Enhanced Cognitive Walkthrough: Development of the Cognitive Walkthrough Method to Better Predict, Identify, and Present Usability Problems. (9th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bligård, Lars-Ola; Osvalder, Anna-Lisa
• Other Names: Eklundh Kerstin S. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in human-computer interaction. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-10-09
• Subjects: Human-computer interaction -- Periodicals; Human-computer interaction; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/931698
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-5893

Abstract

Abstract : To avoid use errors when handling medical equipment, it is important to develop products with a high degree of usability. This can be achieved by performing usability evaluations in the product development process to detect and mitigate potential usability problems. A commonly used method is cognitive walkthrough (CW), but this method shows three weaknesses: poor high-level perspective, insufficient categorisation of detected usability problems, and difficulties in overviewing the analytical results. This paper presents a further development of CW with the aim of overcoming its weaknesses. The new method is called enhanced cognitive walkthrough (ECW). ECW is a proactive analytical method for analysis of potential usability problems. The ECW method has been employed to evaluate user interface designs of medical equipment such as home-care ventilators, infusion pumps, dialysis machines, and insulin pumps. The method has proved capable of identifying several potential use problems in designs.