ieem552 - human computer systems week 2 - an organizational perspective & research perspective

IEEM552 - Human IEEM552 - Human Computer SystemsComputer Systems

Week 2 - An organizational perspective & research perspective

February 9, 1999February 9, 1999

Dr. Vincent Duffy - IEEMDr. Vincent Duffy - IEEMhttp://iesu5.ieem.ust.hk/dfaculty/duffy/552 552

email: [email protected]: [email protected]

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Week 2: OverviewWeek 2: Overview Microsoft Word for DOS Systems-

Change the User Interface? IBM Europe Headquarters 2nd half- Research perspective

Discussion of recent papers History lesson: The Web Discovers User Interface

Design by A. Marcus Human Interface Research and Practice at Apple

Computer by P.Strijland from Proceedings of the 7th Int’l HCI, San Francisco

10 ways to look at a research paper

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MS Word for DOS- MS Word for DOS- Changing the user Changing the user

interfaceinterface Why did they want to consider changing Why did they want to consider changing

the interface? the interface? Q1. Was usability a problem? For who?

Give an example.

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MS Word for DOSMS Word for DOS

Why did they want to avoid the Why did they want to avoid the change? change?

Q2. What reasons were used to justify ‘not changing the interface’?

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What role did the following play?What role did the following play?– cost? cost? – operating system? operating system? – standards? standards? – product differentiation? product differentiation? – competition?competition?– market conditions?market conditions?– break with the past (for old users)?break with the past (for old users)?– increased confusion?increased confusion?


interfaceinterface

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Why did they want to consider Why did they want to consider changing the interface? changing the interface? – Improved performance? Improved performance? – usability? usability? – reliability?reliability?

Why is the decision about change Why is the decision about change important? important? – What are issues for concern? What are issues for concern? – Long/Short term? Long/Short term?


interfaceinterfaceMS2MS2

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Why is the decision about change Why is the decision about change important? important? – What are issues for concern? Long/Short What are issues for concern? Long/Short

term? term? 3. What information was gathered from

current users? Was that information representative of their current users? Target market?


interfaceinterfaceMS4MS4

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Why did this issue continue to be raised? Why did this issue continue to be raised? – What are the dynamics of a product line?What are the dynamics of a product line?

4. In terms of dynamics of a product line, describe 3 dimensions of compatibility that a software developer would be concerned about. Give an example.

Long term - want compatibility betweenLong term - want compatibility between– new and old versions of same software new and old versions of same software – different products- file parts (copy), commands etc.different products- file parts (copy), commands etc.– between different operating systems-dos, apple, etc.between different operating systems-dos, apple, etc.

Dynamics of a product Dynamics of a product linelineMS5 (Graph)MS5 (Graph)

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see graph

What happened?What happened? 5. Should they have chosen Option 1,2 or 3? What

would you do? What happened? option 1: incorporate feature and user-interface option 1: incorporate feature and user-interface

improvements in DOS Word v.6.0improvements in DOS Word v.6.0 option 2: unbundle feature and user-interface option 2: unbundle feature and user-interface

improvements; user-interface changes in v.5.5 and improvements; user-interface changes in v.5.5 and feature improvements in v.6.0.feature improvements in v.6.0.

option 3: DOS Word has limited life; do not invest option 3: DOS Word has limited life; do not invest resources in changing the interface at this late resources in changing the interface at this late stage (1989)stage (1989)

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MS Word for DOSMS Word for DOS

put off the switch until the benefits put off the switch until the benefits outweigh the cost of switching.outweigh the cost of switching.– continued to maintain Word for Dos (not continued to maintain Word for Dos (not

option 3)option 3)– chose option 2chose option 2– interface improvements in version 5.5 interface improvements in version 5.5 – still shipped v.5.5 w/two sets of disks- still shipped v.5.5 w/two sets of disks-

with and without new interfacewith and without new interface– feature improvements in 6.0feature improvements in 6.0

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6. What is the focus of this case?6. What is the focus of this case?– product development? product development? – usability? usability? – productivity? productivity? – implementation?implementation?

What was the role of EHQ? What is PROFS?

IBM Europe HeadquartersIBM Europe Headquarters

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7. What important changes occurred at EHQ at the time PROFS was implemented?

Did it have the three important functions of any office system? – (clue: according to: Egbert Hoeferlein). What (clue: according to: Egbert Hoeferlein). What

are they?are they? p.4 enable communication, data access, p.4 enable communication, data access,

graphicsgraphics13


8. Who were intended users? – secretaries?secretaries?

Why were they the intended users? – see p.2see p.2

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IBM Europe HeadquartersIBM Europe Headquarters 9. Was it successful? Did it gain

widespread acceptance? If so, how? Why was it successful?Why was it successful?

– Organizational need - multilingual, and role Organizational need - multilingual, and role of EHQ was communicationof EHQ was communication

– Top management support -and useTop management support -and use– Pilot studies and demonstrationsPilot studies and demonstrations– Training, support and help availableTraining, support and help available

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Q.9. continued. What benefits were realized for EHQ for using PROFS?– improved communicationimproved communication– better access to databetter access to data– p.5 productivity and reduced need for p.5 productivity and reduced need for

support support – BAM (BusinessArea Mgmt. group) liked BAM (BusinessArea Mgmt. group) liked

access across timezones -when offices access across timezones -when offices were otherwise closedwere otherwise closed

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10. What were 2 problems that were caused? – underemployed secretaries underemployed secretaries – only copying and answering phonesonly copying and answering phones– prefer answer email and make graphics prefer answer email and make graphics – p.7 difficult to follow the trail of decisionsp.7 difficult to follow the trail of decisions– lines of communication changed lines of communication changed – new paths opened up between all parts of the new paths opened up between all parts of the

organization (layers)organization (layers)

IBM Europe HeadquartersIBM Europe Headquarters IBM4IBM4

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IBM Europe HeadquartersIBM Europe Headquarters IBM5IBM5

Were the problems because of PROFS?– p.7 EHQ strategy for intoducing the p.7 EHQ strategy for intoducing the

technology but no guidance on how to technology but no guidance on how to use ituse it

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Human Interface Research and Practice at Apple Computer by Human Interface Research and Practice at Apple Computer by P.Strijland from Proceedings of the 7th Int’l HCI, San FranciscoP.Strijland from Proceedings of the 7th Int’l HCI, San Francisco

What do interface designers do?What do interface designers do?– sometimes systematically compare two different interfacessometimes systematically compare two different interfaces– sometimes improve an existing prototype/interface sometimes improve an existing prototype/interface

one of you noted ‘there is there a gap between research one of you noted ‘there is there a gap between research work and the practice on interface design especially for work and the practice on interface design especially for small scale, and short time to market productions’. Why?small scale, and short time to market productions’. Why?– Resources. Takes time and money to run subjectsResources. Takes time and money to run subjects

Why shortage of designers if apple works well with Why shortage of designers if apple works well with academics?academics?

– Many times HCI is not discussed in UG Many times HCI is not discussed in UG curriculumscurriculums

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History lesson: The Web Discovers User Interface Design by A. Marcus History lesson: The Web Discovers User Interface Design by A. Marcus from Proceedings of the 7th Int’l HCI, San Franciscofrom Proceedings of the 7th Int’l HCI, San Francisco

How to judge a good web page design?How to judge a good web page design?– note the references to Schneiderman, J.Nielsennote the references to Schneiderman, J.Nielsen– terms like ‘user interface’, ‘metaphors’, ‘mental model’, concern terms like ‘user interface’, ‘metaphors’, ‘mental model’, concern

about ‘productivity’, about ‘productivity’, – need for transferring good theory, principles and evaluation need for transferring good theory, principles and evaluation

techniquestechniques– compete for ‘users attention, time and decision-making/choice’compete for ‘users attention, time and decision-making/choice’– note poor quality: but what makes good quality in web design?note poor quality: but what makes good quality in web design?

And what about cultural differences (standardize ‘almost impossible And what about cultural differences (standardize ‘almost impossible task’)task’)

how do you decide if the results are generalizable to the intended how do you decide if the results are generalizable to the intended users?users?

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And what about ‘good designers’? And what about ‘good designers’? – Many in H.K. focus on graphic design. Why?Many in H.K. focus on graphic design. Why?

How does UID help w/future development How does UID help w/future development of the web?of the web?– Through acquiring quantitative data…test Through acquiring quantitative data…test

usersusers– how to measure pros and cons of interface how to measure pros and cons of interface

designers’ idea?designers’ idea? Good question….how to measure?Good question….how to measure?

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Why to measure?Why to measure?– Mistaken belief that problems can be Mistaken belief that problems can be

fixed in later releases. fixed in later releases. – But why focus on user ?But why focus on user ?

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Consider a bit of history of Consider a bit of history of computer usecomputer use

re: Companies like Microsoft/Oracle and their recent re: Companies like Microsoft/Oracle and their recent emphasis on interface designemphasis on interface design

why has there been a recent shift in interest toward why has there been a recent shift in interest toward HCI HCI

a lot of automation - particularly with anything a lot of automation - particularly with anything requiring numerical and logical operationsrequiring numerical and logical operations

phase 2 - requires enhancing activities that people do phase 2 - requires enhancing activities that people do that can not be taken over by computersthat can not be taken over by computers

ex. write, negotiate, decide, organize, entertain, ex. write, negotiate, decide, organize, entertain, persuade, create persuade, create

now (as a percentage of total program) more lines of now (as a percentage of total program) more lines of code are dedicated to interface designcode are dedicated to interface design

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– Is user interface design really Is user interface design really important?important?

Good question.Good question. As in the case study we sometimes look As in the case study we sometimes look

at the organizational perspective.at the organizational perspective. We will compare two designs next week We will compare two designs next week

in class.in class.– Consider: sometimes the designer doesn’t Consider: sometimes the designer doesn’t

think like a typical user…maybe expert…think like a typical user…maybe expert…maybe novicemaybe novice

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– But what is the problem with this paper?But what is the problem with this paper? One of you pointed out….When you get to the One of you pointed out….When you get to the

end, the author hasn’t really supported the end, the author hasn’t really supported the claim about ‘what is a good web design?’.claim about ‘what is a good web design?’.

That leads us to consider….That leads us to consider….– How do we summarize a research paper…How do we summarize a research paper…– one of you asked...what is a research perspective?one of you asked...what is a research perspective?

– But how do you look at a conference or But how do you look at a conference or journal paper from a research perspective?journal paper from a research perspective?

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1. research ideas/question -what is the purpose? 2. what background support? - literature review 3. theoretical basis for analyzing question/hypothesis? 4. applicability-practical contribution? 5. theoretical contribution? 6. appropriate methodologies for carrying out study?

(determining variables, data collection, method used to test hypotheses, validity of measures and

reliability)

7. appropriate statistical analyses and assumptions? 8. presentation of results: what do they really mean? 9. conclusions drawn: are they reasonable? 10. future work/research directions: any possibilities?

10 ways to look at a research 10 ways to look at a research paper systematically for paper systematically for critical analysiscritical analysis

for next class meeting - for next class meeting - week 4week 4 in class demonstration in class demonstration

– all groups will participate in collecting data all groups will participate in collecting data – compare two interfaces compare two interfaces – analyze the data, interpret the resultsanalyze the data, interpret the results– estimating the benefits - estimating the benefits - – we will compare library cat for dos/wwwwe will compare library cat for dos/www

meet in the I.S. Lab meet in the I.S. Lab – first half of classfirst half of class– 3rd floor - near 32033rd floor - near 3203

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For the next few weeksFor the next few weeks Week 3 - Next week, Tuesday16thWeek 3 - Next week, Tuesday16th

– no class, no homeworkno class, no homework Week 4 - Tuesday, 23rd February Week 4 - Tuesday, 23rd February

in week 4 - select papers for oral presentationsin week 4 - select papers for oral presentations finalize groups of 2 or 3, finalize groups of 2 or 3, present during wk.6,7,9,10, or 11present during wk.6,7,9,10, or 11

– first a practice exercise - homework due by noon first a practice exercise - homework due by noon Tuesday 23rd by email (no attachment)Tuesday 23rd by email (no attachment)

– details in just a few minutes minute details in just a few minutes minute Week 5 - Monday, March 1Week 5 - Monday, March 1

– OSHC seminar 9am-6pm (no Tuesday class)OSHC seminar 9am-6pm (no Tuesday class)

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Sidenote: note that two of you did Sidenote: note that two of you did the summary/questions for the the summary/questions for the wrong papers. wrong papers. – Please be more careful with the next Please be more careful with the next

assignment.assignment.

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H.W. For next time - week H.W. For next time - week 44 1. research paper for next week1. research paper for next week

– Nielsen, J. (1994) Estimating the number of Nielsen, J. (1994) Estimating the number of subjects needed for a thinking aloud test subjects needed for a thinking aloud test Int. J. of Human Computer Studies 385-397.Int. J. of Human Computer Studies 385-397.

– using the 10 ways to look at a research paper

– choose 3 subheadings in the ‘10 ways’ and write 3 sentences about each.

– Choose 1 subheading and write 1 sentence about why you didn’t choose it.

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H.W. For next time - week H.W. For next time - week 44 2. Economic Benefits of User Interface 2. Economic Benefits of User Interface

designdesign read chapter 1-Eberts-User Interface read chapter 1-Eberts-User Interface

DesignDesign consider the Mantei and Teori consider the Mantei and Teori method.method.

Q. Could it have been used by Q. Could it have been used by Microsoft (for Word for DOS) for Microsoft (for Word for DOS) for determining the economic benefits determining the economic benefits of increased usability? of increased usability?

Yes/No and 1 sentence is sufficient. Yes/No and 1 sentence is sufficient.

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ieem552 - human computer systems week 2 - an organizational perspective & research perspective

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