Name:- Harsh Mendapara

Batch:- A2
Roll no:- 31
Subject:- HMI (Human Machine Interaction)

Experiment no 4

Aim:- Compare 5 websites of the same domain and rank the website using Heuristics.

Theory:-

4.1 Heuristic Evaluation:-

A heuristic is a guideline or general principle or rule of thumb that can guide a design
decision or be used to critique a decision that has already been made. Heuristic evaluation,
developed by Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich, is a method for structuring the critique of a
system using a set of relatively simple and general heuristics. Heuristic evaluation can be
performed on a design specification so it is useful for evaluating early design. But it can also
be used on prototypes, storyboards and fully functioning systems. It is therefore a flexible,
relatively cheap approach. Hence it is often considered a discount usability technique. The
general idea behind heuristic evaluation is that several evaluators independently critique a
system to come up with potential usability problems. It is important that there be several of
these evaluators and that the evaluations be done independently. Nielsen’s experience
indicates that between three and five evaluators is sufficient, with five usually resulting in
about 75% of the overall usability problems being discovered.

Ten principles of Nielsen for heuristic evaluation:

1. Visibility of system status:

Always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within
reasonable time. For example, if a system operation will take some time, give an indication of
how long and how much is complete.

2. Match between system and the real world: The system should speak the user’s language,
with words, phrases and concepts familiar to the user, rather than system-oriented terms.
Follow real-world conventions, making information appear in natural and logical order.

3. User control and freedom: Users often choose system functions by mistake and need a
clearly marked ‘emergency exit’ to leave the unwanted state without having to go through an
extended dialog. Support undo and redo.

4. Consistency and standards: Users should not have to wonder whether words, situations
or actions mean the same thing in different contexts. Follow platform conventions and
accepted standards.
5. Error prevention: Make it difficult to make errors. Even better than good error messages
is a careful design that prevents a problem from occurring in the first place.

6. Recognition rather than recall: Make objects, actions and options visible. The user
should not have to remember information from one part of the dialog to another. Instructions
for use of the system should be visible or easily retrievable whenever appropriate.

7. Flexibility and efficiency of use: Allow users to tailor frequent actions. Accelerators –
unseen by the novice user – may often speed up the interaction for the expert user to such an
extent that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users.

8. Aesthetic and minimalist design: Dialogs should not contain information that is irrelevant
or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information in a dialog competes with the relevant units
of information and diminishes their relative visibility.

9. Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from errors: Error messages should be
expressed in plain language (no codes), precisely indicate the problem, and constructively
suggest a solution.

10. Help and documentation: Few systems can be used with no instructions so it may be
necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such information should be easy to search,
focussed on the user’s task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.

4.2 Names of ecommerce websites taken for comparison:

1) Amazon
2) Overstock
3) Newegg
4) eBay
5) Walmart
Output:-

1) Amazon.com

Amazon.com has become one of the largest and most popular e-commerce websites in North
America, if not the world. It has done so through a combination of good functionality and
customer service, the ability to buy or sell for users, and a wide selection of products
(including some exclusive to Amazon itself). However, prices of items on Amazon can be
expensive, especially when you factor in shipping charges and the fact that you can’t haggle
over them.

2) Overstock.com

Overstock.com is a website like Amazon that initially began as a seller of surplus goods from
failed e-commerce websites; this often means you can get great deals while shopping on it.
Club-O-Gold rewards program means you get free shipping, and 5% back off each order Has
a “Deals” page so you can see what’s on sale instantly Is committed to community
responsibility, including their Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and Best Friends
Animal Society

3) Newegg.com

Newegg.com is another online marketplace like Amazon, but it specializes in electronic goods
such as desktop computers, laptops, televisions, digital cameras, and more. By focusing on
rapid delivery and great customer service, Newegg has grown to be a major competitor to
Amazon. With their price match guarantee and free “3 days or faster” shipping, you’re bound
to find a deal on Newegg and have your new product in your hands quickly.

4)

eBay.com

eBay.com is probably the most well-known Amazon alternative, and it started around the
same time. Unlike Amazon, eBay doesn’t sell its own products; it simply acts as a liaison
between businesses or third-party sellers and people looking to buy. Bidding feature allows
you to pay what you want. Offers frequent weekly, seasonal, and brand-specific discounts.
Buy It Now feature means you can make instant purchases as well.

5) Walmart.com
Walmart.com is one of the largest companies in the world, but it’s best known for its
worldwide chain of supermarkets. The products sold at those stores can be purchased on the
Walmart website, where they can be delivered straight to your door or picked up at a nearby
outlet. Walmart is famous for its low prices. Offers bargains on all kinds of items, every
single day. Offers free 2-day shipping on millions of items, and orders over $35. You can find
sold-out items from the store online, and have them shipped to your local store.

Rules Website 1 Website 2 Website 3 Website 4 Website 5

Visibility of 90% 80% 90% 90% 90%
system status
Match between 50% 60% 50% 50% 50%
system and the
real world
User control 80% 70% 80% 85% 90%
and freedom
Consistency and 90% 80% 90% 90% 90%
standards
Error 100% 90% 100% 90% 100%
prevention
Recognition 100% 90% 80% 100% 80%
rather than
recall
Flexibility and 100% 90% 100% 100% 100%
efficiency of use
Aesthetic and 100% 80% 80% 100%
minimalist 70%
design
Help users 100% 60% 80% 90% 90%
recognize,
diagnose and
recover from
errors
Help and 90% 80% 80% 90% 90%
documentation
Average 90% 78% 82% 86.5% 88%

Thus, considering the above parameters, the ranking of the websites on the basis of ten
principles of neilson is as follows:

1. Website 1 (Amazon.com)
2. Website 5 (Overstock.com)
3. Website 4 (NewEgg.com)
4. Website 3 (eBay.com)
5. Website 2 (Walmart.com)

Conclusion:- Thus, we successfully studied and understood HCI principles for good
screen designs by using heuristic rules.