This report provides information about the usability test conducted regarding instructions for viewing

storm data on the Intellicast interactive weather map. The instructions provide an overview of the
features of the online map, as well as guidance to view radar and storm tracks in order to find areas with
a high risk of lightning. After performing a usability test with three participants, the instructions were
adjusted to improve clarity and visual design.

Test Objectives
These are the three primary objectives of this usability test:

 Find errors or unclear text in the attached instructions

 Check whether the included visuals are appropriate and helpful
 Ensure the instructions are as comprehensive as necessary while staying simple and easy to
follow

Test Results
Areas of Strength
The biggest area of strength for the instructions were their clarity and simplicity. All usability
participants said that the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The screenshots were another area
of strength, with all participants noting they found them helpful.

Areas for Improvement

The use of white space in the document was the primary area for improvement. The original instructions
took up a lot of space because the placement of the visual aids was in line with the rest of the
document, and many of them were tall vertical screenshots.

Questionnaire
1. Did you find the instructions to be clear and easy to follow? Y/N Formatted: Font: 11 pt
2. Were the visual aids helpful? Y/N
3. How would you rate these instructions on a scale from 1-5?
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or
3. The results for the closed ended questions were all very positive responses. Each participant Formatted: Normal, Indent: Left: 0.25", No bullets or
rated the instructions highly. numbering

4. What improvements would you make to these instructions?

5. Would you change anything about the visual aids? If so, what?
6. Would you change anything about the design of the document? If so, what?

6. The participants mostly suggested changes to the formatting and spacing of the document. Formatted: Normal, No bullets or numbering
Closed-Ended Question Results
1. All three participants answered yes to this question. Formatted: Font: 11 pt
2. Once again, all three participants answered yes.
3. Two participants rated these instructions with a four, and one with a five.

Open-Ended Responses
Participant 1:
4. I would not make any changes to the instructions, they were really easy to follow and explained
things well.
5. For the first few screenshots, I would include a little bit more of the menu to make it easier to
find the desired button in context.
6. Reduce the amount of white space by putting the screenshots next to the text in two columns,
rather than below it.

Participant 2:
4. No, the instructions were clear and easy to follow.
5. I would maybe put some of the long pictures beside the text instead of under it because it
creates too much white space around those pictures.
6. No, the design of the document is good.

Participant 3:
4. Maybe make it clear that the overlays and stuff work differently from the location that is
selected with the cursor.
5. Make some of them smaller or move them to reduce the white space for the big images.
6. You could change the color scheme to be something other than the default Word scheme.

Recommendations
Overall, the primary issue with the instructions was the location of the visual aids and the amount of
white space in the document. All three participants noticed that the larger images took up a lot of space
in the instructions and recommended moving them to the side of the text to make the instructions
appear more concise. Another good recommendation was to include a bit more of the menu in the small
screenshots (Layers, Legends) in order to provide more context and help the user find the button more
quickly.
Appendix A - Original Instructions

Overview
The Intellicast Weather Active Map allows you to view specific weather data across the world through a
selection of overlays and imagery. The map’s visuals are highly customizable, with a huge selection of
map layers and other features. This set of instructions will guide you through the process of selecting
the appropriate imagery and overlays to see areas that are vulnerable to thunderstorms and lightning
strikes.

Getting Started
1. Go to the following URL: http://www.intellicast.com/local/wxmap.aspx
2. Click and drag the mouse to move the center cursor to a desired location.
3. Use the scroll wheel or the zoom bar on the left to adjust the zoom.
4. Once you have navigated to a location, the Weather View box on the right will display
data about that location.

Customizing the Map

Imagery
5. Click the layers button to view a dropdown list of customization options.
6. Choose a few different options in the Weather Imagery section to see how it works.

7. Choose the Radar button to view storm data.

Overlay
8. Try a few different options in the Weather Overlays section.

9. Click the check box next to Storm Tracks to add overlays for storm locations and
direction.

Legends
10. Click the Legends button to expand a legend for all active imagery and overlays.

11. The Legends panel will provide insight into the meanings of the active overlays.
 12. For the Storm Tracks, the green circles indicate strong storms which have a chance of
lightning strikes. Moving storms have an arrow indicating direction.

13. Darker colors on the radar indicate heavier rain and storms.

Timeline
14. The timeline panel along the bottom allows you to view past or projected data.

15. Drag the handle button to change the time and date.
16. Select a speed on the right side.
17. Press play to watch the data play out in time.
Appendix B - Revised Instructions

Overview
The Intellicast Weather Active Map allows you to view specific weather data across the world through a
selection of overlays and imagery. The map’s visuals are highly customizable, with a huge selection of
map layers and other features. This set of instructions will guide you through the process of selecting
the appropriate imagery and overlays to see areas that are vulnerable to thunderstorms and lightning
strikes.

Getting Started
1. Go to the following URL: http://www.intellicast.com/local/wxmap.aspx
2. Click and drag the mouse to move the center
cursor to a desired location.
3. Use the scroll wheel or the zoom bar on the left to
adjust the zoom.
3.
4. Once you have navigated to a location, the Weather
View box on the right will display data about that location.
The selected location does not affect the map customization
in the next section.

Customizing the Map

Imagery
5.4. Click the layers button to view a dropdown list of
customization options.
6.5. Choose a few different options in the Weather Imagery
section to see how it works.
7.6. Choose the Radar button to view storm data.
Overlay
8.7. Try a few different options in the Weather Overlays section.
9.8. Click the check box next to Storm Tracks to add overlays for
storm locations and direction.

Legends
10.9. Click the Legends button to expand a legend for all active
imagery and overlays.
11.10. The Legends panel will provide insight into the meanings of
the active overlaysRead the legends panel to understand the meanings of the overlays.

12. For the Storm Tracks, the green circles indicate strong storms which have a chance of lightning
strikes. Moving storms have an arrow indicating direction.

13. Darker colors on the radar indicate heavier rain and storms.

Timeline
14. The timeline panel along the bottom allows you to view past or projected data.

15.11. Drag the handle button to change the time and date.
16.12. Select a speed on the right side.
17.13. Press play to watch the forecast play out in time.