Formative Evaluation

We implemented the cognitive walkthrough technique to test out our prototype.

Prototype & Tasks

Task 1: Find nearby disposal locations to dispose of 5 plastic bottles, 3 cardboard boxes, and 1 laptop.

You have already logged in to the Carbage system. You need to properly throw away 5 plastic bottles, 3 cardboard boxes, and 1 laptop. You need to add the garbage information. Find the nearest places where you can throw away your things.

Task 2: Calculate carbon footprint for the last week.

Imagine you already have put in garbage information for the past seven days. You want to look at how much carbon pollution your garbage made this past week.

Task 3: View techniques to reduce the carbon footprint for their plastic bottles.

You have a lot of plastic bottles so you’re worried about how much pollution they’re making and want to look at ways to lower it. You have already entered your garbage previously. Find ways to lower your carbon footprint.

Task 4: Find ways to reuse the cardboard boxes.

You don’t feel like taking your cardboard boxes to a recycling center because they’re too big for you to carry, so you want to look at ways you can reuse them. You have already entered your garbage previously.

Proposed Changes

For the fourth task, users initially tried clicking the “Information” tab instead of "Total CF". We consider either adding an additional dropdown for articles about reusing to the “Information” menu or moving "Total CF" to the middle of the screen.

We will also add more forms of system feedback when a user interacts with the system, such as a different color when a category button is selected. In addition, we will also consider changing or adding wording on the home page, since one of the testers stated that they were drawn to the “Where are you?” prompt first. Lastly, we will consider adding an additional way for the user to view all of their inputted garbage so far, such as by having a pop-up window and an additional icon on the side of the screen at all times, or a sidebar.