Do not pick something too general. For example, choosing the "timer" as a whole to redesign would be inappropriate if it involves altering many things at once such as how one sets the timer, cancels the timer, set/modifies delays, etc. In other words, do not try to fix the entire stove at once. Complex interfaces have facets that interact with each other in ways you cannot foresee. If you change many things at once, you will undoubtedly fix some problems, introduce new ones, and still not be able to isolate the good from the bad usability elements. By testing one element at a time, you will be able to see how it alone contributes to or detracts from the usability of the artifact as a whole.
We recommend making a list of two or three possible features that you may want to redesign, and then searching for related work (see #2 below) to see which design feature yields the most promising outside resources.
When all the presentations are done, you should again write a quick (1-2 page, handwritten) response to the experience. What were your expectations and actual outcomes of implementing your new design? How did it compare to other groups? What are your reflections on the videotaping and coding techniques that you used? Feel free to again comment on team dynamics too. And don't forget to record which report sections you wrote and which you collaboratively revised, as mentioned above.
We will collect your journals on Wed, Oct. 11.
Be sure your report is written for the correct audience (the usability science community) and stays under the 10-page limit.