Scenario
Design 1
Task 1: Selecting a Restaurant
Design Selection: Search Bar
Anand arrives at Cinderella’s. Anand goes to menu.io and sees the search bar to find restaurants. He types in “Cinderella” because he does not feel like searching for the apostrophe on his mobile keyboard. Once he types in Cinderella, he is presented with a list of options. Because he is at Cindrella’s he picks it and not the other option of Cindrella Louveaunt, the French restaurant in Dorchester, MA. He is then presented with Cinderella’s main page with the menu attached to the bottom of page with several categories.
Learnability: The search bar is a learnable interface since it is a common part of the web. Most users are familiar with search options like Google to search terms that they want to.
Efficiency: This design is not particularly efficient because it requires the user to type the restaurant in. It does not automatically detect the restaurant, nor does it store selected particular restaurants. Every time a user arrives at a restaurant, he or she has to type the title of the restaurant in the search bar.
Safety: This design is safe in that errors are recoverable. However, it is not guaranteed that errors are few. If the user does not realize or know the title of restaurants (the exact spellings - usually), the user can be prone to errors. However, overall if the user is attentive, the system can be safe.
Task 2: Filtering the menu
Design Selection: Checkbox approach
Anand wants to pick pastas that are vegetarian. He scrolls down to the menu, and sees the filter button. He clicks on the filter button and is presented with a standard checkbox filter. The checkbox filter has two different kinds of filters to be applied: ingredient-specific and item-specific. Because he wants be presented with vegetarian options, he checks the vegetarian box. Next, he wants only pastas to appear. Currently, the item-specific box is checked All so all items appear. He unchecks All, and then checks Pasta-only, so only pasta’s appear. Then, he hits the back button, and return to the menu.
Learnability: The filter is learnable because most people are familiar with the checkbox affordance. They know the checkbox represents a choice, and can use it to turn certain features on and off. Some users might find it hard at first to understand the item-specific approach. With some iterations, however, they will get it right.
Efficiency: This design is efficient in some ways because it is very easy to apply large, common filters such as vegetarian or vegan within 2 steps. This design is not particularly efficient because it requires the user to select the particular filter every time and perhaps not design custom filters. It also does not remember common filter selections.
Safety: This design is safe in that errors are recoverable. If the user applies the wrong filter, the user can return, and fix the filter. Errors are also few because the checkboxes are clearly specified. However, it can be hard to the user to check what filters he has applied, if he applies the wrong filter. It may be hard for the user to distinguish between filters such as vegetarian or vegan, if the user applies one or the other by mistake.
Task 3: Viewing the menu
Design selection: Standard grid approach
The menu is laid out in a grid. After filtering, the pastas are the only option left on the menu. Anand selects pastas, and is presented with a selection of vegetarian pastas. He selects mushroom raviolli, checks the ingredients, description, spicy and salty factors and is content. He then calls the waiter over to order.
Learnability: This approach is extremely common for mobile apps and most people know the depth and usability associated with the grid item for viewing new item.
Efficiency: This design is efficient in that people are free to explore the depth of new options. They can go back and forth in the menu by navigating through the view tree. Their specifics can be realized easily according to their preferences.
Safety: This design is safe in that errors are recoverable. If the user selects the wrong item, he or she can close the window. The users are also few since most of the time the user knows exactly what he or she is picking because it is specified in the picture and text.