A BOSS interface generator permits rapid development whilst ensuring consistency to in-house standards. To ensure high quality graphical design and a consistent corporate image for our InterNet web, a Page Editor has been developed which has a defined set of graphical elements and interaction standards. Recent activities include the use of iterative design and rapid prototyping. This enables project costing to remain acceptable, whilst permitting savings due to usability problem discovery early in the lifecycle. Prototyping has facilitated communication with users, improving input of constructive criticism and reducing misunderstandings.
Suggestions vary from simple improvements to task structures up to ideas for full scale projects.
Users are asked to rank applications monthly, helping to identify unsuccessful applications which may need usability testing and modification. The HCI group is extending the project lifecycle to include issues such as usability goal setting, user testing mechanisms and usability problem identification. The emphasis is on incorporating these as a standardised part of the lifecycle. In-house usability literature is being developed in Catalan to help Project Heads understand principle themes, concerns and activities. In the past two years a considerable investment has been made for hardware and software.