Usability and pilot tests on privacy dialogues : Evaluation of prototypes for data sharing online

Abstract: This study aims to investigate what can be done to make internet users more aware of what information they share with service providers, as well as to serve as a pilot test for two prototypes as a part of a EU funded project called CREDENTIAL. For these tests 12 participants were recruited. They were divided into two groups, where one group used a tablet for the tests and the other group used a computer. The test participants are introduced to the tests under the pretense that they are going to rate photographs for a given category, when in reality the purpose is to study the participants interaction with the dialogues requesting personal information they have to handle in order to receive the photos to rate. The study shows that test participant rate both prototypes similarly in terms of usability, but for actually remembering what information they shared the prototype using drag and drop functionality proved superior. As for the study as a pilot test, several issues with both prototypes have been identified and possible solutions to these issues are presented.