Usability Evaluation of an Interactive System

This report discusses the usability evaluation of an automatic train ticket vending machine, including its features, benefits, and implementation. It also explores the use case diagram and the evaluation methodology used. The findings of the evaluation are presented, along with suggestions for improvement.

Running head: USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN AUTOMATIC TRAIN
TICKET VENDING MACHINE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
Part 1:
Automatic train ticket vending machine
The chosen interactive system for this report is automatic train ticket vending
machine. Automatic ticket vending machines were introduced with the aim of reducing the
waiting time of passengers in railway counters. This interactive system are touch screen
basically based on ticketing kiosks operated with the use of smart cards. The interactive
system was developed in the year 2007 for railway system with the aim of reducing the queue
length at booking counters. This machine provides quick tickets with the help of smart cards.
These system save the time of passenger and offers an easy way of getting the tickets. Once
the user operates the touch screen display a route map gets displayed from which the user can
choose their destination station. After the system gets the input from user than the system
evaluates the ticket cost and this are further paid with smart cards or with direct cash. Around
12 lacks smart cards are sold around the major division of railways. This system also allows
inputting money directly and processing the ticket accordingly. There is a separate validator
that accepts coins and notes separately. The ticket gets printed with a high speed of 3 Inch
thermal paper with the date of journey, time and proper serial number. According to the
people with the implementation of automatic train ticket vending machine the journey can be
done smoothly. The users does not need to wait long for getting tickets and can buy tickets
just before departure without waiting in long queue. Automatic vending machine offers both
smart card and payment directly with cash. Every citizen purchases local tickets frequently
and thus I offers a great flexibility towards the customer. The usability of this interactive
system has gained huge popularity among the people as it helps the user to save their time at
the time of emergency. This are useful for the people who travel on regular basis, they can
get quack access to the machine. The operation of this system are quite easy. The user needs

2USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
to just place their smart cards on the ATVM machines card sensor area. After that the display
will show the map with stations and the user needs to choose their destination station. Once
the source station is selected the user needs to choose the number of passenger and whether
there is any child or not. After this the amount of the ticket gets deducted from the card and
the system prints the ticket through validating the machine slot. The implementation of the
system has gained huge importance. 8 out of 100 citizen uses this system because of the
features offered by the system. Moreover anyone from the family can access this smart cards.
No need to stand in a huge queue neither there is a need to worry about the change. Around
7.5 million people uses train service on regular basis and approximately more than half of this
population uses automatic train ticket vending machine. Machine contains GPS with the help
of which passenger can select destination. The tools used for developing the software Mysql
and GTK. GTK stands for Gimp Tool kit this is a programming language that is used with
Visual Basics software’s. this is not a designing software but is a type of programming
language that helps in creating buttons.
Part 2: The Use Case Diagram

3USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
The use case diagram is developed for automatic ticket vending machine. The main actors of
this system are passenger and system. The passenger focuses on scanning the smart cards. Once the
smart card is being scanned the system verified the smart card. After the smart card is approved and
the balance is checked the system allows the passenger to make further transaction. After this the
passenger view the details reading the ticket and accordingly book thee ticket. Once the ticket is being
booked the system displays the payment option and after that the system generates a dispense ticket
message towards the system. Once the system gets the dispense message the ticket gets printed and
the passenger can collect the ticket from the system.
Part 3:
Evaluation of the methodology
The aim of developing such an interactive system is to ensure easy way of getting ticket
in shortest time. The methodology behind the interactive system is to address the issues faced
in the time of emergency. Once the automatic train ticket vending machine gets developed it

4USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
is important or the railway team to prepare smart cards for the passengers. The smart card
will be issued from the nearest location at railway station. Every smart card is needs to be
filled with certain amount of money that can be used at the time of buying tickets. The smart
cards will facilitate the passengers who want to book their tickets. After the cards is being
issue they can use it until the time balance of the card gets over.
The process in which the user will perform the use of interactive system are as follows:
 Smart card will be generated by the smart card counters. Every customer can have
their own smart cards with the amount of balance they want.
 After this the user needs to use this smart card at the automatic train ticket vending
machine’s sensor. Once the card is detected properly with the help of card reader, the
large screen will display details regarding the source station.
 After the system displays the set of source station with route the user needs to select
anyone as destination station.
 After this the machine will ask the user to provide input regarding the number of
passenger traveling.
 Once the system gets all the information from passenger than the automatic ticket
vending machine will generate the amount that is being deducted from the smart card.
 After this the printer generates the ticket with time, destination station details and date
of journey.
The applied methodology will help passenger in having a comfortable journey. After
identifying the key aspects it becomes important to have a design that will successfully help
in managing the ticket vending machine. The ultimate aim of using this ending machine is to
have a design that will fulfil the need of passengers. Heuristic evaluation helps in finding the
problems associated with the developed interactive system. This includes having a set of
evaluator that will help in examining the interface and the working of interactive system.

5USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
Heuristic evaluation offers a cost effective method for understanding the usability and design
problems with the help of few evaluators. Thus with the help of this method quick progress
can be achieved and insight of the usability of developed interactive system can be gained.
However it can be said that it is not possible for a single person to understand the problems
faced with the use of interactive system, thus there arises a need of more experts. The
evaluators are allowed to communicate with each other only when the evaluation are
completed.
Part 4: Evaluation
After analysing all the requirements of passenger from the interactive system it is
important to understand the procedure of ticket vending machine. The heuristic analysis
procedure includes several stages. At the first stage, customer needs to select the type of
payment they need to make. Once the customer places the smart card the transaction takes
place. After that the machine gets initiation to generate a route map that will describe the
path. After this the customer needs to choose the source station and once the user chooses the
source station, the machine prints the ticket. With the help of heuristic evaluation made, the
survey states that customer will be beneficial with this machine. The central part includes the
printing capability of the system. With the implementation of this interactive system use can
get real time experience within less time. Application system further helps in managing and
calculating the ticket fairs. The smart cards used for transaction holds account details required
for performing transactions. Further it is decided to implement ARM microcontroller Cortex-
M chip within the ticket vending machine that will help in further functioning. It is important
to organize and manage the contents that are displayed in the huge display screen. The
evaluation of the heuristic analysis will help in determine the possible risks associate with the
inventory system. The characteristic of the automatic ticket vending machine has exposed the
critical aspects that are used for achieving a proper vending machine with maximum benefits.

6USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
While using this system it is expected that not every user will be capable of using it. Thus it is
important to have a staff of the railway department who will demonstrate the procedure and
will help in learning the procedure. Everyone in today’s world adapts faster with changes,
thus it will be beneficial to have a system for faster transaction and for getting quick service.
It is observed that some people tends to seek the old service that is buying tickets from the
counter, they don’t have any intention to learn new things. According to them old methods
are the convenient options. Thus it is important for every railway department to aware the
passengers about the benefits that can be achieved with the use of automatic train ticket
vending machine. Apart from all this the machines developed should be evaluated frequently
in order to check the performance. With proper support and updated version the machine will
last for a long time.
Part: 5
Findings of the evaluation:
From the evaluation of interactive system it can be stated that the implementation of
automatic ticket vending machine will offer a high speed service towards the passenger. It is
important to understand the working and the structure of vending machine. The vending
machine works based on the input provided by the user. The design of the system includes a
LCD display that is attached with arm microcontroller and a keypad indirectly. The arm
micro controller is connected with a printer that will print the ticket after being evaluated.
From the evaluation it can be stated that the machine proposed will utilize maximum
technologies in order to produce the products within the time. The automatic ticket vending
machine also consumes less power as compared to the other existing machines. Apart from
this it is expected that this implementation will be able to rectify all the problems. Moreover
this machine will reduce the wait time and will help the passenger in having a convenient

7USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
journey. The proposed system mainly aimed at providing local tickets. That is the journey
within a fixed range of kilometre. Automatic train ticket vending machines expected to work
faster and deliver the results with short time interval. Both the facility of cash and smart cards
will help the inventory system to reach maximum passengers. Visual basic and .net
framework software is developed on the basis of WinCE 6.0 operating system. This is used as
a platform for generating tickets. The implementation of this module is divided into several
units. Not everyone travel regular and there is no need to make smart cards for less journey.
Thus from the evaluation it is expected that his machine will be helpful for maximum users. I
order to have a better service it is suggested that creation of interface that will help be
passenger friendly will advance the working of automatic ticket vending machine system.

8USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERCATIVE SYSTEM
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