For this individual assignment, you will conduct a cognitive walkthrough and usability test for one task using an existing website/app. You will need to recruit a target user who either has not used the site/app before or has not used it for the task being evaluated.

1. Select a site/app and decide whether you will evaluate it using a desktop/laptop or mobile device. (Desktop/laptop may be easier for conducting usability test.)

2. Identify the likely target users for the site/app and identify likely goals that users would use the site/app to achieve. Write a brief scenario for one task or a small number of tasks related to a users goal that could be used to evaluate the site/app. The task should be something that a user should most likely be able to complete within about 5-15 minutes.

3. Conduct a cognitive walkthrough to evaluate the site/app while completing the task in your scenario. Describe each usability issue that you identify. Include the screen/page where the issue occurs (simply name or describe screen or include URL if applicable or include an annotated screenshot if helpful). Use Nielsens heuristics to categorize each issue. Rate the severity of each issue using Nielsens severity matrix shown below. Recommend a possible fix for each issue (take the approach of doing the least you can do). Summarize the findings for each issue in a table format, similar to that shown below (second column will need to be wider). NOTE: If you find many issues, just include the top five most severe issues. If you do not find at least five significant issues, then be picky to attempt to note up to five issues even if some are relatively minor.

4. Recruit someone who might be a target user for the site/app to be a participant in your usability test. This participant should not have already used the site/app for the type of task being evaluated. Avoid using a fellow student in the Informatics or CIT programs. Briefly describe the participant (but do not include his/her name) with a few relevant demographics or other characteristics, such as gender, age, and major or occupation.

5. Conduct a usability test to observe the participant completing the task in the scenario. Be sure to have the participant think aloud during the session. Record notes on issues that you observe the participant experiencing. Summarize the findings for each issue in a table format similar to what you used for the cognitive walkthrough. NOTE: If you find many issues, just include the top five most severe issues. If you do not note at least five issues, be picky to attempt to note up to five issues or user comments even if some are relatively minor.

6. Write a brief summary paragraph reflecting on both processes (cognitive walkthrough and usability test) and comparing the findings from both evaluations.

Deliverable (submit in Canvas): Single PDF containing (1) description of site/app, (2) description of task-based scenario, (3) table for findings of your cognitive walkthrough, (4) description of the participant in your usability test, (5) table for findings of usability test, and (6) summary paragraph.