ACCESS - Desktop UI Remixed

What is 'Access'?

Access is a User Interface prototype for the Mac OS X that uses a ‘Magazine’ as the visual metaphor, instead of the traditional desktop interface that was created in the 1980’s modelling an office environment. The ‘Desktop’ metaphor isn’t appropriate for most of the current users who don’t necessarily use their Mac’s for traditional office work and can’t relate to concepts such as files and folders which underlie the ‘Desktop’ metaphor.

Who is it for?

The target audience for the Access are Magazine Publishers and the version we developed was tailered for students as well.

Why is it needed?

Access provides a more organized and systematic way of maintaining a user’s life on a system and it is based on “semantically meaningful activities” of the users. This easy to use custom made UI for Magazine Publishers empowers them to utilze the power of the desktop with better access to their tools, news and other activities and at the same time, allows non-tech savvy users to engage more the with desktop.

Project Members:
Wanxiao Tian – Information Architect
Nadia Ahdout - Usability Analyst
Mina Liu – Interaction Designer
Krishnan Vijayaraghavan – Prototype Developer & UX Analyst

Time Period:

30 days (October 2012 to November 2012).

Tools Used:

Wireframing: Omnigraffle

Prototype: HTML5, jQuery

Usability Testing:
We conducted usability testing on four of the course students and one Tutor. The test started with an introduction to the user, telling them what the test was meant for. They were also informed that the whole session was going to be recorded. They were then shown the landing page and asked a few questions about it. After that they were asked to perform the tasks by giving them a handout with all questions, and briefly explaining the tasks. As they were performing the tasks, we observed how they were using the system to accomplish each task. The analysis report of this test can be downloaded from the following link: www.krishnan.co.uk/demos/docs/access.docx

Prototype Demo:

Desktop Version: www.krishnan.co.uk/demos/access/