Assignment Paintbox 1.C Paintbox, CSCI 6900

Human Computer Interaction (Spring 2000)

Student Name: Boanerges Aleman-Meza

Next is the applet PaintBox (you need a java 1.2 enabled browser)

you can also try to run it being logged into gemini with the following:
gemini: appletviewer http://www.cs.uga.edu/~boanerg/csci6900/project1c/PaintBox.html
It should also work from any computer with Java 1.2 installed and connected to Internet

This image file was saved using the standard for the class: k0.mmm.

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Usability Analysis

Method Used: Observation

3 different individuals used the PaintBox application. They did not have an explanation of how to use it.
The users tried the application, drawing some figures, changing their size, moving them, etc.
Notes were taken when the user had difficulties to do something
At the end each user was asked for comments to improve it
After doing initial changes the new features were tested for correctness

The users tried all the features and in total the following usability problems were detected:

1.- When dragging to resize a figure up to a very small shape, it was lost because the resizing algorithm was taking into consideration the previous set of values being dragged
2.- Resizing was only possible using the down-right corner
3.- There was no more information about what each Icon did
4.- Some of the image file icons were different of the image that was drawn
5.- At the start up of the application, the actual color was not selected
6.- The polygon had a bug that did throw a null pointer exception in a very specific case

How were the usability problems corrected?

1.The resizing of the shape is now possible with the functionality of resize it without losing the shape
2.The resizing is possible using the four corners of the selected shape
3.The icons have now a "tool tip" message that gives extra information about its use, and the status bar gives extra information
4.Now all the images icons reflect exactly what the image is going to be drawn
5.The actual color is shown at the beginning if the application
6.The polygon exception was corrected

What things were added?

- there exists a status bar which gives extra information to the user
- the file options "open" and "save" do not appear when the PaintBox is ran as an applet
- it is possible to use images when the applet is loaded using "appletviewer http://www.cs.uga.edu/~boanerg/csci6900/project1c/"
- the status bar gives different information depending on which figure is being drawn and if is it being moved, resized or selected
- in general, users liked the application and they said it was really easy to use

Successful aspects of the first version

- in general, all icons are easy to read because they are images representing the operation to do
- the selection of the color is done with only one click and the user always can see what the actual color is
- the user has always feedback while drawing the image because of "rubberbanding"
- the shape of the mouse cursor changes accordingly when drawing, resizing, selecting and moving a figure
delete, send to back , bring to front buttons are enabled only when a figure is selected
- feedback to the user about which figure is selected is given
- the arrangement of icons on the screen is clear and clean
- the user can always see what the actual drawing tool he is using
- XOR mode when drawing enhances the rubberbanding capability

Final notes

- the new features of save/open a file of figures work correctly (they did not work when running it with appletviewer)
- there's information given to the user when there is any error during I/O operations
- standard button images were used for the save/file options
- the PaintBox works correctly as an applet and as an application