A review of methods and techniques available for evaluating human computer interfaces

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SESC9441- Ergonomics and New Technology

A review of methods and techniques available for evaluating human computer interfaces

Name: Steve Rowlamds

Student No: 3106276

Date of Submission: 24 March 2005


The Human Computer Interface

Human Computer Interaction is a relatively new field that has grown rapidly in recent years due to the ever-increasing use of computers and computer based systems. Lee and Paz (1991) commented relatively early in the life of human computer interaction that more research was needed as computer interfaces were no longer in only the domain of the designers of the interface and that designers of the interface were actually unique rather that being representative of the user as they were in the past. Johnson, Clegg and Ravden (1989) noted that literature on human computer interaction was increasing due to the “increasing use of computer based systems, the variety of people who are interacting with them, both within and outside work, and the rapid pace of technological advance”. Significant progress has been made since those articles with many research studies and literature reporting on different aspects of human computer interaction (Baecker, Grudin, Buxton and Greenberg, 1995; Preece, Rogers, and Sharp, 2002; Hall, 1997; Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, 1993; Carroll, 1997; Olson and Olson, 2003).

Human computer interaction aims to design and develop interactive products that “support people in their everyday and working lives” (Preece et al, 2002). The human computer interface (HCI) is the component of the computer product that interacts with humans. The aim of the design of a HCI is to make a product easy, effective, and enjoyable to use for the user (Preece et al, 2002). Poor interface design has been reported to result in increased user stress, lower work rates, decreased job satisfaction and misuse or lack of use of the computer system (Lee and Paz, 1991). Henderson, Podd, Smith and Varela-Alvarez (1995) and Johnson (1989) also reported that poor interface design could increase mistakes, user frustration, result in poor system performance, employee dissatisfaction, high staff turnover, absenteeism and tardiness.

Adhering to interface design principles recommended in HCI research and literature can help to reduce the severity and incidence of the negative effects of poor interface design. One important step in the recommended design principles of the HCI is evaluation. Evaluation of the HCI as a part of design will allow the designer to see how the product interacts with its users. “Without evaluation, designers cannot be sure that their software is usable and is what users want” (Preece et al, 2002). There are a number of different evaluation methods and techniques that are discussed by many authors that can be used to evaluate HCIs. The purpose of this report is to review and discuss the evaluation methods and also to investigate the techniques used to evaluate HCIs to assist potential evaluators to understand and enable them to make informed decisions about the most appropriate techniques for the HCI that they are evaluating.

Evaluation of the human computer interface

The evaluation of HCIs enables the evaluator to assess how a design is suited to users’ needs and what users think of the design. Evaluation of the HCI should be performed throughout the entire design and production process, otherwise known as iterative design and evaluation. (Baecker et al, 1995; Preece et al, 2002; Christie, Scane & Collyer, 2002). Baecker et al (1995) further defined iterative design and evaluation by instructing the evaluator to iterate or repeat the design and evaluation of a HCI until a satisfactory result is achieved. Johnson et al (1989) reported that the benefits of using evaluation as a part of the design process were increased user satisfaction, increased sales, decreased development costs, increased productivity, decreased product returns, and decreased training costs.

Approaches to the evaluation of the human computer interface

Before any evaluation of a HCI is performed, the evaluator must consider the approach to the evaluation that will be taken. Approaches to HCI evaluation relate to the general theory, methodology or perspective behind the evaluation and help to guide the evaluation. They help the evaluator to focus on what it is they are trying to achieve. Approaches are also a way of grouping together and defining tools and techniques used in the evaluation of HCIs.

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Preece et al (2002) and Christie et al (2002) have both defined different models of approaches to the evaluation of HCIs to enable the evaluator to be guided to the most appropriate tools and techniques needed for the evaluation. The different approaches are labelled paradigms (Preece et al, 2002) and perspectives (Christie et al, 2002). Both approaches are sound and guide the evaluator to the same or similar tools and techniques for evaluation although Christie et al (2002), through the nature of the publication that it was written for has taken a more expert approach.

Christie et al ...

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