'Re: Usability Strategy Discussion'

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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: Usability Strategy Discussion
From:       Robert Watkins <robert_maria () yahoo ! com>
Date:       2002-07-05 17:09:25
[Download RAW message or body]

Believe it or not, I've actually benefited from
the discussion on this topic. Rather than
continue to discuss the merits and implementation
of Usability in KDE, I'd like to suggest we
pursue a Usability Certification program.

I intended to take into consideration the varying
degrees of interest as well as not implying that
all KDE Developers are required to do anything,
but offer a way to pursue Usability.

As always, comments are appreciated.

Robert

-------------------------------------
The KDE Usability Labs Certification Program
recognizes the effort of Usability Testing and 
use of Usability Techniques for any OSS
application, but preference is given to KDE 
applications. When an application achieves any
level of certification, they will receive:

1) Instructions for including the appropriate
"KDE Usability Certified" logo and link on the 
project website and will confirm the
application's certification level. This will help
 maintain the validity of the logo's use.  An
example of the HTML code to be sent would be: 
<a href="http://usability.kde.org/
certification/certify.php?id=1919501105">
<img target="_blank"
src="http://usability.kde.org/
certification/logos/bronze1.0.png"></a>

2) Inclusion in a weekly announcement of new
certifications on appropriate mailing lists and 
other announcement avenues (TBD).

3) Information on achieving the next level

The levels of certification are used to not only
acknowledge a high-degree of applying  Usability
techniques, but also provide a simple way to get
started and a clear path to gain  higher levels
of certification. There are two tracks of
certification, Pre-release and  Released. The
Pre-release track is for applications that
haven't officially released their  first version.
This is where Usability has the greatest benefit
of use and potentially has  the largest impact on
the success of the application. Relesed
applications, obviously, fall   under the
"Release" track. The highest levels of
certification for this track are difficult  to
obtain due to all the identification of existing
functionality and subsequent evaluation,  but
show a strong committment to Usability. Note that
all the certification levels are  versioned so
that future enhancements to the requirements are
reflected in the certification  notation.

Pre-Release track
1) Bronze Certification 0.5 - This certification
indicates that the following has been  submitted:
  - A short description of the application
(sample and template link to be provided)
  - Feature list planned for the initial release
(sample and template link to be provided)
  - List of typical user types (sample and
template link to be provided)
  - List of Current Developers on the
application.

2) Silver Certification 0.5  - This certificaiton
indicates that Bronze Certification is  current
plus the following has been provided:
  - Screen Prototypes (paper-based or .png
images) (samples and resources link to be 
provided)
  - Evidence of user testing on top five items
(ranked by importance to the application)  from
the feature list from at least 3 people that fit
the description of typical users, none  from the
developers (past or present) on the application.
(sample and resources link to be  provided)

3) Gold Certification 0.5 - This certification
indicates that Silver Certification is  current
and a current Usability Certification Specialist
has approved the Usability  testplans prior to
execution and that the results confirm the
soundness of the application  or that all
reasonable changes have been made and the
Usability Certification Specailist  agrees that
the changes are appropriate based on the test
data. Usability testplans should  include at
least the top 50% of the feature list. (samples
and resources link to be  provided)

4) Platinum Certification 0.5 - This
certification indicates that Gold Certification
is  current, 90% of the feature list has been
tested with a Usability Certification Specialist 
approved set of Usability testplans, and the
Usability Certification Specialist agreees that 
the resulting prototype is valid based on the the
feature list, list of users and Usability  test
results. 

Release Track
1) Bronze Certification 0.5 - This certification
indicates that the following has been  submitted:
  - A short description of the application
(sample and template link to be provided)
  - Feature list planned for the next release
(sample and template link to be provided)
  - List of typical user types (sample and
template link to be provided)
  - List of Current Developers on the
application.

2) Silver Certification 0.5  - This certificaiton
indicates that Bronze Certification is  current
plus the following has been provided:
  - Screen Prototypes showing current screens and
proposed screens (paper-based or .png  images)
(samples and resources link to be provided)
  - Evidence of user testing on top five new
features (ranked by importance to the 
application) from the feature list from at least
3 people that fit the description of  typical
users, none from the developers on the
application. (sample and resources link to be 
provided)
  - Complete list of features for the
application.

3) Gold Certification 0.5 - This certification
indicates that Silver Certification is  current
and a current Usability Certification Specialist
has approved the Usability  testplans prior to
execution and that the results confirm the
soundness of the application  or that all
reasonable changes have been made and the
Usability Certification Specailist  agrees that
the changes are appropriate based on the test
data. Usability testplans should  include at
least the top 50% of the current feature list.
(samples and resources link to be  provided)

4) Platinum Certification 0.5 - This
certification indicates that Gold Certification
is  current, 90% of the current feature list has
been tested with a Usability Certification 
Specialist approved set of Usability testplans,
and the Usability Certification Specialist 
agreees that the application interface is valid
based on the the feature list, list of users  and
Usability test results. 

------------------------------------------------
Resources needed to complete
1) Create usability.kde.org sub-section on
Certification program
2) Create list of 'approved' Usability
Certification Specialists, with criteria to be
added  to the list.
3) Samples, Templates and Resources for
certification requirements.
4) Sites / Methods for announcing newly achieved
certification levels.
5) Finalize descriptions of Certification Levels

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