Creating A Session Log For A Computing Device Being Studied For Usability

• US 20090006108A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bodin, William K., Thorson, Derral C., Maynard, Ann M.
• Application Number:
  US11/769,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for creating a session log for a computing device being studied for usability that include: recording, by a usability expert in a session log, usability observations observed by the usability expert during a usability session for studying the interaction of a user with a computing device; detecting, by an event listener on the computing device, an event generated as a result of user interaction with the device; notifying, by the event listener, a usability engine of the event; and recording, by the usability engine, a description of the event in the session log.

Claims

1. A method of creating a session log for a computing device being studied for usability, the method comprising:

recording, by a usability expert in a session log, usability observations observed by the usability expert during a usability session for studying the interaction of a user with a computing device;

detecting, by an event listener on the computing device, an event generated as a result of user interaction with the device;

notifying, by the event listener, a usability engine of the event; and

recording, by the usability engine, a description of the event in the session log.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying the user interaction that generated the event; and

recording, by the usability engine, a description of the user interaction that generated the event in the session log.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, by the usability engine, an action in dependence upon the session log and action criteria; and

initiating, by the usability engine, execution of the identified action.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the action further comprises reconfiguring the device being studied for usability.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the action further comprises calling a helpdesk to provide assistance to the user interacting with the device being studied for usability.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, by the usability engine, that the interaction of the user with the computing device was successful in dependence upon success criteria;

generating, by the usability engine in dependence upon the session log, helpdesk instructions for other users attempting to replicate the successful interaction; and

providing, by the usability engine, the helpdesk instructions to a helpdesk server.

7. A system for creating a session log for a computing device being studied for usability, the system comprising:

means for recording, in a session log, usability observations observed by a usability expert during a usability session for studying the interaction of a user with a computing device;

means for detecting, on the computing device, an event generated as a result of user interaction with the device;

means for notifying a usability engine of the event; and

means for recording a description of the event in the session log.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for identifying the user interaction that generated the event; and

means for recording a description of the user interaction that generated the event in the session log.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for identifying an action in dependence upon the session log and action criteria; and

means for initiating execution of the identified action.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the action further comprises reconfiguring the device being studied for usability.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the action further comprises calling a helpdesk to provide assistance to the user interacting with the device being studied for usability.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for determining that the interaction of the user with the computing device was successful in dependence upon success criteria;

means for generating, in dependence upon the session log, helpdesk instructions for other users attempting to replicate the successful interaction; and

means for providing the helpdesk instructions to a helpdesk server.

13. A computer program product for creating a session log for a computing device being studied for usability, the computer program product disposed upon a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of:

recording, by a usability expert in a session log, usability observations observed by the usability expert during a usability session for studying the interaction of a user with a computing device;

detecting, by an event listener on the computing device, an event generated as a result of user interaction with the device;

notifying, by the event listener, a usability engine of the event; and

recording, by the usability engine, a description of the event in the session log.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:

identifying the user interaction that generated the event; and

recording, by the usability engine, a description of the user interaction that generated the event in the session log.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:

identifying, by the usability engine, an action in dependence upon the session log and action criteria; and

initiating, by the usability engine, execution of the identified action.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the action further comprises reconfiguring the device being studied for usability.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the action further comprises calling a helpdesk to provide assistance to the user interacting with the device being studied for usability.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:

determining, by the usability engine, that the interaction of the user with the computing device was successful in dependence upon success criteria;

generating, by the usability engine in dependence upon the session log, helpdesk instructions for other users attempting to replicate the successful interaction; and

providing, by the usability engine, the helpdesk instructions to a helpdesk server.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a recordable medium.

20. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a transmission medium.