Chapter 1: Usability of Interactive Systems
Discussion Topics with Answers
1. Devise an outline, consistent with the scientific method, which interface
researchers should follow to validate their designs.
Following the scientific method closely works very well in usability studies.
Identify a “control”, formulate a hypothesis, test for hypothesis being true or
false, etc. is an ideal model for interface researchers.
2. List some characteristics of successful user interface designers with respect to
their approach to solving UI problems
– Successful UI designers go beyond vague notions of “user friendliness”,
“intuitive”, and “natural” doing more than simply making checklists of
subjective guidelines.
– They have a thorough understanding of the diverse community of users
and the tasks that must be accomplished.
– They study evidence-based guidelines and pursue the research literature
when necessary.
– They are deeply committed to enhancing the user experience, which
strengthens their resolve when they face difficult choices, time pressures,
and tight budgets
– Are aware of the importance of eliciting emotional responses, attracting
attention with animations, and playfully surprising users
3. As noted in the book, some skeptics feel that accommodating diversity requires
dumbing-down or lowest-common-denominator strategies. However, the
authors claim that in their experience, rethinking interface designs to
accommodate these diversity situations will result in a better product for all
users. Give an example of a product that meets the specific needs of a certain
group of people, yet gives all users a better experience.
One answer could be Automated Teller Machines (ATM) seen in ethnically
diverse neighborhoods, allowing the user to select the language before
continuing to interact with the machine. Chapter 6 goes into detail via a Case
Study on ATM design.
4. List several reasons why certain people resist using computers and suggest
possible ways to you can alleviate these concerns.
One could argue that a major limitation is the complexity of the interfaces
combined with small screens and fonts. Many persons are just not able to
comfortable select a tiny item from a drop down list with a mouse, and, to
many, that still is a difficult concept to grasp: to hold the mouse button down
when selecting an item as well as knowing when to release the button is a bit
complex to the novice. Solutions could be touch-screen (mouse-less) designs
with large font sizes.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
,5. Suggest @hythree @hyusability @hymeasures @hythat @hycan @hybe @hydirectly @hyused @hyto
@hyproduce @hya @hypractical @hyevaluation @hyof @hya @hysystem. @hyKeep @hythe @hygoals
@hyof @hyefficiency @hyand @hysatisfaction @hyin @hymind @hywith @hythese @hymeasures.
Examples: @hyTime @hyto @hylearn, @hyrate @hyof @hyhuman @hyerrors, @hyspeed @hyof
@hytask @hycompletion, @hysubjective @hysatisfaction, @hysales, @hyhuman
@hyretention @hyover @hytime.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
,Chapter 2: Universal Usability
@hy @hy @hy
Discussion Topics with
@hy @hy @hy
Answers
@hy
1. Describe @hythree @hypopulations @hyof @hyusers @hywith @hyspecial @hyneeds. @hyFor @hyeach
@hyof @hythese @hypopulations, @hysuggest @hythree @hyways @hycurrent @hyinterfaces @hycould
@hybe @hyimproved @hyto @hybetter @hyserve @hythem.
Elderly, @hyvery @hyyoung, @hynot @hycomputer @hysavvy. @hySome @hyof @hythis @hywork
@hyhas @hybegun @hyby @hytailoring @hycontrol @hypanels @hyfor @hyWindows @hyand @hyMac
@hyinterfaces, @hye.g. @hydefault @hyfont @hysizes. @hyThere @hyis @hystill @hymuch @hywork
@hyto @hydo @hyregarding @hyintroduction @hyto @hycomputers. @hyThe @hyOne @hyLaptop
@hyPer @hyChild @hyinitiative @hyis @hya @hystart @hyfor @hytwo @hyof @hythe @hythree @hyitems
@hylisted @hyhere.
2. Suppose @hyyou @hyneed @hyto @hydesign @hya @hysystem @hyfor @hyusers @hyin @hyboth @hythe
@hyUnited @hyStates @hyand @hyJapan. @hyPresent @hya @hylist @hyof @hycultural @hydifferences
@hythat @hyyou @hyshould @hybe @hyaware @hyof @hyso @hythat @hya @hysuccessful @hydesign @hycan
@hybe @hymade.
There @hyare @hya @hynumber @hyof @hyreferences @hyon @hyinternationalization @hyof
@hyuser @hyinterfaces. @hyNot @hyonly @hythe @hydifference @hyin @hythe @hylanguages,
@hybut @hycultural @hydifferences @hyneed @hyto @hybe @hyconsidered. @hyUsability
@hytesting @hywith @hyboth @hyU.S. @hyand @hyJapanese @hyusers @hyis @hya @hymust. @hyA
@hyclassic @hyreference @hyis @hy“International @hyUser @hyInterfaces” @hyby @hyElisa @hyM.
@hydel @hyGaldo @hyand @hyJakob @hyNielsen. @hyAnother @hyis @hyavailable @hyat:
@hyhttp://www.amanda.com/cms/uploads/media/AMA_GlobalizationUserInterfaceDesignWeb.pdf
3. In @hycertain @hyinterfaces, @hyit @hyis @hynecessary @hyto @hyinform @hyusers @hyof @hyan
@hyabnormal @hycondition @hyor @hytime-dependent @hyinformation. @hyIt @hyis @hyimportant
@hythat @hythe @hydisplay @hyof @hythis @hyinformation @hycatches @hythe @hyuser's @hyattention.
@hySuggest @hyfive @hyways @hya @hydesigner @hycan @hysuccessfully @hyattract @hyattention.
Consider @hyan @hyair @hytraffic @hycontrol @hysystem @hyoperator @hydisplay @hywith
@hyan @hyalert @hycondition @hyof @hytwo @hyplanes @hybeing @hytoo @hyclose @hyto @hyeach
@hyother. @hyOne @hycan @hyalert @hyan @hyoperator @hyby @hychanging @hythe @hycolor
@hydisplayed @hyfor @hythe @hyplane’s @hyidentification @hyinformation, @hyusing @hya
@hywarning @hythat @hypops-up, @hyusing @hya @hywarning @hythat @hyflashes @hyon/off,
@hyan @hyaudible @hybeep, @hyor @hya @hyconstant @hyaudio @hyalarm. @hyCertainly
@hyusability @hytesting @hythese @hyproposed @hysolutions @hywith @hyreal @hyair @hytraffic
@hycontrollers @hyso @hydesigners @hycan @hytrade-off @hysuccessfully @hyattracting
@hythe @hyattention @hyof @hythe @hyoperator @hyvs. @hycausing @hyone @hyto @hytotally
@hylose @hytheir @hytrain @hyof @hythought @hyand @hymake @hyconditions @hyworse.
4. Name @hya @hypiece @hyof @hysoftware @hyyou @hyoften @hyuse @hywhere @hyit @hyis @hyeasy @hyto
@hyproduce @hyan @hyerror. @hyExplain @hyways @hyyou @hycould @hyimprove @hythe @hyinterface
@hyto @hybetter @hyprevent @hyerrors.
Not @hyto @hymention @hynames, @hybut @hysome @hydesktop @hyoperating @hysystem
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
, @hyvendors @hydo @hypublish @hyupdates @hyto @hytheir @hyproducts @hywithout @hyfully
@hytesting @hytheir @hychanges, @hysometimes @hycausing @hymore @hydifficulty @hythan
@hynot @hymaking @hythe @hychange @hyin @hythe @hyfirst @hyplace. @hyMy @hysuggestion
@hywould @hybe @hyto @hyuse @hya @hybeta @hytest @hygroup @hymore @hyoften @hyof @hypeople
@hywho @hyare @hycommitted @hyto @hyresponding @hywith @hytimely, @hyincisive
@hyfeedback @hybefore @hythe @hychange @hyis @hyreleased @hyto @hythe @hygeneral
@hypopulation.
5. List @hysome @hyhuman @hyphysiological @hyor @hypsychological @hyfactors @hythat @hycan
@hyinfluence @hyhuman @hyoperator @hyperformance.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
Discussion Topics with Answers
1. Devise an outline, consistent with the scientific method, which interface
researchers should follow to validate their designs.
Following the scientific method closely works very well in usability studies.
Identify a “control”, formulate a hypothesis, test for hypothesis being true or
false, etc. is an ideal model for interface researchers.
2. List some characteristics of successful user interface designers with respect to
their approach to solving UI problems
– Successful UI designers go beyond vague notions of “user friendliness”,
“intuitive”, and “natural” doing more than simply making checklists of
subjective guidelines.
– They have a thorough understanding of the diverse community of users
and the tasks that must be accomplished.
– They study evidence-based guidelines and pursue the research literature
when necessary.
– They are deeply committed to enhancing the user experience, which
strengthens their resolve when they face difficult choices, time pressures,
and tight budgets
– Are aware of the importance of eliciting emotional responses, attracting
attention with animations, and playfully surprising users
3. As noted in the book, some skeptics feel that accommodating diversity requires
dumbing-down or lowest-common-denominator strategies. However, the
authors claim that in their experience, rethinking interface designs to
accommodate these diversity situations will result in a better product for all
users. Give an example of a product that meets the specific needs of a certain
group of people, yet gives all users a better experience.
One answer could be Automated Teller Machines (ATM) seen in ethnically
diverse neighborhoods, allowing the user to select the language before
continuing to interact with the machine. Chapter 6 goes into detail via a Case
Study on ATM design.
4. List several reasons why certain people resist using computers and suggest
possible ways to you can alleviate these concerns.
One could argue that a major limitation is the complexity of the interfaces
combined with small screens and fonts. Many persons are just not able to
comfortable select a tiny item from a drop down list with a mouse, and, to
many, that still is a difficult concept to grasp: to hold the mouse button down
when selecting an item as well as knowing when to release the button is a bit
complex to the novice. Solutions could be touch-screen (mouse-less) designs
with large font sizes.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
,5. Suggest @hythree @hyusability @hymeasures @hythat @hycan @hybe @hydirectly @hyused @hyto
@hyproduce @hya @hypractical @hyevaluation @hyof @hya @hysystem. @hyKeep @hythe @hygoals
@hyof @hyefficiency @hyand @hysatisfaction @hyin @hymind @hywith @hythese @hymeasures.
Examples: @hyTime @hyto @hylearn, @hyrate @hyof @hyhuman @hyerrors, @hyspeed @hyof
@hytask @hycompletion, @hysubjective @hysatisfaction, @hysales, @hyhuman
@hyretention @hyover @hytime.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
,Chapter 2: Universal Usability
@hy @hy @hy
Discussion Topics with
@hy @hy @hy
Answers
@hy
1. Describe @hythree @hypopulations @hyof @hyusers @hywith @hyspecial @hyneeds. @hyFor @hyeach
@hyof @hythese @hypopulations, @hysuggest @hythree @hyways @hycurrent @hyinterfaces @hycould
@hybe @hyimproved @hyto @hybetter @hyserve @hythem.
Elderly, @hyvery @hyyoung, @hynot @hycomputer @hysavvy. @hySome @hyof @hythis @hywork
@hyhas @hybegun @hyby @hytailoring @hycontrol @hypanels @hyfor @hyWindows @hyand @hyMac
@hyinterfaces, @hye.g. @hydefault @hyfont @hysizes. @hyThere @hyis @hystill @hymuch @hywork
@hyto @hydo @hyregarding @hyintroduction @hyto @hycomputers. @hyThe @hyOne @hyLaptop
@hyPer @hyChild @hyinitiative @hyis @hya @hystart @hyfor @hytwo @hyof @hythe @hythree @hyitems
@hylisted @hyhere.
2. Suppose @hyyou @hyneed @hyto @hydesign @hya @hysystem @hyfor @hyusers @hyin @hyboth @hythe
@hyUnited @hyStates @hyand @hyJapan. @hyPresent @hya @hylist @hyof @hycultural @hydifferences
@hythat @hyyou @hyshould @hybe @hyaware @hyof @hyso @hythat @hya @hysuccessful @hydesign @hycan
@hybe @hymade.
There @hyare @hya @hynumber @hyof @hyreferences @hyon @hyinternationalization @hyof
@hyuser @hyinterfaces. @hyNot @hyonly @hythe @hydifference @hyin @hythe @hylanguages,
@hybut @hycultural @hydifferences @hyneed @hyto @hybe @hyconsidered. @hyUsability
@hytesting @hywith @hyboth @hyU.S. @hyand @hyJapanese @hyusers @hyis @hya @hymust. @hyA
@hyclassic @hyreference @hyis @hy“International @hyUser @hyInterfaces” @hyby @hyElisa @hyM.
@hydel @hyGaldo @hyand @hyJakob @hyNielsen. @hyAnother @hyis @hyavailable @hyat:
@hyhttp://www.amanda.com/cms/uploads/media/AMA_GlobalizationUserInterfaceDesignWeb.pdf
3. In @hycertain @hyinterfaces, @hyit @hyis @hynecessary @hyto @hyinform @hyusers @hyof @hyan
@hyabnormal @hycondition @hyor @hytime-dependent @hyinformation. @hyIt @hyis @hyimportant
@hythat @hythe @hydisplay @hyof @hythis @hyinformation @hycatches @hythe @hyuser's @hyattention.
@hySuggest @hyfive @hyways @hya @hydesigner @hycan @hysuccessfully @hyattract @hyattention.
Consider @hyan @hyair @hytraffic @hycontrol @hysystem @hyoperator @hydisplay @hywith
@hyan @hyalert @hycondition @hyof @hytwo @hyplanes @hybeing @hytoo @hyclose @hyto @hyeach
@hyother. @hyOne @hycan @hyalert @hyan @hyoperator @hyby @hychanging @hythe @hycolor
@hydisplayed @hyfor @hythe @hyplane’s @hyidentification @hyinformation, @hyusing @hya
@hywarning @hythat @hypops-up, @hyusing @hya @hywarning @hythat @hyflashes @hyon/off,
@hyan @hyaudible @hybeep, @hyor @hya @hyconstant @hyaudio @hyalarm. @hyCertainly
@hyusability @hytesting @hythese @hyproposed @hysolutions @hywith @hyreal @hyair @hytraffic
@hycontrollers @hyso @hydesigners @hycan @hytrade-off @hysuccessfully @hyattracting
@hythe @hyattention @hyof @hythe @hyoperator @hyvs. @hycausing @hyone @hyto @hytotally
@hylose @hytheir @hytrain @hyof @hythought @hyand @hymake @hyconditions @hyworse.
4. Name @hya @hypiece @hyof @hysoftware @hyyou @hyoften @hyuse @hywhere @hyit @hyis @hyeasy @hyto
@hyproduce @hyan @hyerror. @hyExplain @hyways @hyyou @hycould @hyimprove @hythe @hyinterface
@hyto @hybetter @hyprevent @hyerrors.
Not @hyto @hymention @hynames, @hybut @hysome @hydesktop @hyoperating @hysystem
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
, @hyvendors @hydo @hypublish @hyupdates @hyto @hytheir @hyproducts @hywithout @hyfully
@hytesting @hytheir @hychanges, @hysometimes @hycausing @hymore @hydifficulty @hythan
@hynot @hymaking @hythe @hychange @hyin @hythe @hyfirst @hyplace. @hyMy @hysuggestion
@hywould @hybe @hyto @hyuse @hya @hybeta @hytest @hygroup @hymore @hyoften @hyof @hypeople
@hywho @hyare @hycommitted @hyto @hyresponding @hywith @hytimely, @hyincisive
@hyfeedback @hybefore @hythe @hychange @hyis @hyreleased @hyto @hythe @hygeneral
@hypopulation.
5. List @hysome @hyhuman @hyphysiological @hyor @hypsychological @hyfactors @hythat @hycan
@hyinfluence @hyhuman @hyoperator @hyperformance.
© @hy2017 @hyPearson @hyEducation, @hyInc., @hyHoboken, @hyNJ. @hyAll
@hyrights @hyreserved
