RESOLVING USABILITY ISSUES IN WEBGIS : A Cognitive Science Approach

Abstract: This study focuses on using cognitive principles in design, trying to resolve four problem areas (PA)found in the map layer panel of Umeå municipality’s webGIS. In a first step cognitive findings thatcould serve as principles for implementing design choices were identified. Four low fidelity (lo-fi)prototypes were created. The lo-fi prototypes were tested using think aloud tasks and asemi-structured interview. Six participants, three expert and three novice users were recruited.Participants’ opinions and thoughts were gathered to enable the development of a high fidelity (hi-fi)prototype. The hi-fi prototype was based both on the lo-fi test results and the identified cognitiveprinciples. The hi-fi prototype was again tested using think aloud tasks and a semi-structuredinterview. Three experts along with three novice participants were recruited. Opinions and thoughtsfrom the test were transcribed and categorized using combined deductive and inductive coding. Theresults of the analysis were used to answer our research question: does the use of cognitiveprinciples in designing the map layer panel of Umeå municipality's webGIS resolve the previouslyidentified usability issues? While two of the PAs seems to have been resolved in the new design, forthe other two there still seems to be some unresolved issues. It can be discussed if the unresolvedissues were due to lack of functionality of the prototype or inadequacy of the cognitive principles.