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Blog posts tagged
"Usability"


Will Grant
11 July 2022

UX Deep Dive: Classify interactions for a more intuitive user interface

Design Article

We try hard to make our products as intuitive and familiar as possible, but there will always be “advanced” options and rarely-used features. So how do we decide what order and prominence to give to these lesser-used features? ...


Canonical
23 March 2013

Three main types of user behaviour found in ubuntu.com testing

Ubuntu User Experience

Understanding user behaviour through user research is an integral part of our design process. In the last ubuntu.com website testing, some insights surfaced about user behaviour, which could help to shape a great user experience for our website. We share the three mains ones here. They have been much discussed in the UX, and the ...


Canonical
7 May 2012

Ubuntu Developer Summit: Design Theatre

Ubuntu Research

Normally the Ubuntu/Canonical Design Team are busy working on our own projects, but it makes a really good change to work on other Free Software design problems for a change. Starting at 22:00 UTC (15:00 PDT) on Monday 7 May 2012, you can join us for the next Ubuntu Design Theatre at the Ubuntu Developer ...


Canonical
16 March 2012

Task switching in Ubuntu, and a introduction to ‘The Spread’

Ubuntu Design

Introduction to task switching A key part of any operating system user interface is how it enables the user to switch between multiple tasks. In most desktop operating systems tasks are encapsulated into windows, and the most frequently used method of multi-tasking is window switching. Desktop OSs have multiple methods of window switching ...


Canonical
2 March 2012

About Usability Testing – Recruiting

Ubuntu Article

Every three months, I conduct benchmark usability testing.  I’m calling these tests ‘benchmark testing’ because the aim of these sessions is to measure our progress towards achieving a great user experience with Ubuntu.  Last testing took place in October 2011.  I am now preparing for testing 12.04 to take place a couple of weeks from ...


Canonical
16 February 2012

The Unity design process (and how you can play a part in it)

Ubuntu Design

How is Unity designed?  How can I contribute to this process?  Why did you make thus and such decision? The Unity Design Team is frequently asked these questions, and this article aims to de-mystify our design process and highlight the different ways in which volunteer contributions can help improve the Ubuntu user experience. Before divi ...


Canonical
4 August 2011

Thunderbird & Evolution Usability Testing

Ubuntu User Experience

Recently we hired an external consultant to compare the usability of 2 email clients: Thunderbird and Evolution. I have taken some highlights from the report to compose this blog. Setting of the usability session The sessions took place in early June at the Canonical Office in London. Thirty participants were recruited. All of them used ...


Canonical
22 April 2011

Unity Benchmark Usability – April 2011

Ubuntu Research

First and last impressions of Unity were that it was quite user-friendly, and pleasing in its design and ease of learning. The majority of participants left the session with very positive feelings and were looking forward to Unity’s release so they could download it. In short, participants in this testing session were considerably more po ...


Matthew Paul Thomas
7 March 2011

That’s it, we’re quitting

Ubuntu Design

The “Quit” command in applications today is a relic from the days when the original Macintosh had no hard disk and couldn’t multitask. Modern applications have made this command increasingly annoying. Fortunately, though, modern PCs have also made it increasingly unnecessary. Mobile operating systems have, for the most part, eliminated th ...


Canonical
16 February 2011

Thunderbird in the Usability Lab!

Cloud and server Research

 I have just completed sessions of usability testing of Thunderbird. This time, I had the pleasure of working with Andreas Nilsson, who came to London to observe the sessions. It was very useful to get his feedback and to work collaboratively with him on the analysis and implications of the findings. In addition to ...


Canonical
16 February 2011

DanRabbit on the Ubuntu One Desktop

Ubuntu Design

Hey Ubuntu One and Design fans! This is my first post here, and I have to say I feel priveledged to be able to write to you all. Recently I’ve been working with the Ubuntu One team on the desktop syncing apps, and trying to give them some special attention. I feel like these apps ...


Canonical
13 January 2011

Can We Appropriate Design?

Ubuntu Research

’Appropriation’ – the taking of a product and using it for one’s own purposes, in ways unintended by the product creators – is implicitly at the core of the philosophy of opensource, because openness provides for change, adaptation and innovation. Design specifications Last year, I conducted several research projects to understand how d ...


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