Assessment for PiinPoint by Conestoga - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Agousseva@cone… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Many of the search fields only have instructions in the placeholder text.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: "Missing form label" errors on each page.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When there are labels, they are usually found above the user input fields, but most input fields don't have labels.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no coloured form control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no visual indicators for required form fields.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Clicking on a report in the Reports section opens it in a new tab automatically.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Users aren't able to postpone or supress pop-ups when they occur.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Skipped heading levels on some pages.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On the main Explore page, the left menu tools (e.g., "Projects", "Points of Interest", "Target Market", "Layers", "Traffic") can't be accessed by keyboard.
On the individual report pages, the "Overview", Demographics", "Points of Interest", "Traffic" links across the top are not keyboard-accessible.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The report pages open in a new tab without a warning.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Filters update automatically when clicked on.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Sometimes the next logical item does not receive focus, and instead the focus moves away to the general map area.
eResource: PiinPoint
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: PiinPoint
Institution: Conestoga
Score: B+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form
  • Page content sometimes has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Sometimes Many of the search fields only have instructions in the placeholder text. no images
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes "Missing form label" errors on each page. no images
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always no images
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes When there are labels, they are usually found above the user input fields, but most input fields don't have labels. no images
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable There are no coloured form control labels. no images
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never There are no visual indicators for required form fields. no images

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always no images

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Always no images
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always no images
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always no images
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always no images
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always no images

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Always no images

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always no images
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always no images
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always no images
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always no images
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always no images

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always no images
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always no images
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always no images
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always no images

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Sometimes Clicking on a report in the Reports section opens it in a new tab automatically. no images
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always no images
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Never Users aren't able to postpone or supress pop-ups when they occur. no images
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always no images

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes Skipped heading levels on some pages. no images
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always no images

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always no images
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always no images
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes On the main Explore page, the left menu tools (e.g., "Projects", "Points of Interest", "Target Market", "Layers", "Traffic") can't be accessed by keyboard. On the individual report pages, the "Overview", Demographics", "Points of Interest", "Traffic" links across the top are not keyboard-accessible. no images

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Never The report pages open in a new tab without a warning. no images
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never Filters update automatically when clicked on. no images
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always no images

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always no images
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Sometimes Sometimes the next logical item does not receive focus, and instead the focus moves away to the general map area. no images
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