Assignment Two-Task Analysis

For this assignment, the user will be attempting to operate a Sony CyberShot  DSC-S2100 digital camera. The user is very unfamiliar with digital cameras. The interview is as follows:

Questions: italicized text

Actions: regular text

User Quotes: bold type

Persona

• Name: Jasmine Munson
• Age: 60
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
• Family: Widow. I have one adult child (Kisha Munson).
• Job Title and Major Responsibilities: I’m a Customer Service Representative at United Water and I handle customer relations.
• Goals:  I will be attempting to operate a digital camera.
• Environment: At Home
• Goal for this project: I want to be able to use the camera…um... (slight pause)… I want to get the most out of the camera, regarding to what I need it for.

Question 1: You’re holding the camera. What are your initial thoughts on the design and general layout of the interface? 

(Now holding camera and staring at it) I like the big screen. The other camera’s was kind of small.  (What about the buttons?) The only thing I understand is “Menu”, and I have no idea what the menu shows (now turning camera to view all sides) Well, I see the on/off button. I know what to do with that.

Question 2: Are the buttons easy to figure out (on/off, zoom, etc.)?

I see the on and off button, but I don’t know where zoom is. I see the word

“open”; I assume that’s for the battery. (Presses on/off button, and turns camera on) Oooh!!           

Question 3:  How easy is it for you to take a simple, straightforward photo?

I don’t know. I assume I would click this button that has no label on it

(points to correct button, which is the shutter button). Where is the “zoom” button? (stares at camera for a few seconds) I don’t know. There’s a round button with four different symbols and the only one I recognize is the one that will symbolize “Flash”. The rest, I don’t know. And there’s a “Smiley Face”. (now presses shutter button and takes a photo. Sees a flash) Oh, there’s the flash! But…what’s the smiley face? This is interesting. Have you figured out where the zoom button is yet? (Looks at camera interface) No, give me a hint (I tell her no, find it yourself). Is it this button? (points to Menu section) No, it is not. Is it…here? (finally points to correct button) Oh! There we go.

Question 4: What about the interface can be improved (larger buttons, better labeling? etc). It could use more labeling. And the labels that it does have don’t really tell you anything…I would have never known that was the zoom button. Why not put a “Z” on the button. Instead, it says “W” and “T”. What does that even mean?

Question 5: Final thoughts on the camera (good, bad, ugly)?

(looking at camera for a few seconds). I like it. But I need to read the instruction book, which I don’t have time for. I have a feeling a lot of stuff can be done with the camera if I knew what I was doing. I don’t understand a lot of the labeling. I guess that’s why I need the instruction book. I want to press “Menu” but I’m afraid. Can I press it? Yes. (presses Menu button and menu options appear). Oh! (goes through menu options) I don’t know what any of this means (turns off camera). It’s a nice camera if I knew what I was doing or what things meant!

Photo of User 

Photo of Camera tested