Goals

Participant Ideas

We could consider 3 broad categories of users:

1. Novice to Gnome (Kubuntu or Xubuntu user?)

2. Novice to GnomeShell, but experienced with Gnome desktop

3. Novice to anything other than Windows

Gnome Shell's Stated Areas of New Paradigms

1. Launching applications
2. Accessing documents
3. Organizing open windows

Task Ideas

Basic Users

1. Add a directory of MP3 songs from a CD to the media player library
   • Provide disk
   • Rhythmbox media player
   • Checks: accessing hardware peripherals, juggling 2 applications (Nautilus, RB)
2. Copy table 1 from document 1 into document 2 as table 6
   • Provide document 1 and document 2 (possibly a very recent one and a very old one)
   • Checks: finding and opening files, moving data between windows
3. Find image added to collection 3 weeks ago and email to a friend
   • Provide image name and date of change (approx) and email contact info
   • Thunderbird or Evolution?
   • Checks: finding files based on age/name, attaching files to email

Advanced Users

1. Create a workspace for email and messaging, one for image editing, one for document editing, and one for media player
   • Same email as previous task, have instant messenger chat with user incoming
   • Use GIMP for image editing, have multiple images open (make lots of windows)
   • Use same document editing as previous task
   • Use same media items as for previous task
   • Have all open and ready for user - present them with a lot of Windows, just don't have them organized on workspaces (or have some open, some not)
2. Edit a file requiring root permission (e.g. add a new ip/host to /etc/hosts)
   • Test being able to elevate to super user permissions

I'm not sure what kind of tasks would be realistic for workspace management - that is more of something people do to help them get other tasks done quicker.

CalumBenson: FWIW, here's the list of tasks we used in Sun's last GNOME desktop study (which was a few years ago now):

1. Start up, log in, explore desktop for frequently used software.
2. Modify the desktop to support frequent work activities, test lock screen, modify system preferences.
3. Follow instructions in an email to create, save, and print a memo.
4. Find a previously saved file on external media, copy file, paste file, edit, save, and print.
5. Follow instructions in an email to set an appointment or meeting and send an email reply.
6. Follow instructions in an email to open a URL navigate to a web page, and print the content.
7. Follow instructions in an email to navigate to a network share, edit files on the network share, copy files to the local computer, and print files.
8. Log out and shut down the computer

Resources

1. Ideas on user research