8. Gerry works in a bank. One of his responsibilities is to check the amount of cash in the cash machine and reload it to the required level. He does this each morning and on Friday afternoons, in preparation for the weekend. Which one of the following best describes Gerry?
Correct Answer:
A
Primary user
A user who uses the interactive system for its intended purpose.
Examples of primary users:
1. A bank customer who uses a cash dispenser to withdraw money is a primary user of the cash dispenser.
2. A call centre operative who uses a reservation system to reserve cars for customers is a primary user of the reservation system.
Secondary user
A user who carries out support tasks with the interactive system, for example to maintain it or to train primary users.
Note: 1.
Secondary users - in particular maintenance staff - typically interact with a different user interface than primary users. This user interface also requires context analysis and specification of user requirements to be usable.
Examples of secondary users:
1. A user who prints a document on a printer is a primary user of the printer. When the same user a moment later changes the ink on the printer, he or she is a secondary user of the printer.
2. A bank employee who restocks a cash dispenser with cash is a secondary user of the cash dispenser.
3. A trainer who teaches a call centre operative how to use a car reservation system is a secondary user of the reservation system.
Indirect user
A user who uses the output of the interactive system, but who does not interact directly with the interactive system.
Examples of indirect users:
1. A bank customer who receives a paper or electronic statement is an indirect user of the bank's computer system.
2. A customer who contacts the call centre to reserve a car is an indirect user of the computer system used by the call centre operative to make the reservation
