Finding 1
Users had a difficult time locating and navigating the version history feature.
X Button lacked visibility.
X Users found it difficult to navigate. Users took multiple steps to restore a single change.
++Users felt this feature was useful for collaboration.
Google Docs Document History & Communication Tools
What Users Said About the Version History Button
“It was this really light grey, hard-to-see link.”
“It doesn’t look like all the other buttons.”
“I didn’t even know it was clickable.”
Version History Button
Version History Page
User attempting to restore a single change in the document (via version history page), leading her to multiple steps (7 clicks).
copy > paste > color change > format > undo strike through > color change >paint format
User restoring a change
“It’s one of the reasons I love using Google Docs so much (history saving feature). No matter what I change, I know all the edits are saved in there.”
What Users Loved
Recommendations
A more visible version history button that will be easier for users to locate is recommended. A short preview of edits made in the version history page would also help users navigate the page more efficiently. Lastly, a single function that can help users restore a specific change (such as a single section, instead of the entire document) would help create a more efficient editing experience.