Appropriate evaluation methods and techniques
When evaluating a multimedia product, it is important to consider the following:
- Access and navigation: As a first time user, how accessible is the product? Often multimedia designers will create products that look great, but are too difficult to operate.
- Target audience and ICT skills: The product needs to be suitable for the end user. If the product is for children, it should be simple, with only a low level of ICT skills required.
- Appropriateness of content: Content should be suitably engaging, informative or relevant for the target audience.
- Use of colour: Colour should add value to the product, not be a distraction.
- Balance and mix of components: There should be a good balance between text, graphics, sound, video, and animation.
- Interactivity: Interactive elements must add value to the content, without distracting the user, and should be used appropriately throughout.
- interoperability The ability of computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information: Will the product work with existing software applications? Can you share/export data from it to existing third party apps?
- Operating systems and browsers: Can users on different operating systems and/or web browsers access all the content?
Multimedia evaluation grid
| Question | Agree | Disagree | Neither agree or disagree |
| Did the product/site contain the information you wanted? | |||
| Were navigation tools provided through menus and icons readily available? | |||
| Was it easy to share, print or save items in the product/site? | |||
| Did video and sound add value to the product/site? |
| Question | Did the product/site contain the information you wanted? |
|---|---|
| Agree | |
| Disagree | |
| Neither agree or disagree |
| Question | Were navigation tools provided through menus and icons readily available? |
|---|---|
| Agree | |
| Disagree | |
| Neither agree or disagree |
| Question | Was it easy to share, print or save items in the product/site? |
|---|---|
| Agree | |
| Disagree | |
| Neither agree or disagree |
| Question | Did video and sound add value to the product/site? |
|---|---|
| Agree | |
| Disagree | |
| Neither agree or disagree |
Evaluation as a continuous process
If multimedia software and websites are not continuously updated, they may be rated poorly after even only a few months.
Technological developments are also an important issue. As multimedia technologies evolve and others are developed, it is important that programs are current, and that popular new multimedia features are incorporated.