Design improvement for a digital manipulative block set, Liblo through usability testing

Abstract

Today, ICT is being embedded in everyday objects intended for use with various products and services. In education, digital manipulative blocks are educational tools resulting from the convergence with ICT. However, current blocks are not suitable to create various kinetic forms, so new digital operation blocks are needed to create various kinetic forms. Liblo is a set of digital manipulative block with built-in ICT. We are developing the Liblo as a long term project. In previous studies, we designed and developed the first prototype of Liblo. This research aims to improve our Liblo design based on design feedback from usability tests. In this paper, we present how to apply the usability testing in order to improve the Liblo design and finally propose newly re-designed Liblo. Currently, we are developing the newly re-designed Liblo. In further research, we will provide developmental experiences of the new Liblo and how to evaluate it. This study contributes to designers or/and developers who are developing digital manipulative block sets by guiding Liblo through the design improvement process. © 2005 - Ongoing JATIT & LLS.