DEPTH: A Method and a Web-Based Tool for Designing and Executing Scenario-Based Usability Inspections of E-Systems

Abstract

Scenario based inspection methods are currently widely used for evaluating the usability of web-based information systems (e-systems). However, it is neither easy nor cheap to find usability experts who possess the competencies for performing a usability inspection while at the same time have deep knowledge of the context for which each e-system has been developed. Moreover, the effectiveness of these methods depends on the quality of the inspection scenarios. These issues can be tackled by finding potential users of the e-systems under inspection who have basic knowledge about human-computer interaction and adequately support them to execute the appropriate scenarios. Towards this goal, a new usability evaluation method called DEPTH along with a web based tool that supports its application, have been created. This chapter describes DEPTH’s underlining philosophy which is the re-use of inspection scenarios per feature of genres of e-systems as well as the re-use design expertise which can be encoded in terms of design patterns.