LOCATION
Site Wide
Home Page
Search Page
Technology Detail Page
UX REQUIREMENT
Allow users to get to technology publisher more easily from Polsky website
Include a balanced use of text and images across pages
Prioritize search functionality
Create a landing page that aligns with the user’s goals
Provide resources for new user’s to orient themselves to technology transfer and the Polsky Center
Concise bullet points summarizing each technology
Ensure logic behind filters captures all available technologies
Make filter capabilities more clear
Prioritize technology detail information to allow users to more easily understand a technology and its status
Concise bullet points summarizing each technology
Encourage users to explore more available technologies beyond the direct technology link sent
RATIONALE
Many users had difficulty finding the available technologies website from the Polsky home page. During the usability testing, each user found a different path to navigate to the tech publisher (some paths taking more effort/time than others)
Through our heuristic evaluation of the website, competitive analysis, and usability testing, we found inconsistency in the use of text across pages, and few visuals provided to the user. Competitors utilize a grid layout to maintain a visual balance and showcase the most technologies.
Competitors provided search bars atop their home pages, whereas to reach Polsky’s tech search bar, users had to click to another page. Usability testing revealed the need users had for the search functionality to scan for their interests quickly.
Heuristic evaluation revealed the confusion between the Polsky tech home and search pages. Usability testing, heuristics
Both usability testing and heuristic evaluation pointed to the need for the Polsky Tech Publisher website to provide a clearer visual architecture for users to navigate the site intuitively and seamlessly.
Heuristic evaluation pointed to the lack of consistency and scannability of the search page. Through usability testing, users needed to scan quickly for information, so concise summaries are necessary for them to reach their goals.
Our heuristic evaluation revealed the filter tag selections of a user would not be saved, which is inconvenient as users rely on the filters to locate technologies of interest more quickly (shown by usability testing).
It is also unclear as to whether multiple selections produced an “OR” or “AND” search type.
Heuristic evaluation pointed to the difficulty in scanning the technology page for the most relevant information to the user. Through usability testing, users needed to scan quickly for specific information, especially a technology’s status, so concise summaries are necessary for them to reach their goals.
Same rationale as above.
Our competitive analysis found that adding more precise filter criteria promotes greater exploration of the tech publisher sites, and it is significant in order to showcase as many of the Center’s technologies as possible to potential industry partners.
PRIORITY
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