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Improved link analysis method for user interface design -- modified link table and optimisation-based algorithm.

Link analysis (LA) is one of most widely used methods in user interface design to arrange control elements on user interfaces. However, traditional LA method is insufficient for evaluating transitional cost associated with accessibility (the easiness for the operator to reach certain control element...

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Published in:Behaviour & Information Technology Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 199 - 217
Main Authors: Lin C, Wu C
Format: equations & formulas research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Mar/Apr2010
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Behaviour & Information Technology
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      dt: Mar/Apr2010
      vid: 29
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        2010604400
        10.1080/01449290903233892
        105154904
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        atl: Improved link analysis method for user interface design -- modified link table and optimisation-based algorithm.
      aug:
        au:
          Lin C
          Wu C
        affil: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
      sug:
        subj:
          Algorithms
          Task Performance and Analysis
          User-Computer Interface
          Adult
          Analysis of Variance
          Female
          Human
          Male
          Nuclear Energy
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: Link analysis (LA) is one of most widely used methods in user interface design to arrange control elements on user interfaces. However, traditional LA method is insufficient for evaluating transitional cost associated with accessibility (the easiness for the operator to reach certain control element on the interface) and the link table commonly used contains no directional information for assessing difficulty. To address these two problems, an improved LA method based on a modified link table and a branch-and-bound algorithm is proposed in this study. A case study on a simplified control interface of a boiling water reactor (BWR) in a real-world nuclear control system was exemplified to elucidate the improved method and an experiment was conducted to validate the effectiveness of the method in improving users' performance time. The results showed that the total completion time (CT) and the completion time of accessibility-associated operations were significantly shorter on the interface modified by the improved method than by the traditional LA method, while the difference of the completion time of proximity-associated operations between the two interfaces was non-significant. Therefore, although the traditional LA method can significantly ameliorate the random interface by optimising the proximity between control elements, the improved method can further improve the CT by optimally trading off the accessibility and proximity. The method can be applied to the interface which requires physical movements between the user and the interface and within the interface, especially touch screen and control panels.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        equations & formulas
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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