Graphical user interface (GUI), method, system and program product for generating usability data for a remote computer user

• US 7,636,892 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Elie, Claude J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BONSHOCK, DENNIS G
• Application Number:
  US10/873,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 715/704, 715/759, 715/751, 717/121
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention provides a GUI, method, system and program product for generating usability data for a remote computer user. The GUI consumes minimal screen real estate and remains on top of all other applications. The GUI generally includes a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user; a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task; a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user; and a way to indicate a type of each of the comments input. As the remote computer user performs a task, a tester will input comments using the GUI, and then assign each comment a type. A numerical count is maintained for certain types of comments. Usability data is generated based on the comments, the types and the numerical counts.

Claims

1. A computer device having an always on top graphical user interface (GUI) for generating usability data for a remote computer user, the GUI comprising:

a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user;

a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task;

a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user during a monitoring session that provides viewing access to the remote computer user performing the task via a collaboration-based software program that is unrelated to the graphical user interface, wherein each of the comments is associated with a corresponding time as indicated by the timer; and

means for indicating a type of each of the comments, the indicating means comprising a set of typographical shortcuts, which allow identification of the type of comment by typing of a single character, and a set of comment control buttons comprising an error button, a critical error button, a note button, a problem button, a highlight button, a user quote button, a success button, a prompt button, a help button, an end task button, an end session button, and a failure button.

2. The computer device of claim 1, the GUI further comprising a minimization button for toggling the GUI between a full view and a minimal view, wherein the minimal view does not include the set of comment buttons.

3. The computer device of claim 1, the GUI further comprising a orientation button for displaying the GUI vertically or horizontally.

4. The computer device of claim 1, the GUI further comprising a clock for displaying a current time.

5. The computer device of claim 1, the GUI further comprising a reset button for resetting the timer.

6. The computer device of claim 1, the GUI further comprising:

a log field for displaying the comments; and

an edit button for editing the comment as displayed in the log field.

7. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the usability data is generated based on the comments and their corresponding types, and wherein the usability data is stored in an output file.

8. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the GUI is displayed on a tester computer system that is remote from a user computer system being operated by the remote computer user.

9. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the task title field is capable of displaying a list of task titles.

10. A method for generating usability data for a remote computer user, comprising:

providing an always on top graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user, a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task, a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user, and means for indicating a type of each of the comments, the indicating means including a set of comment control buttons for selecting one of the set of comment buttons for each of the comments inputted into the comment entry field;

the indicating means comprising a set of typographical shortcuts, which allow identification of the type of comment by typing of a single character, and a set of comment control buttons comprising an error button, a critical error button, a note button, a problem button, a highlight button, a user quote button, a success button, a prompt button, a help button, an end task button, an end session button, and a failure button;

initiating a monitoring session that provides viewing access to the remote computer user performing the task via a collaboration-based software program that is unrelated to the graphical user interface;

inputting comments into the comment entry field as the remote computer performs the task, and assigning a type to each of the comments using the means for indicating;

wherein each of the comments is associated with a corresponding time as indicated by the timer; and

maintaining numerical counts for certain types of comments.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating the usability data based on the inputted comments and their assigned types.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the usability data in an output file.

13. A system for generating usability data for a remote computer user, comprising:

at least one computing device;

a GUI system for providing an always on top graphical user interface (GUI) that comprises a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user, a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task, a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user, and means for indicating a type of each of the comments;

an input reception system for receiving comments corresponding to the performance of the task by the remote computer user as input into the comment entry field during a monitoring session that provides viewing access to the remote computer user performing the task via a collaboration-based software program that is unrelated to the graphical user interface, and for receiving a type for each of the comments as selected using the means for indicating;

a data generation system for generating the usability data based on the comments and their corresponding types, the data generation system comprising;

a time association system for associating each of the comments with an elapsed time as indicated by the timer;

a numerical count system for maintaining a numerical count for certain types of comments; and

a data collation system for generating the usability data using the comments, the associated times and the numerical counts; and

means for indicating a type of each of the comments, the indicating means comprising a set of typographical shortcuts, which allow identification of the type of comment by typing of a single character, and a set of comment control buttons comprising an error button, a critical error button, a note button, a problem button, a highlight button, a user quote button, a success button, a prompt button, a help button, an end task button, an end session button, and a failure button.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a time clock system for maintaining the timer.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an output file system for storing the usability data in an output file.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is loaded on a tester computer system that is remote from a user computer system being operated by the remote computer user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the GUI is displayed on top of any other GUIs being displayed on the tester computer system.

18. A program product stored on a recordable medium for generating usability data for a remote computer user, which when executed, comprises:

program code for providing an always on top graphical user interface (GUI) that comprises a timer for timing a task of the remote computer user, a task title field for displaying a title corresponding to the task, a comment entry field for inputting comments corresponding to a performance of the task by the remote computer user, and means for indicating a type of each of the comments;

program code for receiving comments corresponding to the performance of the task by the remote computer user as input into the comment entry field during a monitoring session that provides viewing access to the remote computer user performing the task via a collaboration-based software program that is unrelated to the graphical user interface, and for receiving a type for each of the comments as selected using the means for indicating;

program code for generating the usability data based on the comments and their corresponding types, wherein each of the comments is associated with a corresponding time as indicated by the timer; and

program code for indicating a type of each of the comments, the indicating code implementing a set of typographical shortcuts, which allow identification of the type of comment by typing of a single character, a set of comment control buttons comprising an error button, a critical error button, a note button, a problem button, a highlight button, a user quote button, a success button, a prompt button, a help button, an end task button, an end session button, and a failure button.

19. The program product of claim 18, further comprising program code for maintaining the timer.

20. The program product of claim 18, wherein the program code for generating the usability data comprising:

program code for associating each of the comments with an elapsed time as indicated by the timer;

program code for maintaining a numerical count for certain types of comments; and

program code for generating the usability data using the comments, the associated times and the numerical counts.

21. The program product of claim 18, further comprising program code for storing the usability data in an output file.

22. The program product of claim 18, wherein the program product is loaded on a tester computer system that is remote from a user computer system being operated by the remote computer user.

23. The program product of claim 22, wherein the GUI is displayed on top of any other GUIs being displayed on the tester computer system.