Summary of Results
Most Successful Areas
The parts of the installation and configuration processes where
the participants reached success fastest and with the least amount of help were:
- Physically installing and connecting the components of the system together (mouse, keyboard, SCSI cable, etc.).
- Setting up the workspace for a measurement (dragging-and-dropping icons, connecting icons).
Top 5 Issues
The top five usability issues to be addressed are:
- Difficulties in connecting a preprocessor to a logic analyzer.
- Difficulties in connecting to a network and mounting a remote file system.
- Overall number of pieces (accessories, books, etc.) in the system.
- The lack of a good starting point at each stage of the process: opening boxes, installing the system, connecting accessories, configuring the interface,
- Getting started with the source viewer.
Usability Issues
In the following tables, priorities are based on three factors:
- Population: What percentage of the user population will encounter this problem it in the field
- Frequency: How often/how many times will real users typically encounter it in their work?
- Severity: How critical was the issue in terms of lost time, frustration and additional errors?
Product Packaging
| # |
ISSUE/RECOMMENDATION |
PRIORITY |
| 1 |
Once the boxes are open, there is no indication of where to begin:
Which book do you start with? Which component do you install first?
Recommendation: Number each of the components in the box to indicate
which order they should be opened. Put a large "Start Here" sticker on
the Getting Started Guide. |
HIGH |
| 2 |
There is no indication of which box to open first.
Recommendation: Put a large "Open Me First" sticker on
the outside of the 16505A box. |
MEDIUM |
| 3 |
It is not clear which end of the box is the top, or "up".
(If you set it on it's end, it is very difficult to remove the 16500.)
Recommendation: Add "this end up" label |
MEDIUM |
| 4 |
It is not clear which end of the box to open and
how to open it. Cutting it on the lower edge can damage floor or carpet.
Recommendation: Add "Open here" label and possibly instructions on
how to open box and remove contents. |
MEDIUM |
| 5 |
The bright orange sticker on the inside of one of the box flaps is easily missed. |
LOW |
Packing Lists
| # |
ISSUE/RECOMMENDATION |
PRIORITY |
| 1 |
There are mismatches between the product names on the packing list
and the names on the products themselves
"Analysis Server" vs. "Prototype Analyzer"
"logic analysis S" (the name is incomplete) |
MEDIUM |
| 2 |
There are mismatches between the model numbers on the lists and on the product. |
MEDIUM |
| 3 |
The packing list indicates parts that are not apparent:
Interface Module |
MEDIUM |
Connecting the Preprocessor
| # |
ISSUE/RECOMMENDATION |
PRIORITY |
| 1 |
The preprocessor cables do not map to the logic analyzer cables in an intuitive way. |
HIGH |
| 2 |
The tables in the preprocessor manuals and logic analyzer manuals that tell you
how to connect are confusing. |
HIGH |
| 3 |
The message about connecting preprocessors that appears on the 16500 is confusing
(it refers to the 16550). |
HIGH |
| 4 |
The "yellow bar" message on the 16500B which
indicates how to re-order pods is cryptic.
(It seems to refer to the 16550 and it seems to run right-to-left while the manual runs
left-to-right) |
HIGH |
| 5 |
There is no step-by-step process in the manual
for how to connect, set switches and load a file.
(NOTE: many manuals produced in the last year do have a step-by-step process) |
HIGH |
| 6 |
The switches on the preprocessors have cryptic labels |
MEDIUM |
| 7 |
The method of "decoding" which cables connect to which
pods by comparing the signal list to the format menu is very tedious
(This method was suggested by technical support help line) |
LOW |
Preprocessor Configuration File
| # |
ISSUE/RECOMMENDATION |
PRIORITY |
| 1 |
There are many files available and their names are
similar leading to errors in choosing a file. |
HIGH |
| 2 |
There are no config files for some of the analyzers
(in this case no 16555 config for the E2448A). |
HIGH |
| 3 |
When using a 16505, there are several places in the
interface to load files and it is not clear which to use |
HIGH |
| 4 |
The 16555 is not mentioned on the preprocessor disk label. |
MEDIUM |
| 5 |
When using a 16505, it is not clear which disk drive
to put the preprocessor disk into. |
LOW |
|