Human Factors in Software Design

Fall 1994
Gregory Abowd

Final Exam Review

General format

short answer, objective questions (matching, mult. choice)

short essay - subjective (one paragraph answers)

1.5 hours in length, closed book, no notes.

Chapter 1 Human

• Reasoning and Problem-solving
  • inductive, abductive, deductive reasoning
  • problem space theory, goal decomposition

Chapter 2 Computer

• skip it

Chapter 3 Interaction

• Interaction frameworks
• Interaction styles

Chapter 4 Paradigms and Principles

• History of interaction technology
• Principles of interaction
  • learnability
  • flexibility
  • robustness

Chapter 5 Design

• Iterative design/prototyping
• Design rationale

Chapter 6 Models of User in Design

• GOMS modeling
• Keystroke Level Model
• revised Fitt's Law

Chapter 7 Task Analysis

• Hierarchical Task Analysis
  • relationship to GOMS
• Task Description Hierarchy
  • relationship to menu design

Chapter 10 Implementation Support

• Elements of a windowing system
  • roles - device independence and multiple application control
  • the X window system
• Programming the application
  • internal (read-evaluate loop) vs. external (notification-based) control

Chapter 11 Evaluation

• Lab vs. field
• Summative vs. formative
• Evaluating the design
  • cognitive walkthrough
  • heuristic evaluation
  • relationship between heuristics and principles of Ch. 4 and criteria in QOC design rationale
• Evaluating the implementation
  • experimental design
  • Observational/participatory techniques (think aloud, protocol analysis)

  • Query techniques (questionnaires)
• Comparing different techniques

Help and Documentation

• Approaches to user support

Chapter 13 Groupware

• Classification of groupware systems using
  • Time/space matrix
  • Cooperative work framework
• Architectures for groupware
• feedthrough

Chapter 14 CSCW Issues and Theory

• skip it

Mayhew - Screen Layout and Design

• Factors affecting screen organization
• Principles for messages
• Principles for coding/color

Brown - Assistive Technologies

• identify technologies used for various disabilities