Designing for Usability

Domain-Specific Human-Computer Interfaces in Working Life

Jan Gulliksen

Gulliksen, J., 1996. Designing for Usability Domain-Specific Human-Computer Interfaces in Working Life, Acta Univ. Ups., Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology, 189, X+28 pp. Uppsala. ISBN 91-554-3700-1

Abstract

Despite the tremendous development and increasing availability of computers in working life, severe usability problems are frequently observed, leading to bad user acceptance, negative stress, anxiety, and even health problems for the users. We need to create a scientific foundation for the studies of humans interacting with computer systems to achieve a specific work task in a physical and psycho-social work environment. Interdisciplinary studies of systems analysis, software engineering, cognitive and perceptual psychology, sociology, organisation theory, human factors, and design and art, all contribute to the science of human-computer interaction (HCI). With an engineering approach to design, scientific principles, technical information and imagination can be used in the definition of a mechanical structure, machine or system to perform pre-specified functions with maximum economy and efficiency.

This thesis covers methods for the study and modelling of a human-computer system, focusing on many relevant aspects: Development of organisations, work activities, information technology and humans and their competence. The importance of domain knowledge in an iterative user centred development process is emphasised. Analysis of information utilisation is presented as a method for capturing how information entities are being used in the work process, to support directly design controlling knowledge. A workspace and document-oriented approach to interface design for skilled professionals is described to prevent the problems occurring with design of graphical user interfaces. Creativity supporting design methodologies are described as means for being able to develop efficient and effective user interfaces, based on the results of the analysis of information utilisation. The concept of domain specific design for the establishment of a higher-level style guide for domain knowledge acquisition is introduced as a design controlling methodological support in the user interface development process. Case handling work activities have been particularly studied, applying the domain specific approach on the health care and tax handling domains. A general framework for case handling work activities has been specified, which supports work related judgement and decision making. The overall goal is to make computer support in working life easy, efficient and pleasant to use. Through this development, computer support can be enhanced by making it more cost efficient and less time consuming. Developers and designers can produce a result that fulfils the users' objectives and requirements in accordance with the achievements of specific tasks.

Summary

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Parts of the thesis

METHODS AND TOOLS FOR HCI DEVELOPMENT

1. Efficient Development of Organisations and Information Technology - A Design Approach
   JAN GULLIKSEN, MATS LIND, MAGNUS LIF, & BENGT SANDBLAD (1995)
   In Y. Anzai and K. Ogawa (eds.) Symbiosis of Human and Artifact. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International '95, Pacifico, Yokohama, Japan 9 - 14 July 1995, Elsevier, pp. 951-956.
2. The Nature of User Interface Design - The Role of Domain Knowledge
   JAN GULLIKSEN, BENGT SANDBLAD, & MATS LIND (1996)
   In A.G. Sutcliffe, F. Van Assche, & D. Benyon (Eds.) Domain Knowledge for Interactive System Design. Proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.1/13.2 Joint Working Conference on Domain Knowledge for Interactive System Design, Geneva, Switzerland, 8-10 May, 1996, Chapman-Hall: London.
   The appendix was not published in the IFIP proceedings because of the limited number of pages.
3. Analysis of Information Utilisation
   JAN GULLIKSEN, MAGNUS LIF, MATS LIND, ELSE NYGREN, & BENGT SANDBLAD (1996)
   
4. Work Spaces and Documents in User Interface Design
   BENGT SANDBLAD, JAN GULLIKSEN, & MAGNUS LIF (1996)
   Internal CMD Report No. 66.
5. A Structural Approach to Prototype Design in Iterative Systems Development
   MAGNUS LIF, JAN GULLIKSEN, MATS LIND, & BENGT SANDBLAD (1996)
   

   DOMAIN SPECIFIC DESIGN AND DOMAIN SPECIFIC STYLE GUIDES

6. The Need for New Application Specific Interface Elements
   JAN GULLIKSEN, BENGT SANDBLAD, MATS JOHNSON, MATS LIND, & ELSE NYGREN (1993)
   In G. Salvendy & M.J. Smith (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International '93, Orlando, Florida, USA, 8-13 August, 1993, pp. 15-20, Elsevier.
7. Domain Specific Design of User Interfaces
   JAN GULLIKSEN & BENGT SANDBLAD (1995)
   In G. Salvendy, M.J. Smith, & M. Oshima (eds.) International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 135-151, Ablex Publishing Corporation, Norwood, New Jersey.
8. Domain Specific Design of User Interfaces - Case Handling and Data Entry Problems
   JAN GULLIKSEN & BENGT SANDBLAD (1995)
   In David Benyon & Philippe Palanque (eds.) Critical Issues in User Interface Systems Engineering, Springer Verlag, London. International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) Working Groups; WG 13.2 - Methodologies for Human-Computer Interaction and WG 2.7 - Software for User Interface Design.

   THE CASE HANDLING DOMAIN; FIELD STUDIES, MODELS AND APPLICATIONS

9. Case Handling Models as a Basis for Information System Design
   JAN GULLIKSEN (1996)
   In C.A. Ntuen & E.H. Park (Ed.) Human Interaction with Complex Systems-II, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA Also appearing in Proceedings of the 1995 Symposium on Human Interaction with Complex Systems, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, 17-20 September, 1995.
10. Domain Specific Design in Practice: Tax Handling Work
    JAN GULLIKSEN, BENGT SANDBLAD, MAGNUS LIF, & EVA OLSSON (1996)
    Internal CMD Report No. 67.
11. Designing Graphical User Interfaces under the Limitation of Old Alphanumeric Mainframe Systems
    JAN GULLIKSEN (1996)
    In Proceeding of the 1st International Conference on Applied Ergonomics. (ICAE '96), Istanbul, Turkey, 21-24 May, 1996. USA Publishing Company.

Jan Gulliksen, Systems and Control Group, Department of Technology, Uppsala University, PO Box 27, S-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden