Common tasks for exploration, file management and customization in GNOME were derived by the Solaris HCI team from Sun, Arlo Rose from Eazel, and informed by discussions on GNOME IRC channels and mailing lists.
After completing the tasks in each scenario in the Participant Script, participants answered questions about what they liked and disliked about completing the scenario. Ratings, reflecting participants' satisfaction with the tasks, were gathered but are not included in this report. The ratings provide a tool for usability engineers to understand and interpret the participants' thoughts. Relevant comments from participants are provided instead of the actual number ratings.
Each session lasted approximately 2 hours and all sessions were videotaped. A usability engineer remained in the room with the participant for the duration of the session. The usability engineer did not answer questions other than to evoke the participants' thoughts. Additional usability engineers and observers watched from the control room.
An Engineering Script was used by the usability engineers and observers to record participants' comments and behaviors, and to record scenario completion times. It mirrored the Participant Script but contained additional questions and notes.
Hints were provided to participants when necessary (as noted in the Main Report). Participants spent a minimum of 7-10 minutes on a scenario before any hint was provided.
A 10-13 minute maximum per scenario was originally allocated. In most cases, however, this time was flexible and, if possible, additional time was allowed. Scenarios were cut short or skipped if, for example, the participant could not stay longer or it was clear that the participant would not complete the scenario in a reasonable amount of time.
Technical Setup for Study
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