Part 1: Software
Software implementation & Documentation [40%]
i. Implementation [30%]
You are to design and develop three HTML5 pages themed on Manchester. The pages should be optimised for delivery on a tablet, and should contain the following:
a. a landing page with a short introduction and buttons (or other links) which link to further pages containing the following:
b. a page displaying a video clip with custom controls including play/pause, a progress slider, a time indicator, a mute button, a volume slider, and a fullscreen button. This should be implemented entirely in Javascript (not jQuery): write clearly structured and commented code in a separate .js file. You should also produce a Flash fallback, using a Flash playback skin.
c. an image gallery or slideshow, using a sequence of Manchester still images of the same dimensions, developed in HTML5 using jQuery. You should also develop the image gallery in Flash, with a .swf deliverable.
Be creative in your layout and design. How you connect the three and present navigation to the user, is part of your design brief and is therefore up to you. If it fits with your design and your concept of the site, you can decide to include the image gallery, map or video clip in the landing page. Flash fallbacks should be similar but do not have to be identical.
You should use a jQuery plugin that has not been taught in labs – the choice is up to you, and you should document the criteria you used when choosing it.
The video clip should have an optimal balance of quality versus size. The dimensions should be appropriate for a tablet device.
The slideshow should be user- controlled, consist of 6-8 images, all of the same dimension and with an optimal balance of quality and size.
Your implementation should provide text alternatives for visual elements.
All material must be developed by you: use of downloaded third party solutions will be treated as plagiarism. You are expected to hand-code your own pages – using code-free (or code-lite) solutions from the WordPress dashboard is also not an option.
Submit all implementation files, including .css, .js, .swf and .fla files.
ii. Documentation [10%]
a. One page justifying your design, including your choice of colours and typefaces; documenting the video codecs and file formats used; and itemising the image formats, compression settings, and file sizes.
b. One page specifying your criteria for picking jQuery plugins and justifying your choice and comparing HTML5 and Flash solutions in terms of development effort, stability, and performance.
Part 2: Usability Engineering and Mobile Devices [60%]
You are required to produce a detailed report on your proposed approach to the usability analysis of the image viewing software developed in Part 1 above. You must fully justify the methods and techniques that you propose with reference to the existing literature on usability.
You are required to produce a report on how the usability facilities available in the School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology Usability Lab might be used to assess the usability of your Software from Part 1 .
For the tools and techniques that you identify you should indicate how you would use them to evaluate the usability of your specific software. For example:
• For the (fixed) eye tracker what features would you use and what data would be captured?
• For the glasses based eye tracker what aspects of the interaction will you focus on?
• For the usability analysis what specific tasks would be addressed?
• For the heart rate monitor: what types of responses are you trying to identify?
• Why are the usability tools/techniques you have chosen appropriate for this case?
You must refer to the literature on usability engineering to support your choices and method.
Your report should be no more than 2500 words (excludingbibliography/references). It isexpectedthat you will need to write 2000-2500words to address the report adequately. All material used should be referenced using the Harvard System *, the report must be word-processed
An indication of the main assessment criteria is provided below.
Your report must address the issues listed below:
1. A clear description of the goals for the usability analysis including the expected outcomes, as you understand them.
2. A brief description of the methods and techniques you would use to gather the usability data. This should include the approach you would adopt and the techniques and tools that you have identified as relevant to
your analysis. A protocol for conducting the evaluations should be identified.
3. A list of the usability heuristics that you have identified from your work and a brief review of the literature on usability engineering that relates to the development of your usability heuristics for your software.
4. A brief analysis of the potential strengths and weaknesses of the usability engineering approach that you have developed.
Deliverables: Usability Report
You should submit the following for your report:
1. Your work must be word-processed, spell checked and professionally presented (see guidelines on report writing).
2. The work must be in report format.
3. Your work must be fully referenced using the Harvard system *.
Assessment Criteria
Pass
v Production of a basic report that meets the requirements set out in the specification above.
v The report is clear and includes some reference to the literature.
v There are only minor grammatical errors.
v There is a basic description of the usability work to be conducted & the methods
v Basic argument regarding usability engineering is outlined and there is some discussion of the main issues raised.
v There is only minor none relevant material.
v Evidence of basic research and referencing limited use of academic sources
v None of the material presented is plagiarised. (See the Faculty Student Handbook for penalties for presenting plagiarised work).
Additional Marks
All the criteria for a pass must be met plus:
Ø The document has been carefully proof read. There are no spelling or grammatical errors. The material is presented to a professional standard.
Ø The report is focused and concise; there is no irrelevant material
Ø All material is fully and appropriately referenced; the evidence presented is clear and supports the author’s central argument.
Ø The description of the approach suggested is clear, complete and concise
Ø Clear evidence of extensive research regarding usability engineering
Ø The research evidence informs the discussion and analysis of the report
Ø A coherent, clear and balanced usability engineering method is presented
Ø There is a clear and reasonable conclusion, which is based on the research
that has been conducted.
Ø References are from appropriate academic sources (such as conferences and journals).
Ø *All references are quoted using the Harvard