Pathfinder Helps a Leading Worldwide Provider of Predictive Analytics Software to Create a Customized Interview Application
Challenge:
A leading worldwide provider of predictive analytics software and solutions contracted to create a customized interview application for one of their clients. The application would be developed for use on the desktop and the web, but needed to provide a seamless experience for end users. The web portion would leverage the client’s existing proprietary interview software, and would be used for data entry, while the desktop component would provide a set of functionality for users to manage the data (for example, Search, Edit, Export, Synchronize). This project proved challenging since most of the users gather their data on tablet PCs, and may or may not have access to a physical keyboard. Although the tablet users have the option to view the application in portrait orientation, the design needed to be optimized for a landscape orientation, with a display format identical to a laptop or desktop screen (1024×768 pixels).
Solution:
Pathfinder provided a seamless user experience by ensuring that user interactions and system behaviors were intuitive and reliable, regardless of the back end of any individual screen.- Gathering user requirements allowed us to construct a detailed user profile, which guided our design decisions
- User testing of a prototype of the application with proxy users uncovered valuable information on refining our taskflows and provided direction on optimizing the design for the hardware that would be used. For example, buttons were increased in size to accommodate the use of a stylus.
- To accommodate future implementations of the application while retaining a consistent appearance, a full suite of buttons and other visual design elements were designed, to be incorporated as new functionality is launched.
- Consistent visual design and labeling afforded a seamless look and feel.
Impact:
- The application was so well-received by our client’s intended customers that our client began development of another, more broadly applicable version of the product. This general version will eventually be customizable for the specific requirements of their other customers.