McDonald's Food Delivery App: HCI Analysis, Design, and Evaluation

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the human-computer interaction (HCI) aspects of the McDonald's food delivery application. It begins with an introduction to HCI and its importance, followed by a comparison of various developments in HCI, including GUI, command prompts, and touchscreens, and their impact on user experience. The report then delves into the design elements, comparing skeuomorphic and flat design approaches, and discusses user issues within the McDonald's app. A key component is the evaluation of the app using Shneiderman's eight golden rules for interface design, supported by a questionnaire to gather user feedback. The report also explores the redesign of the system, outlining steps to improve user interaction, incorporating principles like system status visibility, real-world object representation, and error prevention. The report concludes with a critical evaluation of testing and feedback, discussing functionality and usability tests, and offers recommendations for improving the app's performance, including fixes for login and track order issues, password validation, and contact information. The report aims to provide insights into the design and usability of the app, leading to practical recommendations for improvement.

Human Computer
Interaction

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Comparison of developments in HCI, user issue and modelling techniques .......................3
1.2 Skeuomorphic, flat design and impact of HCI at workplace................................................4
Flat design ..................................................................................................................................4
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Redesign and creation of human computer interaction system ............................................6
3.2 Principle used in redesigning of system ...............................................................................7
3.3 Critical evaluation of testing and feedback ..........................................................................8
3.4 Recommendations ................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Human computer interaction is a technique used to determine how individuals make
interaction with computers (Baecker, ed., 2014). It is also used to identify the development
needed in computers for user friendly interactions. HCI is studied by many major corporations
and institutions to understand the interaction of humans with computers. McDonald’s is the food
delivery company in United Kingdom. It delivers food through its mobile application. Present
report describes about the latest developments in human interaction systems. In the present
report, impact of HCI at the workplace has been discussed. Issues to the chosen food delivery
application are explained as well. Apart from that, there is discussion on modelling interface for
food delivery app and analyation has been done.
TASK 1
1.1 Comparison of developments in HCI, user issue and modelling techniques
Various developments have been made in human computer interaction. McDonald's
delivers food products through its mobile app (Lazar, Feng and Hochheiser, 2017).
Technological developments in application are required to make it user friendly for individuals.
Company has made various developments in its application like use of GUI, command prompt
and touchscreens.
Command
prompt
Function keys Direct
manipulation
Form filling Menu
HCI
developments
in technology
Command line
interface is
being used in
the app.
Interaction in
app is done by
using special
keys. For
effective
interaction in
keys,
combination
of keys is
used.
Objects in the
applications
are
represented
graphically on
the touch
screen.
Form filling in
the app is
same like user
is filling form
on paper.
Menu section
of the app has
list of actions
that user wants
to do on app.
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Developments
in HCI
The user can
easily type one
command at
single time.
User can use
different keys
to enter data in
the fields.
Graphical
metaphors are
there in the
app.
User can fill
form in app by
using the
touchpad.
Menus in app
redirects to the
choose option.
User Issues Low visibility
and error
corrections are
not easy for
novice users.
Context
sensitive help
is not present
in the app.
Also, warning
message is
missing in
this.
Operations are
non-reversible
in app.
Visibility issue Options
available in
menu bar
redirects to
the blank page
and it is an
error in
making of
page.
Developments
of systems
Event driven
system is used
in app
Use of key
controls
Multimedia
systems are
used in app
Use of drag
keypad in
form filling
Real-time
menu system
Modelling
techniques
Convergence
modelling
Function
modelling
Conceptual
modelling
techniques
Data
modelling
User interface
modelling
1.2 Skeuomorphic, flat design and impact of HCI at workplace
Skeuomorphic Flat design
HCI developments in
technology
It is termed as traditional look
of application used for mobile.
(Monk. ed., 2014).
In the application of flat
design, approach is used as an
interface in which elements
resemble 3 dimensional objects
(Norman, 2017).
Developments in HCI In this, object on app
resembles real with the
The 3 dimensional interface in
app provides users a visual
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world’s entities. hierarchy.
User Issues Users who are novice are
unbalanced to interact with
app.
Flat design method has solved
the issue faced by user.
Developments of systems Multimedia systems are being
used.
User has faced the issue of
unavailability of signs on
clickable elements in the app.
Modelling techniques Data modelling techniques like
ER diagrams are used.
Schema modelling technique is
being used.
Description of HCI interactive elements: Human computer interaction have following
elements: Visibility: State of the object should be visible and there should be the choices available
(Hoc, ed., 2014). Feedback: It should be timely and visual. It should not distract from the task to be done. Affordance: Object should look real and must resemble with real world properties. Mapping: There should be relationship between objects in the application environment
like menu bar should be placed at the top of the applications. Constraints: Interactions should be physical and semantical.
 Habituations: Systems used in app should be internalized so that users can perform their
tasks easily.
TASK 2
Evaluation for the chosen McDonald's food delivery app can be done using
Shneidermans's eight golden rules for interface design (Shneidermans's, 2017). Questionnaire
for evaluating the systems is as follows:
Questionnaire
Name -
Age -
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Education qualification -
Q 1. Do you think food app is working properly and delivering better results?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 2. Are you agree that the food application is striving for consistency?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 3. Is application allowing for the use of shortcuts for frequent users?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 4. Does the food application platform an option of informative feedback?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 5. Do you think that system is offering simple error handling techniques?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 6. Is the food application providing easy change of actions performed on app by mistake?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Can't say
Q 8. Provide suggestions for making improvement in the application in 100 words.
Suggestion for the application improvement: It is recommended that app should have
consistency in the actions performed on it. It should allow frequent users to make use of shortcut
keys to perform actions in a speedy way. For any action performed by the user on app, there
should be some feedback come from the system. Application is lacking in error handling options.
It is required that app should have detection system to find and correct the errors done by user.
TASK 3
3.1 Redesign and creation of human computer interaction system
Redesigning of the existing food delivery application system can be done in the
following steps: System status: System requires a status option in which the user can get information
about the happenings in application (Earnshaw, ed., 2014). It can be implemented using
Balsamiq mock ups used in HCI.
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 Real world objects: System is lacking in familiar environment for user so in redesigning
of same, proper real world conventions are required to be implemented. It can be done
using user oriented approach. Error prevention: Error prevention is required in the application to provide proper error
message after inappropriate actions performed by user. Habituation element of human
computer interaction system can be used to implement error prevention system. Flexibility: There is lack of flexibility in the existing application. Novice user cannot use
it efficiently (North and Mancini, 2016). System should cater interaction which is
efficient for both novice and non – novice user. In recreation of system, it can be
implemented by using constraint element of HCI.
 Help option: Help option is necessary for any new user who is interacting with system
for the first time. Any information for which the user is looking for in application should
be searchable in the help option. In recreation of system, it can be implemented using
habituation element of HCI.
3.2 Principle used in redesigning of system
In redesigning of the food delivery application, system 10 usability Heuristic of HCI
theory has been used. This theory works on 10 principles which provide guidelines for effective
user interface system. Guidelines are as follows: System status visibility: Interaction system should have feature which can inform users
about current activities on the screen. . Visible status should be displayed on screen for
particular period of time. Real world resembling of system: Designer of the system should use language and object
which resembles with the real world entities. It will help user in interacting with the app
efficiently. It will also reduce strain and system will be easier to operate. Control of user: Application interface should have features to undo the actions done by
user mistakenly. Reversible action is required in the app to correct the previous activity. . Consistency and standards: Designer of the interface should make application consistent
and according to the defined standards. For example: if a figure in the system is
representing a category then it can’t represent other category in the application
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 Prevention of error: In the designing phase of interface, designer should design system
with minimal errors. Users avoid being called up for identifying the errors. Errors can be
prevented in application interface by using flag option which indicates errors in the
system.
 Documentation and help: Documentation is necessary in the application interface as
users sometimes need help to interact with the system (Bench-Capon, ed., 2015).
3.3 Critical evaluation of testing and feedback
In the testing phase, interface and functionality of McDonald’s food delivery application
are tested. Various techniques have been used to test the system among which some are like: Functionality testing: Testing is done to examine the functionality of application
interface (Hoc, Cacciabue and Hollnagel, 2013). Validations have been applied on each
field like menu, register, login, track and home. It has been evaluated that register and
menu functions are working properly whereas login page is redirecting back to the
register page. Apart from that, track order page shows invalid information. Usability testing: In usability testing, simplicity of the application is tested. Interaction
of the application means how easy and simple the app for user is tested. Expert users are
able to interact with application and they are not facing any issue regarding interface.
However, new users are facing some issues in the operating app.
 Platform independent: In this testing, app is examined on each application platform. It
has been evaluated that application was working on android and IOS platform. On the
other hand, it is not working smoothly on IOS as that on android platform.
On the basis of feedback got from users, weak areas of the application have been
identified. Some errors are in the app which need to be resolved for interaction of app with users.
3.4 Recommendations
It is recommended that login page was not working properly as it was redirecting the user
to register page. McDonald's food delivery requires rectification in kinking of its app pages.
Code used in making of page requires modification where redirection link should be set to login
page. Another problem was occurred in track order page in which itwas not showing the required
information. Amendments in coding of track page is needed to show the relevant information. In
login page, password textbox was not accepting special characters. This problem is needed to be
8

resolved as password section should accept special characters to avoid password hacking.
“Contact us” page of the application was only showing number of the food delivery company but
it has to show address of food organisation as well.
3.5 Result interpretation and actual test vs expected test result
Expected Test Results Actual Test
While touching on homepage section of the
application, it is expected that it should
redirect on the home page of food app.
Actual test was same as expected result and it
was redirecting to the home page of food
delivery app.
Login page on application needs to give sign in
to user in the app.
It was redirecting to the register page where
user has to refill resister credentials in repeat
mode.
“Contact us” page need to show the
information about organisation.
It was not showing the relevant information
required by user.
Menu bar of the application is expected to
show complete information about all the
products available.
It was working properly and was showing
information which is required by the user.
Track order page is expected to show the
tracking information of product ordered by
user.
It was not showing the tracking information of
order and was redirecting to the blank page.
CONCLUSION
Summing up the above report, it has been concluded that human computer interaction is
highly important for any application to be effective and user friendly. It is essential that
interaction of app with the user is simple and easier. It is important for the app to be user friendly
as it helps him/her to deal with application appropriately. Skeuomorphic and flat design are the
latest approaches used in HCI. It is recommended that the chosen food delivery application needs
to resolve errors and bugs in application so that user can easily operate the app.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baecker, R. M. ed., 2014.Readings in Human-Computer Interaction: toward the year 2000.
Morgan Kaufmann.
Bench-Capon, T. J. ed., 2015.Knowledge-based systems and legal applications (Vol. 36).
Academic Press.
Earnshaw, R. A. ed., 2014.Virtual reality systems. Academic press.
Hoc, J. M. ed., 2014.Psychology of programming. Academic Press.
Hoc, J. M., Cacciabue, P. C. and Hollnagel, E., 2013.Expertise and technology: cognition &
human-computer cooperation. Psychology Press.
Lazar, J., Feng, J. H. and Hochheiser, H., 2017.Research methods in human-computer
interaction. Morgan Kaufmann.
Monk, A. F. ed., 2014. Fundamentals of human-computer interaction. Academic Press.
Norman, K., 2017. Cyberpsychology: An introduction to human-computer interaction.
Cambridge University Press.
North, S. and Mancini, C., 2016. Introduction. Interactions. 23(4). pp.34-36.
Online
Shneidermans's. 2017. Accessed through: <http://www.designprinciplesftw.com/>. [Accessed on
12th June 2017].
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