EVALUATING A MULTIMEDIA AUTHORING TOOL

We present a detailed case study of a computer scientist learning and using the Cognitive Walkthrough (CW) technique to assess a multimedia authoring tool. We then compare the predictions produced by the analys is to the usability problems actually found in empirical usability fas ts. In this case, the concepts of Cognitive Walkthrough were learnable by the analyst who had little prior training in psychology or Human-C omputer Interaction, flexible enough for the analyst to make reasonabl e modifications to the technique to fit the design situation, but disa ppointingly ineffective in predicting actual user problems, We present several hypotheses about the cause of low effectiveness, which sugges t that additional knowledge, currently tacit in CW-experts, could be u sed to improve the technique, in addition, the emergent picture of the process this evaluator went through to produce his analysis sets real istic expectations for other novice analysts who contemplate learning and using Cognitive Walkthroughs.