Usability Test with Microsoft Paint

GOAL:  Identify some possible usability problems in MS Paint by usability test

MY ROLE: Solo UX Researcher.

By observing the test, I found some usability problems with the current MS Paint. I applied Fitts Law and Gestalt principles to understand the reason and suggested the solution for each issue.

 CHALLENGE

Find 5 participants (one at a time) with a Windows laptop with a trackpad and traditional mouse

Open the application Microsoft Paint. Demonstrate to the participant, the task of drawing

Draw 6 boxes with red borders. Filling in three of the boxes with blue fill

Ask each participant to perform the task as quickly as possible

Have each participant do the task, once with the mouse and once with the trackpad.

Start a timer as soon as the participant begins the task, and stop the timer as soon as the complete it

Record all times in an excel spreadsheet. Average the times of each group

Make note of any patterns.

PREPARATION FOR USABILITY TEST

Before the test was taken, I did an instruction video for users.

I also gave them a text instruction and a link to download the software to record the screen. This is a remote Usability Test.

Video: Instruction for Usability Test.

 

 

1. It takes users more time to complete a task by trackpad than a mouse.

According to Fitts’ law, due to the scale for movement and control of the finger on the track pad (the size of the object) is much smaller than the one by a mouse so users take longer time to complete the task (making movements between small target points on the trackpad)

Another reason for taking more time to use trackpad is users need to combine 2 hands while using mouse only need one hand.

2. Group 2, who used trackpad first then mouse, performed faster than Group 1

Reason: At their second part to do the test, they had experience and then was given a better tools to accomplish the task (Mouse)

3. The second time to complete the task is usually less than the first time, reflects the learning curves of users.

4. In general, the application is accessible, learnable to all users. The systems and tools are visible to users, they do not need to look in menu for them.

3. We should also take into account the technical abilities of the users.

Ones who are familiar with trackpad, perform faster. There is very little difference between their time performing with the mouse and trackpad

 

Problem #1: Users want to fill the objects only, if the lines are not connected, they accidentally fill both the object and the background.

 

Reasons:

Human visual perception: The object is small, users can not see that the lines are not connected to form an object separately from the background.

According to Gestalt*, they consider the lines unconnected as a complete object.

Mental models of users do not expect the background to be filled.

Solution: A notification should appear:

I.e: “The lines of the object are not properly connected, fill both the object and the background by this color. Proceed? Yes/ No”

Problem #2: They clicked on the symbol “shape fill” instead of “fill with color” and found unable to fill the object, then look for the tool again.

 

Reason

The symbol of “shape fill” and “fill with color” is too similar, making users confused.

The text “Fill” does not specify that is a “shape fill” function

Mental users of users expects from the text “fill” and the symbol that this tool is for filling color in object.

Solution: image 1 as illustration.

Group “Outline” and “Fill” to a new group, labeled as customized shape.

Replace the word “Fill” by “Shape fill” to avoid confusing to users.

5* Gestalt Principles in this case:

Closure: The human eye prefers to see complete shapes. If the visual elements are not complete, the user can perceive a complete shape by filling in missing visual information.

Proximity: Simple shapes can arranged together can create a more complex image

Figure/ Ground: The human eye isolates shapes from backgrounds.

Gestalt Principle ref link

Reference videos of the usability test

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