Proposed initially by JakobNielsen in the seminal UsabilityEngineering, heuristic evaluation is a cheap, quick, and effective method to determine UserInterface gaffes and problems. The technique simply requires a usability expert to analyze an interface along heuristical guidelines. They just use the interface, looking for problems. This is clearly the principle technique employed in online discussions, especially here. While typically in the field, for maximum effect for the lowest cost, one uses four or five independent evaluators in a session, it should be obvious that on a wiki (or online) any number of evaluators may volunteer their input over any length of time. While on a wiki the evaluators are not independent, the open-ended time frame may make up for that.
To briefly state Nielsen's heuristics (could be expanded later), they are:
- Simple and natural dialog
- Speak the user's language
- Minimize users' memory load
- Consistency
- Feedback
- Clearly marked exits
- Shortcuts
- Precise and constructive error messages
- Prevent errors
- Help and documentation
Another good set of ten heuristics are:
- Visibility
- Match between system and real world
- User control & freedom
- Consistency & standards
- Error prevention
- Recognition rather than recall
- Flexibility and efficiency of use
- Aesthetic and minimal design
- Help users recognize, dianose, and recover from errors
- Help and documentation
There are countless other sets of heuristics, some ranging in the many dozens, although one starts questioning if those listings are particularly usable in their own right.