Chapter 1: Human Factors of Interactive Software 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Goals of System Engineering –Steps For User-interface Engineering 1.3 System - User Interface Design Goals 1.4 Motivations for Human Factors in Design 1.5 Accommodation of Human Diversity –Physical abilities and physical workplaces –Cognitive and perceptual abilities 1.6 Goals for Our Profession

Introduction User Interfaces Are Products of Interdisciplinary Work What are the Business Ramifications?

… Introduction Individual User Level International Influences

User Interface Engineering Success requires commitment from designers and managers Task analysis to ensure proper functionality Generally alternatives must be compared Reliability, Availability, Security, and Data Integrity

… User Interface Engineering Standardization, Integration, Consistency, and Portability Schedules and Budgets

System - User Interface Design Goals Define the target user community associated with the interface Communities evolve and change

…System - User Interface Design Goals 5 human factors central to community evaluation: 1.Time to learn 2.Speed of performance 3.Rate of errors by users 4.Retention over time 5.Subjective satisfaction Trade-offs sometimes necessary Test all design alternatives using mock-ups

Motivations for Human Factors in Design 1.Life-critical systems 2.Industrial and commercial uses

… Motivations for Human Factors in Design 3. Office, home, and entertainment applications 4. Exploratory, creative, and cooperative systems

Accommodation of Human Diversity Physical abilities and physical workplaces Cognitive and perceptual abilities Personality differences Cultural and international diversity Users with disabilities Elderly Users

Physical Abilities and Physical Workplaces There is no average user Take into account dynamic measures such as reach, strength or speed Account for variances in sense perception –Vision –Touch –Hearing Workplace design can both help and hinder work performance

Cognitive and Perceptual Abilities Cognitive processes factors affecting perceptual and motor performance

Personality Differences Different theories Myers-Briggs Gender differences??

Cultural and International Diversity special characters Left-to-right versus right-to-left Date and time formats Numeric and currency formats Weights and measures Telephone numbers and addresses Names and titles (Mr., Ms., Mme.) ID numbers Capitalization and punctuation Sorting sequences Icons, buttons, colors Pluralization, grammar, spelling Etiquette, policies, tone, formality, metaphors

Users With Disabilities Sight, hearing, mobility Plan early to accommodate Americans With Disabilities Act

Elderly Users Forgotten by largely young technologists Fast growing segment in US Provide variability

1.6 Goals for Our Profession Influencing academic and industrial researchers –Potential research topics –Providing tools, techniques, and knowledge for system implementers –Raising the computer consciousness of the general public

End Chapter 1