/[fenfire]/journals/plans/SA_2003.rst
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revision 1.68 by hemppah, Tue May 13 07:16:11 2003 UTC revision 1.69 by jvk, Tue May 13 07:32:11 2003 UTC
# Line 231  Flexible focus+context views such as fis Line 231  Flexible focus+context views such as fis
231  allow more context to be shown but also induce  allow more context to be shown but also induce
232  usability issues that need to be solved.  usability issues that need to be solved.
233    
   
234  One of the most important tasks in maintaining user orientation  One of the most important tasks in maintaining user orientation
235  is good layout and non-disruptive, fluid animation between views.  is good layout and non-disruptive, fluid animation between views.
236  - irregu, nadir, buoys, etc.  - irregu, nadir, buoys, etc.
# Line 253  They are many usability aspects in the c Line 252  They are many usability aspects in the c
252  provided by the controller that can be theoretically modeled and experimentally  provided by the controller that can be theoretically modeled and experimentally
253  tested.  tested.
254    
   
255  The hardware algorithm for rendering the unique background textures  The hardware algorithm for rendering the unique background textures
256  currently uses ad hoc distributions in  currently uses ad hoc distributions in
257    
258    
 Usability testing  
 '''''''''''''''''  
   
 One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.  
 Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively  
 coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This  
 reduces load in the user's working memory.  
   
 Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user  
 interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by  
 earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely  
 new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We  
 plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks  
 before implementing and testing them in a larger context.  
   
 The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple  
 perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex  
 problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten  
 naïve participants per experiment. The data will include response times  
 and error rates of the participants. In addition, surveys or short  
 interviews can be used to collect the personal opinions of the  
 participants about the tested idea.  
   
 For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual  
 connections between interface elements. Fillets have been tested in a  
 controlled experiment, showing that fillets do facilitate recognizing  
 certain visual structures in a collection of visual items and their  
 interconnections, compared to more common implementations. In the next  
 phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the  
 user to trace visual connections between information items.  
   
 Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent  
 visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition  
 of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the  
 user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the  
 interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements  
 faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on  
 textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily  
 impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.  
   
 Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which  
 several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed  
 in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal  
 protocols, videotaping, and surveys.  
   
   
   - fillets more general testing  
   - paper distributions (color, etc.)  
   - irregu?  
   - controllers  
   - "stress-testing"?  
   
   
   
259    
260  Structure and storage  Structure and storage
261  '''''''''''''''''''''  '''''''''''''''''''''
# Line 359  LEGO philosophy: not single complicated Line 303  LEGO philosophy: not single complicated
303  in fixed ways but multiple, really simple things that can be used with  in fixed ways but multiple, really simple things that can be used with
304  imagination.  imagination.
305    
 - modeling properties of visual perception  
306    
307  - "stress-testing" hypothesis?  User interfaces
308    '''''''''''''''
309    
310    Most of the new user interface tehcnologies are based on
311    modeling properties of human visual perception and cognition.
312    
313    One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interfaces is continuity.
314    Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
315    coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This
316    reduces load in the user's working memory.
317    
318    Usability testing
319    '''''''''''''''''
320    
321    Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user
322    interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by
323    earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely
324    new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We
325    plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks
326    before implementing and testing them in a larger context.
327    
328    The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple
329    perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex
330    problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten
331    naïve participants per experiment. The data will include response times
332    and error rates of the participants. In addition, surveys or short
333    interviews can be used to collect the personal opinions of the
334    participants about the tested idea.
335    
336    For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual
337    connections between interface elements. Fillets have been tested in a
338    controlled experiment, showing that fillets do facilitate recognizing
339    certain visual structures in a collection of visual items and their
340    interconnections, compared to more common implementations. In the next
341    phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the
342    user to trace visual connections between information items.
343    
344    Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent
345    visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition
346    of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the
347    user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the
348    interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements
349    faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on
350    textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily
351    impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.
352    
353    Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which
354    several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed
355    in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal
356    protocols, videotaping, and surveys.
357    
358    .. - fillets more general testing
359       - paper distributions (color, etc.)
360       - irregu?
361       - controllers
362       - "stress-testing"?
363    
364        
365  Timetable for the objectives  Timetable for the objectives

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