/[fenfire]/journals/plans/SA_2003.rst
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revision 1.66 by jvk, Mon May 12 13:42:53 2003 UTC revision 1.67 by jvk, Mon May 12 13:45:25 2003 UTC
# Line 259  currently uses ad hoc distributions in Line 259  currently uses ad hoc distributions in
259    
260    
261  Usability testing  Usability testing
262    '''''''''''''''''
263    
264    One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.
265    Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
266    coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This
267    reduces load in the user's working memory.
268    
269    Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user
270    interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by
271    earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely
272    new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We
273    plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks
274    before implementing and testing them in a larger context.
275    
276    The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple
277    perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex
278    problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten
279    naïve participants per experiment. The data will include response times
280    and error rates of the participants. In addition, surveys or short
281    interviews can be used to collect the personal opinions of the
282    participants about the tested idea.
283    
284    For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual
285    connections between interface elements. Fillets have been tested in a
286    controlled experiment, showing that fillets do facilitate recognizing
287    certain visual structures in a collection of visual items and their
288    interconnections, compared to more common implementations. In the next
289    phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the
290    user to trace visual connections between information items.
291    
292    Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent
293    visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition
294    of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the
295    user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the
296    interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements
297    faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on
298    textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily
299    impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.
300    
301    Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which
302    several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed
303    in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal
304    protocols, videotaping, and surveys.
305    
306    
307    - fillets more general testing    - fillets more general testing
308    - paper distributions (color, etc.)    - paper distributions (color, etc.)
# Line 267  Usability testing Line 311  Usability testing
311    - "stress-testing"?    - "stress-testing"?
312    
313    
314    
315    
316  Structure and storage  Structure and storage
317  '''''''''''''''''''''  '''''''''''''''''''''
318    

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