1. Introduction
Usability and responsiveness is crucial in software design. According to ISO 9241-210, usability is the “degree to which a product or system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use” [1]. In particular, the software interface should promote learnability, understandability, and operability [2]. Responsiveness corresponds to the amount of time required to complete an action after the user gives an input. This document outlines the strengths of three different geographic information systems softwares in terms of usability and responsiveness. These strengths are sources of inspiration for the proposal part of this document, which discusses …show more content…
3 below.
Fig. 3: The help function shows instructions for how to use the “My Route” function [6]. 2.2 Transportation Planning GIS: Emme
Emme is a GIS software tool by INRO which is used for transportation planning, travel demand forecasting, and environmental analysis. INRO claims that Emme focuses on “true model transparency, [...] easy interactive use and sophisticated scripting” [7]. Emme’s main features include mouse gesture navigation, multitasking, a toolbox search bar, the Logbook, and Python support. Each of these features has characteristics which are usable and responsive.
Firstly, the Desktop seen in Fig. 4 uses drag-drop and point-click mouse gestures to navigate through maps, charts, and reports. According to User Interfaces for GIS: Opinions, Observations, and Questions, “point-and-click icon based selection mechanisms” are more user-friendly [8]. This makes sense because “[t]he interface must bridge the gap between the very concrete operations of the computer and the abstract conceptualizations of the user” [8].
Fig. 4: The Desktop interface seen here is navigated using mouse …show more content…
Testing Metrics
We will know that our design works well if we satisfy all the goals for each metric. Metrics 1, 3, and 4 will verify success, as these are crucial to usability and responsiveness.
From the State of Art Review and multiple research sources, the features which make a software most usable and responsive are features which are intuitive and visual. Metrics derived from these objectives can be used to evaluate the proposed features, as well as propose new features. Currently, the proposed features to include in the mapping software are mouse gestures, multitasking, use of icons, and function buttons. The simplicity of the planned functions will increase the responsiveness of the completed software [17].
We believe that our proposed features meet the requirements of usability and responsiveness. Our next steps are to begin implementation and add additional usability features if necessary. However, we plan to limit overall complexity to preserve responsivenss and to avoid overwhelming the user with unneccessary
Usability and responsiveness is crucial in software design. According to ISO 9241-210, usability is the “degree to which a product or system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use” [1]. In particular, the software interface should promote learnability, understandability, and operability [2]. Responsiveness corresponds to the amount of time required to complete an action after the user gives an input. This document outlines the strengths of three different geographic information systems softwares in terms of usability and responsiveness. These strengths are sources of inspiration for the proposal part of this document, which discusses …show more content…
3 below.
Fig. 3: The help function shows instructions for how to use the “My Route” function [6]. 2.2 Transportation Planning GIS: Emme
Emme is a GIS software tool by INRO which is used for transportation planning, travel demand forecasting, and environmental analysis. INRO claims that Emme focuses on “true model transparency, [...] easy interactive use and sophisticated scripting” [7]. Emme’s main features include mouse gesture navigation, multitasking, a toolbox search bar, the Logbook, and Python support. Each of these features has characteristics which are usable and responsive.
Firstly, the Desktop seen in Fig. 4 uses drag-drop and point-click mouse gestures to navigate through maps, charts, and reports. According to User Interfaces for GIS: Opinions, Observations, and Questions, “point-and-click icon based selection mechanisms” are more user-friendly [8]. This makes sense because “[t]he interface must bridge the gap between the very concrete operations of the computer and the abstract conceptualizations of the user” [8].
Fig. 4: The Desktop interface seen here is navigated using mouse …show more content…
Testing Metrics
We will know that our design works well if we satisfy all the goals for each metric. Metrics 1, 3, and 4 will verify success, as these are crucial to usability and responsiveness.
From the State of Art Review and multiple research sources, the features which make a software most usable and responsive are features which are intuitive and visual. Metrics derived from these objectives can be used to evaluate the proposed features, as well as propose new features. Currently, the proposed features to include in the mapping software are mouse gestures, multitasking, use of icons, and function buttons. The simplicity of the planned functions will increase the responsiveness of the completed software [17].
We believe that our proposed features meet the requirements of usability and responsiveness. Our next steps are to begin implementation and add additional usability features if necessary. However, we plan to limit overall complexity to preserve responsivenss and to avoid overwhelming the user with unneccessary