Showing papers on "Interactive systems engineering published in 1992"

The usability engineering life cycle

Abstract: A practical usability engineering process that can be incorporated into the software product development process to ensure the usability of interactive computer products is presented. It is shown that the most basic elements in the usability engineering model are empirical user testing and prototyping, combined with iterative design. Usability activities are presented for three main phases of a software project: before, during, and after product design and implementation. Some of the recommended methods are not really single steps but should be used throughout the development process. >

Human computer interaction: Psychology, task analysis, and software engineering

Abstract: Introducing Human Computer Interaction. An introduction to Human Memory. Memory Structures. Knowledge and Representation. Expertise. Skill and Skill Acquisition. Organisation and early Attempts at Modelling Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction and User Modelling in HCI. Task Analysis and Task Modelling. Developing Interface Designs. Evaluations of Interactive systems. User Interface Design. Environments. Management System and Toolkits. Task Analysis. Knowledge Analysis of Tasks. Design. Applied to Interactive Informal and Formal Specifications of User Interaction Task Scenarios. Appendix.

Structuring the Space of Interactive System Properties

Abstract: We provide a structured classification of properties to guide the principled design of interactive systems. This classification is motivated by an existing software quality framework, which we extend with respect to the usability of the software product. We distinguish between high-level categories of product usability and criteria within those categories which can be represented and ultimately measured in terms of the software product itself. In this paper, we highlight three usability categories, learnability, interaction flexibility and interaction robustness, and define criteria which contribute to them.

Creating a Design Science of Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract: An increasingly prominent task of computer science is to support the analysis and design of computers as things to learn from, as tools to use in one's work, as media for interacting with other people. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is the speciality area that addresses this task. Through the past two decades, HCI has pursued a broad and ambitious scientific agenda, progressively integrating its research concerns with the contexts of system development and use. This has created an unprecedented opportunity to manage the emergence of new technology so as to support socially responsive objectives.

Interface-usability evaluation: science of trade-offs

Abstract: The effectiveness of four techniques in evaluating the usability of a graphical user interface is presented. The techniques are heuristic evaluation, usability testing, guidelines, and cognitive walkthrough. The techniques are compared as to the number, type, and severity of the problems each could identify for a specific product. >

A Principled Approach To The Integration Of Human Factors And Systems Engineering For Interactive Control System Design

Abstract: This thesis argues that principles provide a framework which helps to ensure that human factors and systems engineering are integrated at all stages of development. The argument ranges from the fundamental problems of control, to the problems of a development architecture, to the problems of designing a particular interface. Part I of this thesis justifies an attempt to use principles as a means of integrating human factors and systems engineering. Part II argues that principles provide common objectives for the human factors and systems engineering of interactive control systems. They provide criteria against which to assess the utility of potential solutions for problems that are common to many different interfaces: dynamism; complexity and openness. Interval temporal logic is proposed as an appropriate notation in which to represent these solutions. Part III argues that principles provide criteria against which to assess the utility of architectures for human factors and systems engineering. In particular, it is argued that a strength of object orientation is that it supports the development of consistent and predictable interfaces. A weakness of this architecture is that display objects can provide inaccurate views of the physical components which they represent. Abstract analyses of design principles and architectures are frequently conducted at a level that is inappropriate for the development of particular interfaces to particular control systems. PRELOG, a tool for the Presentation and REndering of LOGic specifications, has been implemented to avoid this limitation. It is argued that human factors and systems engineers might use prototypes to determine whether particular principles have any relevance for system operators. Part IV argues that the principled approach advocated in this thesis is methodologically inadequate. It does not support the integration of human factors and systems engineering during all stages of development. Further work is proposed to rectify this limitation.

Engineering computer-based systems

Abstract: Some of the problems associated with the design of computer-based systems are discussed. Engineering of computer-based systems requires the designer to address two types of issues. First, there are the technical issues concerning the definition of the requirements, their partitioning, and the physical design of the system. In technical issues of system design, perhaps the most important issue to be addressed is the control of complexity. The second type of issue relates to the social environment within which the system has to operate, and within which it must be designed. Some practical guidelines are given to aid in overcoming the problems. >

Building network-based interactive media

Abstract: It is pointed out that the design of a network-based interactive multimedia application depends on the characteristics of the network, the modes of user interaction and the media types that will be used. Careful selection of these elements in the design process is needed to create successful applications. The characteristics of network-based interactive media applications interact to provide various qualities of service to the user. Several examples of previously built network-based interactive multimedia systems are presented, including a kiosk-based system delivering information about a trade show, a system delivering world news and electronic mail and a system assisting doctors during childbirth. >

Design for interaction between humans and intelligent systems during real-time fault management

Abstract: Initial results are reported to provide guidance and assistance for designers of intelligent systems and their human interfaces. The objective is to achieve more effective human-computer interaction (HCI) for real time fault management support systems. Studies of the development of intelligent fault management systems within NASA have resulted in a new perspective of the user. If the user is viewed as one of the subsystems in a heterogeneous, distributed system, system design becomes the design of a flexible architecture for accomplishing system tasks with both human and computer agents. HCI requirements and design should be distinguished from user interface (displays and controls) requirements and design. Effective HCI design for multi-agent systems requires explicit identification of activities and information that support coordination and communication between agents. The effects are characterized of HCI design on overall system design and approaches are identified to addressing HCI requirements in system design. The results include definition of (1) guidance based on information level requirements analysis of HCI, (2) high level requirements for a design methodology that integrates the HCI perspective into system design, and (3) requirements for embedding HCI design tools into intelligent system development environments.

Findings from behavioral research in visual interactive simulation

Abstract: The use of a Visual Interactive Simulation (VIS) as an experimental tool, where a user interacts and tests out ideas at will, is controversial. We have used an experimental laboratory setting to investigate the use of VIS in this way. Our findings show that performance is mediocre, at least compared to a know ‘best’ solution, but that subjects generally improve on a pre-conceived solution. Encouragingly, performance is consistently related to use of the animation and confidence in decision. Further, subjects obtaining correct solutions are far more efficient in their use of the VIS than those obtaining incorrect solutions. University of Western Ontario London, CANADA (1989) and Bookbinder and Kotwa (1987), have even suggested that using VIS for experimentation borders on the unprofessional; they argue that in every simulation study there comes a time when it is necessary to shut off the visual display and run properly designed statistical experiments. Discussion of using VIS as an experimental tool is largely based upon anecdotal experience. For the past four years, we have been pursuing research that attempts to go beyond this: we have implemented four laboratory experiments where subjects have used a VIS model to solve a problem. This task-based behavioral approach provides quantitative data about performance with VIS, and allows us to consider VIS for experimental analysis based upon an understanding considerably deeper than that based upon anecdotes and folklore.

Addressing operator errors in supervisory systems

Abstract: An investigation is given of human interaction with systems in which the user takes a supervisory role. These systems include process control, power generation, command and control, military and commercial aviation and medical life-support systems. Such systems share the properties of complexity, safety-criticality and the need to operate in a time-constrained environment. They also involve the pre-processing of data before the operator is given the information. Such systems occasionally fail in dramatic ways and such failures are usually blamed on 'operator error'. However, the author argues that such failures are often due to characteristics of the system which arise as part of the engineering process and the way these characteristics are presented to the user. An analysis is given of such systems which relates the factors which may lead to operating accidents to three system components: the process under control, the human user or operator and the interface between user and process. It is proposed that by constructing the interface to present the salient task information given the behaviour of the process it is possible to reduce the complexity of the system as perceived by the user and thus reduce operating errors and improve overall system performance.

Striking a balance: developing interaction requirements for intelligent task support in complex dynamic systems

Abstract: The authors focus on issues pertaining to human-computer design requirements for providing intelligent task-specific support to operators of process control systems. They briefly discuss the nature of the supervisory control task in the process control domain. They present three basic requirements and then issues affecting design requirements. They present paradoxical issues confronting human-computer interaction (HCI) designers trying to meet these requirements. It is emphasized that the feasibility of this intelligent interface technology depends on the ability to strike a balance in designing the HCI to meet these requirements. >

USER INTERFACE ISSUES AND THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in COMPUTER-AIDED CONTROL ENGINEERING

Abstract: Computer-aided control engineering is concerned with the application of computers to the control systems design process. In order to effectively support the design process, such computer aids must take account of the needs of human designers. In these lecture notes, computer-aided control engineering is examined from the human designer's perspective. A model of interactive computer-aided design is presented which highlights the importance of good human-computer interfaces. Next, the historical development of user interfaces for computer-aided control engineering, leading to a statement of the current state-of-the-art, is outlined. The role of artificial intelligence in user interfaces for control systems design is discussed and finally a look at the possible future development of human-computer interfaces for computer-aided control engineering is presented.

Trends in computer-based systems engineering

Abstract: It is argued that problems in the development of large computer-based systems indicate that a new discipline is needed at the systems engineering level. Designing systems with distributed processing and databases requires analysis of critical end-to-end processing flows to determine feasibility and proper allocation. An expanded skills base would be required to perform either systems, software, or hardware engineers to perform the necessary tradeoff studies. This paper informs managers, engineers, educators, and researchers about the need for computer-based systems engineering and the strategic opportunities this discipline provides for systems engineering improvement. >

Human factors in virtual worlds. 2. Enabling interaction and performance

Abstract: For pt.1 see ibid., p.3/1-3 (1992). The authors outline the nature of human factors (HF) research associated with the use of virtuality research (VR). While the previous paper addressed the issues of how best to represent the task from a cognitive perspective, here they focus upon the perceptual and interactive requirements that enable the human operator to complete the task. The discussion describes some of the perceptual characteristics of the human operator, how they relate to the system and task hardware, and why it is essential that they are properly understood. They present an example of VR-related HF research conducted at the Sowerby Research Centre. It is representative of the research they are conducting to increase their knowledge of the operator and to enable interaction and performance. >