2-4 The Johnson Family, Remotely Uncontrolled 2-4 The Johnson Family, Remotely Uncontrolled
The Johnson family - Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Esther, and the five kids (ages 5 - 16) - owns a TV set, a DVD player, a VCR, a digital stereo system, and a home security system. All five of these items have independent remote control devices that look more or less the same (a black thing with lots of buttons on it). Family members are always picking up the wrong remote to operate one of the devices. If a family member picks up the correct device, he or she is typically confused about how it works. Sometimes one or more of the devices gets lost (e.g., in the coach cushion). Some of the kids like to listen to music on the stereo. Other family members like to pipe the TV, VCR, or DVD player through the stereo system to enhance the sound. It is often the case that one group in the family wants to listen to music while others want to watch a TV show or a VHS/DVD movie. The older members of the family are concerned about security and are therefore diligent about setting and testing the home security system appropriately. The younger children are oblivious to the security needs, but have figured out how to use its remote control device. Aunt Esther likes to record her Soap Operas on a VHS tape during the day while she's at work, but can't always remember how to use the on-screen programming (that requires the right remote control device). Grandpa doesn't see small things very well these days.
Assignment: Answer the following questions (in a response to this document):
(1) List as many performance problems that you can observe (or imagine) associated with the Johnson family, their entertainment and security appliances, and their remote controls.
(2) List the performance goals of the family with respect to the entertainment and security appliances, and their remote controls.
(3) Describe or sketch at least three (3) distinct "workflows" (i.e., typical use cases) associated with the family, the entertainment and security appliances and their remote controls.
(4) Divide the family into at least four distinct preference groups (with respect to using the entertainment and security devices and their remote controls) and describe each group (ONE SENTENCE EACH).
(5) In ONE PAGE OR LESS, propose a performance-centered solution to the Johnson remote-control dilemma. Your solution can be a description, a high-level design of a "job aid," a sketch, a prototype (e.g., an annotated PowerPoint slide), or any means by which to communicate your solution in about a page. Your solution must show how the performance problem is solved by ensuring that the Johnson family operates in the performance zone with respect to the entertainment and security devices and their remote controls.
This assignment has a value of 5 (five) points.