Graphical Web directory for Web search

This study addresses graphical Web directory, a new way to present hierarchical structure of Web directory. An analysis of the characteristics and problems of current Web directories is presented. The feature graphical Web directory for supporting information processing and decision making in Web directory browsing in Web search is proposed to improve users' performance and satisfaction. An experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed feature. The results of the experiment indicated that (a) the enhancement of this feature improved users' initial and overall search performance by 32.6 and 43.4%, respectively, (b) the enhancement of this feature also improved users' satisfaction by 27.7%.     

Information retention from PowerPoint and traditional lectures

The benefit of PowerPoint^™ is continuously debated, but both supporters and detractors have insufficient empirical evidence. Its use in university lectures has influenced investigations of PowerPoint’s effects on student performance (e.g., overall quiz/exam scores) in comparison to lectures based on overhead projectors, traditional lectures (e.g., “chalk-and-talk”), and online lectures. Thus far, comparisons of overall exam scores have yielded mixed results. The present study decomposes overall quiz scores into auditory, graphic, and alphanumeric scores to reveal new insights into effects of PowerPoint presentations on student performance. Analyses considered retention of lecture information presented to students without the presence of PowerPoint (i.e., traditional lecture), auditory information in the presence of PowerPoint, and visual (i.e., graphic and alphanumeric) information displayed on PowerPoint slides. Data were collected from 62 students via quiz and questionnaire. Students retained 15% less information delivered verbally by the lecturer during PowerPoint presentations, but they preferred PowerPoint presentations over traditional presentations.     

A proposed index of usability: a method for comparing the relative usability of different software systems

. Usability is becoming a more and more important software criterion, but the present usability measurement methods are either difficult to apply, or overly dependent upon evaluators' expertise. Based on human information processing theory, this study identified eight human factors considerations which are relevant to software usability. These considerations as well as the three stages of human information processing theory formed the framework from which our Purdue Usability Testing Questionnaire (PUTQ) is derived. An experiment was conducted to test the validity of PUTQ. The experiment result showed high correlation between PUTQ and the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS version 5.5). In addition, PUTQ detected the differences in user performance between two experimental interface systems, but QUIS failed to do so.     

Interface methods for using intranet portal organizational memory information system

In this paper, an intranet portal is considered as an information infrastructure (organizational memory information system, OMIS) supporting organizational learning. The properties and the hierarchical structure of information and knowledge in an intranet portal OMIS was identified as a problem for navigation tools of an intranet portal interface. The problem relates to navigation and retrieval functions of intranet portal OMIS and is expected to adversely affect user performance, satisfaction, and usefulness. To solve the problem, a conceptual model for navigation tools of an intranet portal interface was proposed and an experiment using a crossover design was conducted with 10 participants. In the experiment, a separate access method (tabbed tree tool) was compared to an unified access method (single tree tool). The results indicate that each information/knowledge repository for which a user has a different structural knowledge should be handled separately with a separate access to increase user satisfaction and the usefulness of the OMIS and to improve user performance in navigation.     

Fuzzy sets based knowledge systems and knowledge elicitation

Fuzzy sets are adequate forms of knowledge representation when the information is uncertain due to vagueness and imprecision. Knowledge structures using fuzzy sets are similar to those implemented in non-fuzzy systems. Classical knowledge elicitation methods can be used in combination with techniques to develop membership functions. The fuzzy set representation has several advantages, including flexibility in expressing uncertain knowledge during elicitation, representation of the knowledge and its uncertainty as a unique entity, easy interfacing with classical systems, and a more robust system in ill-defined domains. These advantages result in increased system reliability.     

Combining natural language with direct manipulation: the conceptual framework for a hybrid human-computer interface

This paper describes the development of a conceptual model of an interaction system for future human-computer interaction. It is suggested that an integrated system is the most promising solution for diverse users and tasks. A ' hybrid interaction system' is considered, which tries to efficiently direct manipulation, menu selection, and natural language. The mechanism of the natural language interface module is described in more detail. Finally, the allocation of functionalities for generalized tasks on the conceptual model is considered from the taxonomic approach.     

Ergonomics guidelines for designing electronic mail addresses

The aim was to design a human-centred electronic mail (e-mail) address system based on networking technology and cognitive ergonomics. Based on the background literature and the results of users' survey, a conceptual model is developed for designing e-mail addresses. This model consists of e-mail address components of formats, domain length, meaningfulness, orientation and information type pertaining to recall, information association and categorization. Five hypotheses were proposed to test the conceptual model, and four experiments were conducted with 85 participants to test the hypotheses. The dependent variables were performance time, error rate and degree of satisfaction, and the independent variables were components of the e-mail addresses. The main results indicate that for a recall task, significantly lower total performance time (26.2%) and error rate (75%) were found for the hybrid formats (digits and letters) than for the letter format, and up to four characters was the best single domain length. For an information association task, embedding both geographical and organizational information significantly decreased the response time (10.9%) in comparison with only embedding organizational information. For a categorization task, embedding both geographical information and organizational information significantly decreased response time (40.7%) in comparison with only embedding organizational information. This research demonstrates the importance of human-centred design and provides guidelines in effectively designing e-mail addresses.     

影响老年人接受信息科技因素的调研

随着中国乃至全世界的人口老龄化问题的加剧,考虑老年人的需求变得越来越重要。通过文献调研,用户访谈和专家焦点小组的方法调查了影响老年人接受并使用信息科技的因素,共找到4个方面的16个因素,对老年人如何开始使用一种新的信息科技有了比较深刻和全面的了解。研究结果可以作为设计老年人信息科技接受问卷的依据,也可为信息科技产品的开发者设计合适的信息科技产品提供参考。