University of Liverpool Library Catalogue

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University of LiverpoolLibrary Catalogue
COMP106 Assignment 2
Proposal 25
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COMP106 Assignment 2
Task Analysis
Current Users

• The users of this system are the staff and
  students of the university.
• As such it can be assumed that
• All users are competent with computer use
• Some expert users
• Therefore interface can be fairly advanced

Current Tasks

• Book Search
• Book Reservation
• Book Renewal
• Book suggestions
• Newest books

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Task Analysis
Tasks user wants to perform

• All of the previous
• Be able to undue any false reservations

How will these tasks be performed

• Site will be clear and concise, and hopefully
  obvious
• Good feedback to the user, and a guided
  interaction
• Closure and confirmation messages

How often

• Assumed, multiple times at a single visit

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Candidate Metaphors
Book?

• Navigation via turning pages
• Close book to exit
• Front cover to start over

Bookshelf?

• Search results ordered on a shelf on book spines
• Selecting a book, book is taken from shelf and
  opened to see details

Issue Desk?

• Main screen is a desk with librarian behind it
• Click librarian for account details
• Click catalogue on desk to search

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Chosen Metaphor
Bookshelf

• Shelf of books for search results
• Opening of book for book details
• Using barcode to reserve book, scanning it
• Checking inside sleeve for stamp to ascertain if
  book is out on loan, and if so, when its due back

Exploits knowledge of

• How people use libraries
• The methods used in checking out a library book

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Source Characteristics
Objects and Attributes

• Main Screen Size, colour
• Bookshelves Size, colour, name, content
• Books Name, content

Relationships

• Bookshelves are accessed from Main Screen, or
  from other Bookshelves
• Bookshelves can contain many books, or no books

Actions

• Books can be searched for from Bookshelves and
  from Main Screen
• Books can be reserved and renewed from within a
  Book
• Newest books can be viewed on a Bookshelf

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Target Characteristics
Objects and Attributes

• Screen Size, colour
• Books Title, author, subject, ISBN, On loan?,
  Reserved
• Bookshelves Many Books

Relationships

• Books can be visualised in Bookshelves
• Books are organized on Bookshelves

Actions

• Search, reserve and renew Books
• View newest books
• Suggest a new book

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Mappings
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COMP106 Assignment 2
Mappings
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COMP106 Assignment 2
Additional interface features

• Horizontal scroll bar found on Bookshelf to
  allow user to view more books than can fit on
  screen
• Find more similar button within book that will
  bring back a list of similar books of the same
  subject
• View all author button within book to show all
  books my current author
• Clear options on main screen that lead to a book
  suggestion form, and a bookshelf full of the
  latest books, with options to limit them by any
  attributes (expect title of course)

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Possible Mismatches
User is confused by bookshelf

• solution Adjacent books shall be differently
  coloured to allow books to be seen separately,
  along with clear instruction statement underneath
  shelf saying click on desired book, or scroll
  along for more

User doesnt know how to return to where they
previously where

• solution Back to Main Screen and Back to
  previous buttons on all pages, and always in the
  same position

User may think clicking on a book reserves it

• solution Clear closure messages confirming
  when books have been renewed or reserved, and a
  message when a search returns no books

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COMP106 Assignment 2
Possible Mismatches
User wants to un-reserve a book

• solution Whenever a book is reserved, it will
  clearly say so within book, along with a
  un-reserve button that will be clearly labelled
  and will ask for confirmation that the user wants
  not to reserve this book

User isnt allowed to renew

• solution Message when they log onto site
  telling them they have overdue books, or have
  renewed current book up to its limit, and
  informing them that they will need to visit the
  library in person to renew

User unsure as to how to renew or reserve books

• solution Clear instructions on screen click
  here to renew/reserve book

User wants to find similar books

• solution Clearly labelled find more similar
  button which takes you to a new bookshelf, with
  original book included on it