CMSC 198G - Spring 2008
Prof Guimbretiere

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction


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Homework #2: Studying an everyday task using storyboarding (100 points)
(Due 02/14/08)

Consider an everyday task such as (but not limited to):

  • Ordering food at a restaurant;

  • Booking a flight online;

  • Doing your laundry;

  • Ordering a book online;

The goal of this homework is for you to better study how this task is performed currently and propose a way to improve the user's experience while performing this task.

  1. (20 points) Observe several (at least 4) real life instances of people performing this task, being careful to identify the kinds of difficulties users encounter.  Briefly describe the task you picked and your general strategy to observe how people are currently carrying out this task.  For each observation, describe the context in which you observed the task (i.e. location, time of the day, and so on).

  2. (20 points) Using a 6 or 8 frame layout, create a storyboard describing how the task is performed.  Be sure to include a short script explaining what is going in for each frame.

  3. (20 points) Identify the most common problem users encounter while performing this task.  Be sure to explain how you reached this conclusion.  Illustrate how this problem occurs by creating a new storyboard.  Be sure to include a short script explaining what is going on in each frame.

  4. (20 points) Identify the root of the problem and then explain how it could be solved using current technology.  Be sure to include how to reach this new design, and the reason why you think it will address the problem presented in question 3.  Grading will take into account the ingenuity of your answer.

  5. (20 points) Create a new storyboard describing how the task will take place with your design in place.  Be sure to include a short script explaining what is going on in each frame.