Big Honking Report III: Prototype

BHR 3: Prototype Standardized Microwave Raquel Dottle and Virginia Pettit

The Prototype:

Screen Outputs:

Experiment: What we did: Created a physical prototype of the microwave, including only the features that users seemed interested in during both the Napkin Test and wireframe. We built the prototype mainly out of foam board, using a CNC router for cutting it out. We had the screen outputs printed out on note cards and would slide the proper notecards in and out based on user input (button pressing). User was given an object of roughly plate/bowl size to use as the food items they would be heating.

What they did: Each user was given 3 tasks that they attempted to solve by using the prototype microwave. They all did at least a few things differently than we intended, and there were multiple comments about how the changing of the screen inputs was tedious and distracting.

However, they were able to use the prototype accurately enough to gage how they would have acted with a real, working microwave and screen.

Scenarios: Scenario 1: You had pasta for dinner last night and it was great. You put the leftovers in the fridge, and now you want to eat them for lunch. How would you go about reheating your pasta?

Scenario 2: You’ve decided to venture from your microwave skills into the world of advanced cooking.

Today, you’re going to try a recipe that involves searing something for 5 and a half minutes. Use the microwave to set a 5 and a half minute timer.

Scenario 3: You are going to have a personal pizza for your meal. The box instructs you to microwave it for 3 and a half minutes. Please show how you would do that.

Results: User Profiles Age

Gender

Ethnicity

Profession

Level of use

Student

Regular

(self-stated) User 1

Early 20s

Male

White

User 2

Early 20s

Male

White

Student

Regular

User 3

Early 20s

Female

White

Student

Regular

Detailed User Test Notes Scenario 1: User 1: User started by putting his meal into microwave. He then pressed the +30 seconds button 3 times, guessing that pasta would usually take about 1:30. He then pressed start and proceed to have the microwave heat the food. When ready, he removed it. He did not use the reheat function as anticipated. I then asked “If you had to do it a different way, ​reheat it​ a different way, how would you do that?” He then said” oh, reheat button I guess, but how would it know what I was cooking and how much it was and stuff?” He clicked reheat, and then toggled to pasta, hit enter and the microwave weighed it and then cooked it. He said he wouldn’t usually trust the reheat function.

User 2: He entered 1 minute and then hit start, saying he would just guess how long he thought it would take. The microwave then cooked his food and he was content. He did not use the reheat function as anticipated. I then prompted him to “reheat” it. He paused and then hit the reheat button and toggled to pasta, then his start. The microwave weighed and cooked the food.

He noted that it was cool that it weighed the food, but he doesn’t ever use a reheat button, and he doesn’t know what the difference between reheat and defrost is. Also, he noted that he didn’t realize pressing the reheat button would give you further options.

User 3: She put the food in and clicked 5 minutes then start, stating she usually just watches the food through the window and stops it when she thinks it looks done. She did not use the reheat function as anticipated. Prompted “reheat” again. She looked at the microwave for a while and

then noticed the reheat button and pressed it. She was confused that it didn’t automatically start after that, saying that she expected it to not have another layer of decision making. She then toggled it to the pasta setting and hit start. The microwave then weighed and cooked her food.

When weighing, she asked how the microwave would know if she was using a really heavy bowl or no. She also noted that she didn’t notice the reheat button, and if she had she probably wouldn’t use it because she doesn’t trust it.

Scenario 2: User 1: User clicked the clock/timer button and then hit 5-3-0-Start. User made several snide remarks about using a microwave as a cooking timer, but had no trouble completing the task.

User 2: User clicked the clock/timer button and then entered 5-3-0 and hit start. He paused to remember that half a minute was 30 seconds, but other than that he had no trouble.

User 3: She hit the 5 button and then the +30 seconds button and then start. We didn’t anticipate using the +30 seconds function for the clock and timer, but I had it do what you’d expect and add the 30 seconds.

Scenario 3: User 1: He put his food in and then clicked 3 - 3 - 0 - Start. The microwave continued to cook his food and he took it out when it was done.

User 2: He put his food in and then entered the buttons 3 -3 -0 - Start. The microwave then cooked his food and he took it out when it was finished. He noted that some microwaves he uses start cooking as soon as you press a number, so he thought there might be a “time cook” button. Since he didn’t see one, he just entered the numbers.

User 3: She put her food in and then clicked 3 - 0 -0 and then +30 seconds then start. She said she thought it might start as soon as she clicked the 3, like her microwave does, so she usually just adds the 30 seconds after it starts.

Comments The biggest problem is obviously how no one instinctively used the reheat button, and after they were directed to they said they didn’t trust it. However, we have had other test users say that they really like the reheat function and use it a lot. People seemed to notice that it didn’t auto cook, and liked that it did not, but were a little bit confused several times. When asked for other comments, two of the users said that the defrost, soften, and beverage buttons would never be used by them, and they were just distracting. The third user said that she probably wouldn’t use them, but it was cool that they were there. That sounds like they could be taken off and no loss would be made.

Suggestions for Change Currently, the best thing we can think of to change the reheat button is to but a signifier, like maybe “…” to show that there is more to it, or maybe show a chart on the side, but you shouldn’t have to have a chart. It would be nice for the users to realize that it was not an auto-cook thing where you press a button and it starts, but we’re not sure how to signify that, only how we would signify that if it did exist. The clock and timer functions worked fine, but it’s possible that if other buttons are removed it would be best to decouple them and give them their own buttons. We’re going to think about removing beverage, soften, and defrost. Also, some users seemed to take a bit to push the start button, so it should be made bigger along with the cancel button. This is also backed up by Fitt’s law.

Because of the auto-start confusion, we’re considering swapping the number pad out for a dial. This would clean up the interface and allow us to remove the arrow keys if desired. Dials are more intuitive, but also more confusing because they don’t quite fit the mental model of a microwave. We might try A/B testing next round to clear up this discrepancy.