The first participant for my website evaluation was my father, Jerry. He is 46 years old and he is very well-versed in the world of technology. Additionally, my dad is great when it comes to his content knowledge about video games and streaming. He actually started streaming games before I did, so I feel his content knowledge would be very high. He can then judge me on the information that I have included and he can give feedback on if this is helpful information for someone who is about to begin streaming on their own. He can even think of it from the perspective of if it would be helpful for him as he started his streaming adventure. For his test of the website, he used a windows based PC and for his web-browser he used the most current version of google chrome.
**I also provided my father with the outline of checking the html/coding for my website. He evaluated my site in the same way that I did others in the discussion forum.
My second user tester was my wife, Hayley. I had her test the site to see if she could navigate all of the different areas, I had her judge the site based on her ability to use the site as a newcomer to the world of streaming. I would be asking her for feedback mostly on this. Additionally, as someone who is unsure of what all goes into streaming, she would be able to provide me with feedback on if this site helped to describe what streaming was as well as if this site was helpful to her if she were to start her own stream. She could also provide me with questions that were not answered for someone who was just beginning. For her user test of the site she used a 2017 macbook pro and the most recent updated version of Safari for the browser.
My third user tester was my nephew who is 15 years old, Brayden. He is an appropriate user tester because he is interested in streaming, is currently into watching others stream, loves to play games and he is competent with the use of technology. He knows the basics about website code and development as he has taken courses in high school where he was required to complete tutorials on putting together basic pages. Additionally, he is one of the end targets for this site as he meets much of the criteria established in the design document for target audience. He evaluated the site on my macbook pro (2017 version) and used the latest version of safari for the evaluation process.
| Evaluation Component | Average Score |
|---|---|
| Design | 4 |
| Content | 5 |
| Credibility | 4 |
The evaluators made a lot of good recommendations throughout the forms. They talked some about the style of the website and how the fonts could be changed in order to make it easier to read. In addition to this, they felt that the font being bolded made it not look as good in terms of design. The main feedback that I got on the site from all of the evaluators came from the area of content. There is much content that has not been created yet, and this was a big area of change for them in terms of improving my site. They stated that I have pages without the appropriate content and media and that this needs to be added in order to make the website whole.
1. Website users will be able to navigate all links present in the website navigation- they will be taken to the appropriate page and the appropriate information will be displayed
Analysis: I have achieved this use case based on the feedback from those who used my site said that they were able to navigate the site. In looking at the site, the links are easy to find and they are at the top of the page. Links are named appropriately, and titles are used correctly. The links to other pages on the site are critical and function for the pilot. This is something I will build on with content as I move forward with my final project.
2. Website users will be able to use links that are embedded in the page to view products for purchase
This is an area that I have plans for but I have not currently succeeded in making sure that the links are embedded within the content. I have plans to include links when talking about how to setup a stream and which products to purchase. This is an area where I will be adding content in the future.
3. Website users will be able to view images within the pages of the site that show them specific streaming products that they may purchase
This is another area where I need to add content. I only have one initial picture on the beginning of the website page, but plan to add much more to my final product. I will be adding different pictures of the components that make up my stream. This will help the user to have a better understanding of the different products and tools that are used.
The feedback for my site was generally positive. I received high marks in a lot of areas and because of that my averages were high for the three main areas covered in the evaluation form. However, based on the feedback I need to make changes in the following areas:
+Content: Content needs to be added to all of the different pages. This is going to be important for filling out the remainder of the website. For example, I have plans to add all of the different pieces of content to the sub-headings that I have already created. Additionally, I plan to add pictures, links and other elements that will help to tie all of my ideas on streaming together. The site has the framework for success, but the content is missing. I plan to finish and add content/media to the site to give it a useful and finished feel.
+Style Changes: Some recommendations were made to the style of the site, and I am considering changes in this area. Several mentioned looking into font changes, and taking away the bold font on the site. I think this would be helpful to change that because it would then allow for bold font to carry more meaning, and it is easier on the eyes to read. I just think the contrast will look better with a different font and a different style. Additionally, I think that it would look good to have more pictures on the right side in a side frame. This will help to make the site feel like it is more immersive and it will become more appealing in the way that it looks for the user.
+Adding Credentials: One big thing that I forgot to do when creating my pilot was to tell why I am a good source of information for a new streamer. This is something that I need to add, and I believe it would be best in the home page as the first piece of information. This will help the user to know that they are working with someone who has experience, and someone who can use that experience to answer their questions about streaming.
I think the evaluation process has been a good process for me as a developer. This has led me to look at my site from different perspectives, and to try and solve problems based on the user experience. I think the importance of the user experience has been highlighted for me, and really I need to take their feedback and make changes based on what would make them have a better experience with my product. Additionally, I think it has helped to develop more creative thinking for me and it has pushed me to try things that are outside the box that I would not normally try. Because of this, I am excited to enter into the final stages of this class and put together a new and improved final website for streaming.