Extending usability inspection evaluation techniques for synchronous collaborative computing applications

This dissertation presents a new methodology for specifying and evaluating usability-related features of synchronous collaborative computing applications. The methodology, called Synchronous Collaborative Awareness and Privacy Evaluation (SCAPE), has two parts. First, a specification is developed for the awareness and privacy requirements of the users of a synchronous collaborative application. Second, the application is evaluated for compliance with the specification. The evaluation can be performed at multiple stages of the software lifecycle (namely, on a requirements definition, design, prototype, or implementation of the application).; Unlike techniques for evaluating single-user applications, SCAPE focuses on issues that are unique to collaborative applications. And unlike previous techniques for evaluating collaborative applications, SCAPE uses fine-grained analysis of the requirements of individual users playing specific roles and performing specific tasks during a collaborative session. SCAPE is based on an analysis of theories of collaborative work. It is classified as an inspection evaluation technique since it is performed without the need for human test subjects.; Contributions of the dissertation project include (1) a new vocabulary for describing awareness requirements; (2) the SCAPE methodology, with techniques for fine-grained analysis of users' awareness and privacy requirements, specification of awareness and privacy requirements, estimating the level of effort necessary to perform the evaluation phase of SCAPE, and performing an evaluation of an application's compliance with a SCAPE specification; (3) problem report forms tailored to synchronous collaborative applications; (4) a handbook for performing SCAPE specification and evaluation, and (5) a demonstration that SCAPE can be used by its intended audience of experienced usability evaluators.