate/detailed document and or model could be drafted.

Please note: this document is a sample proposal presented during a specific phase of applicant review.



2 USER CONSIDERATIONS

2.1.1 Simple Questions – POV the Creator. Generally, the 3 basic concerns a user has when they arrive at a page are:

1. Where am I? 2. What’s here? 3. Where can I go?

Admin Question One: Is the above clearly conveyed to the user? Is it obvious? How can it be made more obvious?

Admin Question Two: Can the target persona navigate the site? Are they able to quickly find what they are looking for (drill down) and then begin searching under a new category from the beginning easily (quick return to top level)?

Admin Question Three: Is the user clearly informed about all the features, simple and complex, available?

Admin Question Four: How do we want to make a user feel when they first come to our site? This is more important than one might realize.



3 OVERVIEW

3.1.1 Mission / Goals Any web application/site can be divided into six aspects of focus. The below is fairly standard. The specific analysis of the before and after WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS DOC.

IE> MISSION 1 – CONTENT BEFORE MISSION 1 CONTENT AFTER.

Mission 1 Content: To ensure that the content displayed on the site is engaging, relevant and appropriate for the audience. Do we have a voice and a point of view?, and are we leaving the user wanting more? Even for a search application? You better believe it.

Mission 2 – Structure and Navigation: To ensure that we provide intuitive and transparent navigation, which allows the user to get or find what they want quickly, and which exposes the full depth of the site or application.

Mission 3 – Visual Design: To ensure that the design communicates a relative and visual experience.

Mission 4 – Functionality: To ensure that the users experience is center stage, and that the technology behind it is invisible.

Mission 5 – Interactivity: To ensure that the interactivity of the site allows the user to both give and receive, and entices the user to participate.

Mission 6 – Overall Experience: To ensure that the user has a positive experience, and they leave not feeling the experience was too advanced.

3.1.2 Possible Issues

1. FIRST TIME USER EXPERIENCE: “Playing Dumb” – First Time User Scenario

Upon arriving at the NASA Demo, my first thought is that this information is not for me, but rather for someone else.. maybe a scientist. However, because I am curious, It is only by clicking on one of the links that I realize that it is a way to find things.. but what? It is not exactly clear to me as to what kind of information is displayed as a result. Are the results manuscripts, documents, videos.. I don’t really know. I’m not sure what I can find here. Again, I think.. wait.. this is for someone else who has some background prior knowledge as to what this site or web app is for. I’m not exactly sure what link in the results I am supposed to click on, as there are so many.. well the top one is bolded.. so maybe that’s the right choice. The links seem to be broken..hmm

How do they feel?: How do you think the user is feeling right about now?

What will they do next?: Most likely they will either leave or start from the beginning.

I decide to click on a few more categories on the left navigation to see if the results vary at all. Visually the results all remain the same. Now I’m lost and either leave or return to the beginning. I decide to return to the beginning of the site, the directory looking page, but I can’t seem to find the “back” or “home” buttons that I am so accustomed to seeing… but then I see the “Start Over” link hidden amongst a bunch of bolded text on the left. Start Over? I’m not really sure what I started. At this point, I either use the browser back button, or the take a chance and click on the “Start Over” link. Ah, sure enough the “Start Over” link takes me back to the beginning.

Okay, so I’m at the beginning again, and see 219,958 items, and also see numbers corresponding to the links… now because I have prior knowledge from Google and Yahoo, I know that the number “PROBABLY” represent the number of results relative to the specific link.

1A. Need a header directed at the user and telling them what can be done.. ie: Welcome! Locate documents.

1B. Text should be displayed below the carrots and just above the displayed links.. above link and above numbers describing what the content represents.



2. DESIGN & LAYOUT:

2A. The NASA logo has very little room to breathe as it is smashed between the browser border the top blue bar.

2B. The Siderean or Seamark logos are no where to be found. Even the “Powered By: Seamark” line could include some sort of icon graphic.

2C. The module collapse/expand button is hardly viewable, and definitely not intuitive. 2D. The “sort by” carrots are hardly intuitive, the carrot above the numbers looks as if it is grayed

out. 2E. The “by collection” cannot be viewed at first page load unless the user scrolls. 2F. All of the search categories are left justified, while the header bars are centered, leaving an

awkward grid layout. Probably better centered. 2G. The visual cue (rollover link underline) is unintuitive to incite the user to click. Could have a

small icon or bullet.. or even have it underlined already like the “more” links. 2H. The “more” links (6 more) would probably be best replaced with (6 more Information Types) 2I. Might be nice to add some texture to the header bars what with a bevel. 2J. The displayed results on the results page could be more visually separated with a light colored

bg. 2K. I would probably add “search” in front of all the header titles.. change “by Subject” to “Search by

Subject” 2L. The numerical page navigation at the top and bottom of each page, should include the word

“Pages” before each number. 2M. The “Sort By” functionality needs to have a more distinct visual cue as to sorting. If a user sorts

it is not clear as to what just happened. 2N. It needs to be clear that I am searching under a specific guise, i.e.: by Category, and if I click on

a date, I need to know that my results are now categorized by date. 2O. The return home link is in a bad spot, and needs to redefined.

2A 2B

2C

2D

2E

2F

2G

2H

2I

1A

1B



2J

2K

2L

2O



3.1.3 Solutions The below screen comps are modified to address most of the above issues.

Collapsed Modules



PLEASE NOTE: This is an extremely brief document only, and leaves much to be desired!

Nasa Demo

Technology

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