Usability Evaluation of an Interactive System

This report provides a usability evaluation of an interactive system, focusing on an automatic train ticket vending machine. It discusses the system's features, use cases, methodology, and evaluation. The report highlights the benefits of the system for passengers and suggests implementing advanced technologies for better functioning. No specific subject, course code, course name, or college/university is mentioned.

Running head: USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
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1USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
Part 1: The interactive system and its users
The report aims at providing a usability case evaluation on the chosen interactive system. The
interactive system considered for this report is automatic train ticket vending machine. This is a ticket
vending machine that was developed with the aim of proving quick service towards the passenger.
The main user of this interactive system are the daily passenger travelling with train. This interactive
system will eradicate the need of waiting in a long queue. Passenger can buy their tickets by just
swapping the smart cards. The smart cards are generated as soon the vending machine are
implemented in the station. Each smart card are recharged based on the requirement of the passenger.
The major benefit of having a smart card is that unlike pass the smart cards can be accessed by any
member of the family. Once the smart cards balance gets over the passenger needs to recharge their
cards. The system was developed in the year 2007 by railway for reducing the waiting time of
passengers. This is a user friendly system and provides quick access over the tickets. The passenger
needs to swipe their smart cards for making payment. The system contains a large LCD screen which
shows the map with different stations, once the user selects the source station the system asks the user
to choose number of passenger travelling and finally the payment is processed. Apart from smart
cards the system also accepts cash and coins. Around half of the population travel daily by trains and
for them this system is a very efficient way of managing their time. The machine is incorporated with
GPS that helps in selecting the stations.

2USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
Part 2: The use cases for the interactive system
The above diagram is the representation of use case diagram and is developed to understand
the usability of the interactive system. The actors associated with the usability of this interactive
system are passenger and the system. System is responsible for checking the information entered by
the users are valid or not and checks the balance of smart cards. Once the smart card is being analysed
with sufficient balance then the transaction is being processed. It is the responsibility of passenger to
select correct source station and make proper payment. After the source station is selected, the system

3USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
is releases a comment for printing the ticket than the user can collect the ticket. The amount that got
deducted after the transaction needs to be displayed so that the user can understand the balance left
within the smart card. After all the transaction is processed the system generates a thank you message
towards the users. Every passenger needs to view details properly before selecting the tickets.
Part 3: Evaluation of the methodology behind Automatic train ticket
vending machine
It is important to understand the methodology behind the interactive system. The interactive
system was developed with several advanced features, this includes GPS for selecting the destination
station. The tools that are used for developing the interactive system are MySql and GTK ( Gimp Tool
Kit). Gimp Tool Kit is a programming language that is used in combination with the Visual basics
Software’s for developing the interactive system. This is a programing language that ensure that
buttons are created. The main aim behind developing the interactive system is to ensure that all the
problems faced with traditional ticket booking system can be managed. With the help of a heuristic
evaluation the steps related to the automatic train ticket vending machines can be evaluated properly.
This helps in addressing all the issues that are faced at every stage can be analysed properly. While
performing heuristic evaluation it becomes important to have a set of evaluator that will focus on
every single steps within the interface and the working of the interactive system. Heuristic evaluation
helps to identify each problems and also offers a cost effective solution towards the problem. While
developing the system problems faced are related to the proper installation of the chips and scanner.
Apart from this it is difficult to use at first stage the user needs to have a proper knowledge about the
system developed. In order to facilitate proper usage the railway authority needs to have some staffs
that will help the passenger in operating the system. Once the user gets friendly with the system than
there will be no problem in operating the system. While performing the heuristic evaluation it is
necessary to have a set of evaluators so that the features and the problems can be addressed properly.
It is not possible for a particular person to identify all the problems and risks associated with the
implementation of interactive system. Thus a set of evaluators will help in understanding the
problems that are likely to be faced with the implementation of this interactive system. The main steps

4USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
that re needed to be considered includes the evaluation of the system and checking the systems
capability to scan the smart cards. While scanning the smart cards the system should get notified
about the balance of smart card. This will help the user to recharge the card at correct time without
fail. The printing machine that is incorporated within the system needs to be maintained properly so
that each details can be understand properly.
Par 4: Evaluation of the Interactive system
Once the system analyses all the requirements of the passengers it is important to recognize
the procedure followed by the vending machine. After performing the heuristic evaluation the
problems can be encountered properly and once the problems are analysed it becomes easy to
generate solutions. The working of the machine is very simple it just requires a scanner that will scan
te smart cards, a port through which the coins and cash can be transferred, a display screen and a
printer for printing the tickets. Sometimes it is seen that the printer faces difficulties to print the paper
or due to the lack of paper rills. The main part of the system is the printing system, thus it is important
to check and maintain the working of printing system. The application system further helped in
generating the tickets. Proper coding and procedures are required to be developed in order to get a
perfect processed output. Apart from this every contents stored in the machine needs to be organized
with a proper route map that will be able to address the requirement of the customer. Each station
should be linked with other from starting to ending so that the user can get real time view of the
system.
Part 5: Findings and evaluation
From the evaluation of chosen interactive system it can be stated that implementation of
automatic ticket vending machine will help in providing better facilities towards the passenger.
Further it is decided to implement an ARM controller with Cortex-M chip that will help in better
functioning of the ticket vending machine. Apart from this with the help of Visual basic and. Net
framework software the operating system for the interactive system can be developed. Thus will
attract more users and will gain better profits in the market. Apart from this it is important for the

5USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
railway system to develop a user friendly system with easiest way of accessing. With better and
advanced features incorporated will increase the demand of train ticket vending machine. This will be
beneficial for passengers and as well as the railways staffs. Thus it can be stated that the evaluation of
this interactive system will require developed technologies in order to operate the products successful.

6USABILITY EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM
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