A discussion of Technological Frames applied at a Usability Test

Abstract

This thesis is a discussion about the concept of Technological Frames. The concept was applied at an usability test in order to investigate how users applied their frames in the sense making process of learning a system. The test was conducted at Cisco’s video conference systems, Ocean and T3. The test and analysis proved a high correspondence between usability measurements and technological frames, as frames could answer the reasons for the testers decision making. Technological frames were also an adequate, but not sufficient, analytical tool to investigate the impact the designers frames had on the outcome of the interface. Technological Frames proved it self limited by the concepts own construction, as it saw frames as sense-making devises that functioned as guidelines, only to be applied in similar context as the existing frame. Technological Frames did not look upon the technology itself as a frame, while the findings presented in this thesis exposed that both testers, technology and designers inhabited a set of frames. Due to this, the concept of UF was created, to serve as a dynamic mind-set for investigating the intersection between the three elements. Genres, signs and gestures were applied to the UF concept, in order to assist Knowledge, Experience and Expectations in the process of understanding the interaction between the user and the technology. The UF tool was introduced to assist designers in the process of understanding and designing for their users, beyond the level of usability measurements.