36 Questions
What is the primary reason why users seek help?
Because they are stuck and need concrete solutions
What is the recommended approach to find learnability problems?
Analyzing Google Autosuggest queries
What is the main goal of designing a user interface?
To make it easy to use and goal-oriented
What is the primary focus of the learning approach 'learning by watching'?
Observing and imitating
What is efficiency in the context of usability?
The speed and quickness of accomplishing tasks
What is the main benefit of aggregation in interface design?
To improve efficiency by handling multiple items at once
What is the term for a unit of memory or perception?
Chunk
Which of the following is NOT a technique to improve efficiency?
Pending delete
How can information be presented to improve efficiency of output?
Presenting information in small, easily-recognized chunks
What is the approximate capacity of working memory?
4 ± 1 chunk
What is the purpose of anticipation in interface design?
To put needed information and tools within easy reach
What is a slip in user behavior?
A failure of execution in a familiar task
What is the benefit of using screen corners and edges in interface design?
To improve efficiency by minimizing steering tasks
What is the purpose of cascading submenus in interface design?
To make menu items more difficult to access
What is the benefit of using keyboard commands in interface design?
To improve efficiency by minimizing mouse usage
What is the benefit of using autocomplete in interface design?
To improve efficiency by minimizing typing
What is the primary focus of usability in user interface design?
Enabling users to effectively utilize the system's functionality
Which dimension of usability is most crucial for novice users?
Learnability
What is one way to make an interface more learnable?
Using metaphors that users can relate to
How do users typically learn a new user interface?
Learning by doing, with a goal to achieve
What dimension of usability is most critical for tasks that require high-stakes accuracy?
Safety
Why do usability dimensions vary in importance?
Because it depends on the user and the task
What type of error occurs when a person starts executing one sequence of actions, but then veers off into another sequence that happened to start the same way?
Capture slip
What is the term for a state in which actions have different meanings in user interface design?
Mode
What is the term for an error in the execution of any learned procedure?
Slip
What type of error occurs when two actions are very similar, and the user intends to do one action, but accidentally substitutes the other?
Description slip
What is an example of a capture slip?
Leaving your house and finding yourself walking to school instead of where you meant to go
What is an example of a mode error?
If the user means to type lowercase letters but doesn't notice that Caps Lock is enabled
What is a factor that contributes to the likelihood of slips?
All of the above
What is the term for using the wrong procedure for the goal?
Mistake
What should the UI give the power to do with data entered by the user?
Create, Read, Update, and Delete it
What is the primary purpose of finding examples of user interfaces in this exercise?
To evaluate their usability in terms of learnability, efficiency, and safety
What is the significance of having no arbitrary limits on user-defined names?
It enhances the user's control over data
What is the main goal of analyzing the good and bad points of usability in an interface?
To evaluate the interface's performance in terms of learnability, efficiency, and safety
What is the purpose of including screenshots or photographs in the analysis of user interfaces?
To illustrate the points of usability being discussed
What should be considered when evaluating the usability of an interface?
All three dimensions of usability: learnability, efficiency, and safety
Study Notes
Usability
- Usability is about creating effective user interfaces (UIs) that are more than just visually appealing.
- Usability is measured by how well users can use a system's functionality.
- Dimensions of usability:
- Learnability (L): ease of learning the interface.
- Efficiency (E): speed of use once learned.
- Safety (S): fewer and recoverable errors.
Learnability
- Learnability considers how easily users can accomplish a task the first time they encounter the interface.
- Metaphors can make an interface more learnable by allowing users to make educated guesses about how it works.
- Users learn by doing and seeking help when needed.
Efficiency
- Efficiency measures the speed and quickness of completing tasks once familiar with the design.
- Techniques to improve efficiency:
- Chunking: presenting information in easily-recognized units.
- Improving mouse efficiency: making frequently-used targets big, placing related targets near each other, and using screen corners and edges.
- Shortcuts: using keyboard commands and menu accelerators.
- Autocomplete: minimizing typing.
- Aggregation: handling multiple items at once.
- Anticipation: placing all needed information and tools within easy reach.
Safety
- Safety refers to minimizing errors and making them recoverable.
- Types of errors:
- Slips: errors in execution (e.g., clicking before the mouse pointer is over the button).
- Lapses: errors in memory (e.g., forgetting the overall goal).
- Mistakes: using the wrong procedure for the goal.
- Capture errors: veering off into a more familiar sequence of actions.
- Description errors: substituting one action for another similar one.
- Mode errors: changing the meaning of actions depending on the mode or setting.
- Causes of slips: strong-but-wrong effect, similarity, inattention, and speed/accuracy tradeoff.
Other Usability Concepts
- Manual overrides for automatic systems: allowing users to take control of automated systems.
- User control over data: giving users the power to create, read, update, and delete their data.
- No arbitrary limits on user-defined names: allowing users to choose their own names without restrictions.
This lecture covers the concept of usability in user interface design, including its definition, dimensions, and importance.
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