[Federal Register: December 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 236)]
[Notices]               
[Page 69003]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de99-32]                         

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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