From tools to tasks: discoverability and Adobe Acrobat 6.0

ABSTRACT

The Adobe Acrobat 6.0 user interface represents the outcome of a research and design effort to make the most important functionality in the product discoverable, easier to learn, and easier to use. One of the challenges facing the Acrobat 6.0 team was the legacy of the existing Acrobat 5.0 product, which had presented users with many tools and little context to explain when or how to use them. The Review and Comment feature area was a business priority for Acrobat 6.0, and a usability study on 5.0 revealed discoverability problems with the commenting tool.Acrobat 6.0 introduced task buttons that provide access to tools and instructional text relevant to accomplishing common tasks. The Review and Comment solution leverages the task button framework and proactively presents UI elements to reviewers when they need them. Iterative user feedback sessions were invaluable for identifying and resolving usability issues early in the product cycle.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

Keywords:
business, commenting, customer focus, email-based review, enterprise, interaction design, paper prototype, productivity software, tasks, tools, usability, user experience, user interface design, user research, user-centered design