[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 69003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31963]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Evaluation of the Common Industry Format (CIF) for Reporting the
Results of Usability Tests
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment
on proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 7,
2000.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 or via the
Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to: Sharon Laskowski, Ph.D., National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8940,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8940.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Common Industry Format (CIF) has been developed as part of the
IUSR (Industry USability Reporting: http://www.nist.gov/iusr) Project.
The goal of that project is to find ways to highlight the importance of
usability in software development. Companies that make software can now
use the CIF to communicate their findings on usability; the CIF can be
used by companies that buy software to help make more informed
decisions.
CIFter (Common Industry Format--Testing of Usability Evaluation
Reports) is a project that seeks to determine whether the extent of the
variability in usability test results can be minimized by using a
common format for reporting results. CIFter participants will use the
CIF (developed in the NIST IUSR project) in the context of an
experimental setting to report on results of user testing of a web site
to be designated by CIFter.
In order to validate the use of the CIF for reporting usability
results, the CIFter project team plans to identify a website and 5 or
more evaluation teams. These teams will be recruited from professional
usability practitioners, the software industry, and academic
institutions. Each of the teams will perform testing of the website and
will report the results of their evaluation in the recommended format
(CIF).
Alternatively, NIST expects that members of the IUSR project, both
in the U.S. and Europe, might submit completed CIF forms to facilitate
comparison of reports from a variety of companies. NIST's role in such
cases would be to facilitate sharing of the results among its
industrial participants.
II. Method of Collection
After performing a usability analysis of a software product,
participants will complete the CIF form and return it to NIST. All
elements of the CIF are free-form text rather than checklists.
III. Data
OMB Approval Number: None.
Agency Form Number: None.
Type of Request: New collection.
Burden: 120 hours.
Number of Respondents: 30.
Average Hours Per Response: 4 hours.
Affected Public: Researchers in academic, public and business
settings.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to the notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: December 3, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-31963 Filed 12-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
