Your evaluation should have two main sections, both based on your experience using the applications to explore the anatomical models, and reading the documentation. In the first section, you should address the ten usability heuristics introduced in class (http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html), mentioning specific examples of how well Zygote Body and BioDigital Human do or do not satisfy each heuristic. Please do this by creating a subsection for each heuristic in which you discuss both applications, being sure to distinguish between the two applications.

In the second section, please pay special attention to the following specific areas, taking into account both cursor and keyboard interaction:

1. Camera manipulation. How the user controls camera position, orientation, and field of view. The space of possible camera configurations supported in each application. Relationships between changes in the different variables and how they are controlled in the user interface. (In your writing, please be sure to be clear about whether you are referring to a change in camera position vs. a change in camera field of view.)
2. Selection. How the user selects or deselects one or more objects or groups of objects.  How selection interacts with camera manipulation.
3. Transparency and visibility. How transparency and visibility are controlled and used.
4. Labeling. Label visibility, layout, and functionality.

For each of these four areas (each of which could be made into its own subsection), describe and compare the techniques that allow the user to accomplish their tasks for both applications. Here, it will be useful to think of some specific users and tasks that they might want to perform. Explain how these techniques work well, how they come up short, and how they could be improved. In considering these issues, please address any of the ten usability heuristics that you feel are particularly relevant. However, you are not limited to these heuristics, and should mention any issues that they do not cover. (If you are familiar with any other systems that support similar functionality, you are welcome, but not required, to optionally draw comparisons to them.)

Note that this is a written analysis/essay assignment and there is no code involved. Please think critically and provide thoughtful, well developed descriptions, explanations, and comparisons.  There is no required minimum word count, and you are not being asked to write documentation, although you are encouraged to refer to the existing documentation without repeating it. Instead, you are being asked to evaluate the usability of the systems. Therefore, you will need to make assertions about the artifacts you are evaluating (Zygote Body and BioDigital Human) and to defend assertions you make by citing the heuristics or other criteria addressed in your book or in class, and explaining how the two applications follow or violate them. Your assignment should also include an introduction and conclusions.

Please include relevant screen shots in your evaluation, integrating them into your document, instead of including them as separate images.

Hints

Imagine that you were about to interview for one of the companies whose applications you are analyzing, or perhaps another company interested in creating a competing application. As you do this assignment, try to show off your understanding of the two user interfaces and the tradeoffs between them in a way that would inspire confidence in a savvy technical interviewer (not the person from human resources).

What to Submit

You should submit your written evaluation as a PDF file, although Word files will also be accepted. It is your responsibility to make sure that any file you submit is virus-free. Note, again, that screen captures should be integrated into your document, and not included as separate images. Please be sure that your name and uni appear at the beginning of the submission.

How to Submit

Your assignment should consist of a single file that you will submit through CourseWorks. Here are the steps:

1. Log into CourseWorks.
2. Select Drop Box from the left hand navigation pane.
3. You should see a folder with your own name (if you do not, please email the TA). Click that folder to go inside.
4. From the "Add" drop down menu, select "Upload Files".
5. Select the .pdf (or .doc[x]) document you prepared and press "Upload Files Now".

Please try to submit well before the deadline, since CourseWorks can sometimes become busy and slow. You may use any number of your remaining late days on this assignment, but please start early!