Practical Findings from Applying Innovative Design Usability Evaluation Technologies for Mockups of Web Applications

Web flow is an optimal perceived user experience which improves the user orientation and navigational behaviors towards Web applications. In order for Web applications to achieve Web flow in terms of navigation, it is necessary to enhance their degree of user interaction. However, despite their importance, user interaction features that can improve ease of use and navigation are mostly evaluated late in development. This paper presents practical findings from applying proposed Design Usability Evaluation (DUE) technologies. Such technologies allow the usability inspection of Web applications mockups to reduce the cost of identifying and fixing navigation and ease of use problems early in the development process. We planned an empirical study to evaluate: (a) the capability of applying these technologies without training, and (b) the perceived ease of use and utility of the technologies, using the Technology Acceptance Model. The results show that the DUE technologies could be used without training to find problems affecting navigation and ease of use of Web applications. Also, practitioners agreed that using the DUE technologies could enhance their performance during an inspection. Finally, we provide a list of some of the identified user interaction problems that, if avoided, could aid in the improvement of Web flow.