E1. Think of a reasonably complex piece of software with which you have experience (e.g. an

operating system, word processor, or spreadsheet). Answer the following questions about that

system:

(a) Do typical users require training to use this software to its full capacity? Is there

anything in the software that could be improved so that less training would be needed?

Remember that, as a computing student or professional, you probably have considerable

experience with a variety of different software packages; you can therefore figure out

a new program much more easily than the average person.

(b) What aspects did you find most difficult to learn when you learned the software? Are

there any aspects of the system that you deferred learning because they appeared too

complex?

(c) Do you ever find yourself wishing that you could use the software more quickly? What

could be improved about the software that would allow you to work faster?

(d) Are there any features that you never use? Do you think that removing the features might

make the system easier to use? Or, conversely, do you take comfort in knowing that the

features are available, in case you should ever need them?

E2. Imagine you are planning to develop the following types of software projects. What

different kinds of users should you anticipate?

(a) An air-traffic control system.

(b) A microwave oven.

(c) A payroll system.

E3. You are asked to design the GUI for a software application that can convert audio files from

one format to another.

(a) Use the twelve usability principles to draw a prototype of this GUI.

(b) Describe how you have adhered to each of the twelve usability principles.