BCS THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE FOR IT REALISING THE USER INTERFACE

BCS THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE FOR IT
BCS HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
BCS Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT
REALISING THE USER INTERFACE
Tuesday 31st March 2015 - Morning
Answer any THREE questions out of FIVE. All questions carry equal marks.
Time: THREE hours.
Answer any Section A questions you attempt in Answer Book A
Answer any Section B questions you attempt in Answer Book B
The marks given in brackets are indicative of the weight given to each part of the question.
Calculators are NOT allowed in this examination.
Section A
Answer Section A questions in Answer Book A
A1.
a)
A key stage in developing suitable and supportive user interfaces and
products is an understanding of the various requirements that need to
be identified and established. Explain why this requirements activity is
important and outline the key requirement types that should be
considered in the analysis stage, using examples as appropriate.
(13 marks)
b)
You have been asked to design a new system for use in a university’s
self-service cafeteria that allows users to pay for their food using a
credit system so that it is cashless. Taking into account the requirement
types in your answer for part a) above, discuss and explain the
requirements that you think are relevant for this design.
(12 marks)
Examiners’ Guidance Notes
57% of the students attempted this question but a majority did not focus on the
actual requirements of the question, which was on the nature of requirements
analysis. Instead the answers tried to take about user focused analysis and missed
the distinction within a broader development lifecycle. In part b students tried to
answer the question but without giving thought to the nature and implications of the
context. This is reflected in the pass rate of 62%, average mark of 9.68 and
standard deviation of 4.61. this may suggest students are not being exposed to the
context in which interface design should be placed.
A2.
a)
Explain what you understand by visual perception and Gestalt
principles. What is the importance of these concepts in relation to
interface design?
(8 marks)
b)
Look at the layout below and redraw this in your answer book and, in
doing so, organise the elements used (labels, text fields, buttons, etc.)
into a more user supportive interface. Explain and justify your design
decisions.
(7 marks)
c)
Review the design of an online form below and offer a critical
assessment as a bulleted report to your manager. Explain how you
would improve the form and sketch your redesigned form so that it
offers a more supportive user interface.
(10 marks)
Examiners’ Guidance Notes
The question was attempted by 54% of the students with a pass rate of 77%,
average mark of 11.85 and standard deviation of 3.58. Overall students could not
offer a sound review of the form and redesign was limited. In part B there were
attempts to offer a logical design but there was a sense that this was guesswork
rather than an understanding of the issues of visual design.
A3.
a)
Donald Norman in The Design of Everyday Things (1988) discusses
the Gulf of Execution and Gulf of Evaluation. Outline what you
understand by these concepts and illustrate them in relation to
everyday objects of your choice.
(8 marks)
b)
Compare and contrast mental models and conceptual models and
explain the techniques that can be adopted to support mental models.
(12 marks)
c)
Review the screenshot below and offer three justified
recommendations on how the design can be improved to support the
user’s understanding (mental models).
(5 marks)
Examiners’ Guidance Notes
The question was attempted by 31.58% of the students with a pass rate of 72%,
average mark of 9.56 and standard deviation of 4.12. Overall students could not
demonstrate a sound understanding of the concepts required in this question,
offering little grasp of the gulfs, mental models and impact on the design.
Section B
Answer Section B questions in Answer Book B
B5.
A consumer electronics company has engaged you to re-design the remote
control for a new television they are developing.
a)
Using your knowledge and experience:
i)
List THREE problems present in the existing remote control
(pictured above). In your answer pay close attention to usability
and user experience issues.
(3 marks)
ii)
Identify and state THREE key and most frequent tasks that a
remote control should offer.
(3 marks)
iii)
Provide a wireframe of a redesign of the remote control to
address the problems identified in part a above.
(5 marks)
b)
B6.
As part of your design brief, you are required to consider ways in which
a remote control can be made accessible to users with special needs.
i)
Write a short report to your client explaining how you, as a
designer, can ensure accessibility in your design process and
therefore in the finished device. Limit your report to 200 words.
(8 marks)
ii)
Provide an annotated wireframe of a remote control designed
specifically for a visually impaired user. You may add additional
technology if desired.
(6 marks)
a)
Understanding the environmental contexts is integral to designing a
product that is fit for purpose. Identify THREE distinct environments
where a smart phone would be used. For each environment describe
the constraints, challenges and hazards.
(7 marks)
b)
A willing adopter wants to upgrade from their existing mobile phone to
a touchscreen smartphone but they are anxious about the transition.
Provide a brief guide explaining how a smartphone’s user interface
compares to an older keypad interface.
(8 marks)
c)
A supermarket offers an online grocery shopping service where users
can purchase items online and have them delivered to their door. Maya,
a mother of a six-month old baby girl would like to use this service.
i)
Personas are developed to better understand the needs of users
and to influence design. List the attributes of a good persona.
(5 marks)
ii)
Produce a persona to represent Maya and identify the issues the
supermarket would need to take into account when designing
the user experience. You should discuss environmental,
ergonomic and technological issues.
(5 marks)