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Summary:

Why do enterprise systems have complicated search pages, when Google has a single search box that works better? Why struggle with an expense reimbursement system that is not as easy as home accounting software? Although this seems like comparing apples to oranges, as information and communication technologies reach into every industry, the demand for easy-to-use work tools continues to grow. An exploration of cutting-edge approaches for evaluating the usability of complex user interaction, Usability of Complex Information Systems: Evaluation of User Interaction focuses on improving design and communicating content to the end user.

Table of Contents:

• Machine generated contents note: Section I Comprehending Complexity: Solutions for Understanding the Usability of Information
• 1. Usability of Complex Information Systems / Michael J. Albers
• Examining the Definition of Usability
• Syntactic, Lexiconal, and Pragmatic (How-To Layers)
• Semantic (Functionality Layer)
• Conceptual Layer
• Conclusions
• References
• 2. Combining Rhetorical Theory with Usability Theory to Evaluate Quality of Writing in Web-Based Texts / David Hailey
• Introduction
• Even the Software We Use Has Evolved
• Need for More Effective Metrics
• Problem as I See It
• Relationship between Usability and Writing
• But
• Test of Writers' Ability to Evaluate Texts
• Subjects Began by Discussing Design
• Subjects Moved to Discussing Navigation
• Eventually... They Discussed Writing Quality
• Effectively Discussing Writing Quality

• How It Could Happen
• Incomplete Rhetorical Filters
• Genres and Filters in Websites
• Applying Genre Theory to Content Evaluation
• More Extended Theory of Genres
• Genre-Based Heuristic
• Combining the Components into a Schema
• Exigency and Purpose
• Knowing the Exigency and Purpose of a Text Is Critical for Describing Its Genre
• Exigency, Purpose, and Audience in Complex Information Systems
• Individual Pages with Independent Exigencies, Purposes, and Audiences
• Audience Need and Expectation Follow Naturally from Purpose
• Rhetorical Expectations
• Even More Subtle: Rhetorical Need
• Complexity of Audience Analysis
• Redish's Solution
• Conceptual Structure of the Text
• Conceptual Structures in Web Design
• Conceptual Structures in Complex Information Systems
• Physical Structure, including Medium
• Expectations and Demands on the Author
• Social Demands
• Applying the Heuristic
• Cognitive Walkthrough
• Post-Test Interviews
• Practical Application: At Page Level
• NASA Does It Right
• Final Point
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 3. Language Complexity and Usability / Nathan Jahnke
• Introduction
• Language as a Complex System
• Language Complexity in Writer's Help
• Tasks
• Test Environment and Procedure
• Results
• Task 3
• Discussion
• Formal Written English
• Language Acquisition
• Comprehensible Input
• Cognitive Load Learning Theory and Language Acquisition
• Composition Instruction at Texas Tech
• Course Redesign
• Usability and the Complex System
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 4. Innovation and Collaboration in Product Development: Creating a New Role for Usability Studies in Educational Publishing / Michael Greer
• Introduction
• Background of the Product
• Finding Opportunity in "Failures"
• Unexpected Complexity
• Test Methodology
• Selected Results
• Implications
• Collaboration and Rhetoric
• Driving Innovation in Product Development
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• Section II Theorizing Complexity: Ideas for Conceptualizing Usability and Complex Systems
• 5. Mapping Usability: An Ecological Framework for Analyzing User Experience / Brian Still
• Introduction
• Usability and Ecology
• User Web
• Mapping the User Experience
• Embracing the Hypothetical
• Making the Business Case for Evaluating Complexity
• Repurposing the Small-Scale Usability Test
• Discount Testing versus the Ecological Approach
• Other Methods for the Ecological Approach
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 6. Usability and Information Relationships: Considering Content Relationships and Contextual Awareness When Testing Complex Information / Michael J. Albers
• Introduction
• Importance of Relationships and Contextual Awareness
• Usability Tests for Relationships and Contextual Awareness
• Building a Test Plan for Contextual Awareness Usability
• Factors to Consider When Building the Test Plan
• Mental Models
• Information Salience
• Information Relationships
• Contextual Awareness
• Collecting Data
• Tests While a Person Is Still Developing Contextual Awareness
• Tests of the Quality of a Person's Contextual Awareness
• Data Analysis
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 7. Continuous Usability Evaluation of Increasingly Complex Systems / Vladimir Stantchev
• Introduction
• Overview of Usability Evaluation Methodology
• Process Evaluation of Domain Service
• Evaluation of the Existing Information Systems
• Identification of Decision Paths and Actions That Can Benefit from Increasingly Complex Systems
• Implementation
• Usability Evaluation of Increasingly Complex Systems in Health Care
• Usability Evaluation Techniques
• Design of the System
• ASUR Model of the System
• Overview of Evaluation Results
• Usability Evaluation in Increasingly Complex Systems for Project Portfolio Management
• Tasks and Activities in Project Portfolio Management
• Increasingly Complex Systems for Project Portfolio Management
• Continuous Evaluation of PPM Systems
• Experimental Usability Evaluation
• Assumptions
• Domain Services of an Increasingly Complex PPM System
• Service Coverage
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 8. Design Considerations for Usability Testing Complex Electronic Commerce Websites: A Perspective from the Literature / Julie Fisher
• Introduction
• Usability and Complex E-Commerce Websites
• Website Usability Testing
• Reliability and Validity in Usability Testing Research
• Research Approach
• Designing a Reliable and Valid Usability Test
• Selecting Websites
• Design of the Scenario and/or Task
• Identifying and Recruiting Participants
• Number of Participants
• Selecting Participants
• Research Instrument
• Conducting the Usability Test and the Setting
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• Section III Designing for Complexity: Methods of Conceptualizing Design Needs of Complex Systems
• 9. Activity-Theoretical Approach to the Usability Testing of Information Products Meant to Support Complex Use / Heather Shearer
• Introduction
• Activity Theory: Operationalizing Context
• Overview of Activity Theory (e.g., Rubinstein, 1957)and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory
• USDA Food Guide Pyramids: Overview and Re-View
• Overview
• Re-View: Activity-Theoretical Approach to the Usability Testing of MyPyramid
• Understand and Accommodate the Object of Users' Activity
• Choose Methods That Capture Data about All Levels of Activity in the System
• Commit to a Time Frame That Is Long Enough to Observe Changes in the Activity System
• Reader Take-Aways
• Notes
• References
• 10. Designing Usable and Useful Solutions for Complex Systems: A Case Study for Genomics Research / R. Stanley Dicks
• Introduction
• Usability Issues in Designing Usability into the Genome Project
• Necessity for a Single, Unified User Interface
• Need for Domain Expertise and Field Testing and Observation
• Acquiring the Necessary Domain Expertise
• Necessity for Field Studies and Observation
• Developmental Methodology
• Requirements for Design
• Usability Analysis through Field Studies and Contextual Inquiries
• Primary Design and Usability Challenges
• Necessity for Supporting Collaborative, Complex Work
• Necessity for Supporting the Paradox of Structure for Complex System Design
• Design and Usability Methodologies
• Field Observation
• User Involvement
• Extended Contextual Analysis
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 11. Incorporating Usability into the API Design Process / Robert Watson
• Introduction
• API Usability
• What Is an API?
• API Terms
• API Examples
• Using an API in an Application
• Why is API Usability Important?
• What Makes an API Usable?
• Measuring API Usability
• What Makes an API Difficult to Use?
• API Design, Development, and Usability
• Technical Writers Can Help with Usability
• Usability Fundamentals
• Heuristic Evaluations
• API Usability Peer Reviews
• Technical Writers Should Help with Usability
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• Additional References
• Section IV Practical Approaches: Methods for Evaluating Complexity
• 12. Tapping into Desirability in User Experience / Laura A.
• Palmer
• Introduction
• You Can Lead a Horse to Water, but You Can't Make It Drink
• Satisfaction Ratings in Self-Rated Questionnaires
• Post-Test Questionnaries in Comparative Studies
• How (and Why) Microsoft Created (and Used) Product Reaction Cards
• Product Reaction Cards
• Creation and Use in 2002
• Application and Use in 2004
• How Others Have Used the Product Reaction Cards
• Other Methods Used to Study Affect
• Our Use of Product Reaction Cards
• Learning to Use the Cards
• Designing Methods to Show the Results
• Results from Our Studies, from Simple to Complex Systems
• Moving toward Complexity
• Hotel Group Study on Loyalty Program Enrollment
• Website for Teacher Professional Development
• Network Monitoring and Management
• Major Hotel Group Reservation Study
• Call Center Application
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• Acknowledgment
• References
• 13. Novel Interaction Styles, Complex Working Contexts, and the Role of Usability / John R. Wilson
• Introducing Complexity
• Defining Complexity
• Technical Complexity
• Contextual Complexity
• Case Domain 1 Collaborative Work Environments
• Case Domain 2 Virtual Environments
• Case Domain 3 Sociotechnical Systems
• Implications of Complexity
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• Contents note continued: Acknowledgments
• References
• 14. Information Usability Testing as Audience and Context Analysis for Risk Communication / Catherine F. Smith
• Introduction
• Communicating about Risks and Emergencies
• Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)
• Audiences for Risk and Emergency Information
• Usability Evaluation of Documents
• Feedback-Driven Audience Analysis
• Testing with the Hurricane Survival Guide
• Pilot Study Participants
• Document Usability Evaluation Protocol
• Document Analysis
• Comments about Use
• Comments about Design and Writing
• Comments about Information
• Conclusion: Document Usability Evaluation as Audience Analysis
• Reader Take-Aways
• References
• 15. Usability Testing, User Goals, and Engagement in Educational Games / Jason Cootey
• Introduction
• Games Studied
• Aristotle's Assassins
• Avalanche Software
• Usability of Education Games
• Good and Bad Educational Games
• Gameplay and Engagement
• Usability and Game Testing
• Usability Testing Defined
• Playtesting Defined
• Quality Assurance Defined
• Methodology
• Observation Methods
• Survey Methods
• Findings
• Observation Findings
• Survey Findings
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Reader Take-Aways
• Acknowledgments
• References.

View 270 more lines View less

Contributors:

Albers, Michael J.

Still, Brian, 1968-

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Subjects:

Human-computer interaction

User-centered system design

Computer software — Evaluation

Information storage and retrieval systems

Web site development

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Call Numbers:

QA76.9.H85 U68 2011eb

ISBNs:

9781439828953 (electronic bk.)
1439828954 (electronic bk.)
9781439828946 [Invalid]
1439828946 [Invalid]

OCLC Numbers:

688186372

Other Control Numbers:

EBC589860 (source: MiAaPQ)
[Unknown Type]: ybp3492749