Heuristics as Mental Shortcuts in Evaluating Interactive Systems

Abstract

Heuristics refer to the specific “rules-of-thumb” discovered from knowledge or experience which can simplify the complexity of making judgments. Heuristics are mental shortcuts to draw conclusions when evaluating interactive systems. In this study, a set of heuristics had been discovered by end-users while developing a series of prototypes of a test blueprint system. This study suggests that the design process of an interactive system should cater to the following two (2) components, namely: technical heuristics and specialized domain heuristics. Heuristics from these components should be the emphasis during the evaluation of the interactive system that has been designed using a user-centered paradigm of development called the Interaction Design Model (IDM).