Usability, Engagement Development of a Digital Usability Laboratory in a Higher Education Environment

摘要

The paper provides an illustration of the complexities of developing a usability laboratory for mainly undergraduate and some external sources within a university environment. It also examines how undergraduate computing students engage with the concept of usability evaluation and with digital usability recording/analysis equipment; this is done in the context of a typical HCI module and when working on a final year independent project. General engagement, lab configurations, equipment and recording/analysis tools are discussed. Student engagement with the lab facilities is considered to be good and the lab is seen as an additional means of improving student engagement with usability evaluation and its practicalities. Brief reference is also made to the use of the lab for outside consultancy.