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With the very rapid increase in the availability of interactive computer systems emphasis has turned from algorithm and data structure design to man-machine interface design, in an attempt to produce interactive software that is acceptable to a user population with wide experience and ability levels. Considerable research has already been undertaken to obtain guidelines for man-machine dialogue design. However little has been done to integrate dialogue design methods and techniques into the traditional life cycle and methodologies of systems development, an area in which the author carried out earlier research. This thesis describes research undertaken to develop computer aids to assist with man-machine dialogue design, thus enabling dialogue representation techniques to be thoroughly proven. These techniques have been integrated with those of structured analysis to enable early specification of the dynamic aspects of a proposed interactive system, rather than their being left to the programming stage where there may be little user involvement. Additionally of interest is the ability of users to enter and modify dialogues using one of the developed computer aids, the Dialogue Prototyper. This system exhibits a novel approach to the provision of user adaptable interfaces.

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This research program covers three topics relating to the humancomputer interface namely, voice recognition, tools and techniques for evaluation, and user and interface modelling. An investigation into the implementation of voice recognition technologies examines how voice recognisers may be evaluated in commercial software. A prototype system was developed with the collaboration of FEMVIEW Ltd. (marketing a CAD package). Proposals for future research using the prototype system suggests the need for field trials to assess its usefulness in a working environment and to gain insights to end-user attitudes. A new generation of voice system is proposed based around a phoneme-based pattern matching paradigm, natural language understanding facilities and intelligent knowledgebased systems capable of building on knowledge by inference and deduction. In order to assess the 'usability' of the FEMVIEW CAD software a subject-base formal evaluation was conducted which involved: - (1) the analysis of responses to a multi-user survey of end-user attitudes; (2) collecting behavioural performance measures from students learning to use the software. (3) cognitive and affective data obtained from laboratory experimentation using experienced users of the CAD package. A theoretical approach to evaluation leads to the hypothesis that human-computer interaction is affected by personality, influencing types of dialogue, preferred methods for providing help, etc. A user model based on personality traits, or habitual behaviour patterns (HBP) is presented. Proposals are given to use the HBP model in future self-adaptive interfaces. Results from experimentation to justify the model are inconclusive. Finally, a practical framework is provided for the evaluation of human-computer interfaces. It suggests that evaluation is an integral part of design and that the iterative use of evaluation techniques throughout the conceptualisation, design, implementation and postimplementation stages will ensure systems that satisfy the needs of the users and fulfil the goal of 'usability'. The major contributions made to the knowledge of this subject can be summarised as follows: (1) the practical problems of implementing voice recognition technologies in commercial software; (2) the development of a new personalised user model which accounts for individual's idiosyncrasies; (3) methods for applying simple evaluation techniques in order to assess software 'usability'; (4) a practical framework for developing usable software.

There is a large amount of geotechnical data. By putting it into a database, it can be applied to design reliable offshore foundations. The goal of this research is to improve the efficiency and transparency of the implementation of the previously developed reliability-based framework to streamline the process for analyzing and developing an offshore site in the Gulf of Mexico by looking at spatial variations among data sets. This thesis documents how to store soil behavior information in the database and how to use that information for offshore foundation design. The process is illustrated through observing the steps with figures provided directly from the database so the user can more readily use the database to produce results. This makes the database more transparent for the user to follow the flow of information from input to analysis and to follow the calculation process as well. Enhancements were also made to the database to provide a more readily accessible interface. There is now an allowance of data to streamline the data input process. There is also a set amount of fifty data points to be used in each spatially conditioned analysis. These detailed explanations and consistencies in data collection help the user to understand the models. This database provides a synthetic image of the site using both physical and statistical parameters where there might not be exact data at a desired foundation location. By providing the industry with a database that uses reliability-based design from actual data and spatial variation analysis, this project will continue to provide a more efficient design process. / text

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Das Potenzial mentaler Modelle zur Entwicklung benutzergerechter, technischer Systeme wurde bereits in zahlreichen Studien aufgezeigt. Jedoch existieren noch immer nur wenige konkrete Methoden zur Nutzung mentaler Modelle im Zuge der Produktentwicklung. Diese Arbeit stellt daher einen konkreten Methodenansatz vor, anhand dessen es Entwicklern ermöglicht werden kann, Optimierungspotenziale mit Hilfe der mentalen Modelle zu identifizieren und diese zu beeinflussen. Dazu werden verschiedene Werkzeuge definiert, die gezielt Einfluss auf die individuelle und kollektive Modellbildung der Nutzer nehmen. In einem Versuch wird der Einfluss dieser Werkzeuge bei visueller Informationsübertragung anhand eines Defibrillators untersucht. Mithilfe eines Interface-Mock-ups werden verschiedene Use Cases im Rahmen einer erweiterten User-Interface-Prototyping-Untersuchung durchlaufen. Die Auswertung der Antwortzeiten und Lösungsstrategien zeigt auf, dass die Werkzeuge einen Einfluss auf die Bildung individueller und kollektiver Modellstrukturen haben. Der Einfluss äußert sich in einem benutzergerechten Verhalten der Versuchspersonen, welches nachweisbar durch die gezielten Interfaceanpassungen gefördert wurde.

Das Potenzial mentaler Modelle zur Entwicklung benutzergerechter, technischer Systeme wurde bereits in zahlreichen Studien aufgezeigt. Jedoch existieren noch immer nur wenige konkrete Methoden zur Nutzung mentaler Modelle im Zuge der Produktentwicklung. Diese Arbeit stellt daher einen konkreten Methodenansatz vor, anhand dessen es Entwicklern ermöglicht werden kann, Optimierungspotenziale mit Hilfe der mentalen Modelle zu identifizieren und diese zu beeinflussen. Dazu werden verschiedene Werkzeuge definiert, die gezielt Einfluss auf die individuelle und kollektive Modellbildung der Nutzer nehmen. In einem Versuch wird der Einfluss dieser Werkzeuge bei visueller Informationsübertragung anhand eines Defibrillators untersucht. Mithilfe eines Interface-Mock-ups werden verschiedene Use Cases im Rahmen einer erweiterten User-Interface-Prototyping-Untersuchung durchlaufen. Die Auswertung der Antwortzeiten und Lösungsstrategien zeigt auf, dass die Werkzeuge einen Einfluss auf die Bildung individueller und kollektiver Modellstrukturen haben. Der Einfluss äußert sich in einem benutzergerechten Verhalten der Versuchspersonen, welches nachweisbar durch die gezielten Interfaceanpassungen gefördert wurde.

En kontinuerlig ökning av tillgängligheten till Internet har lett till att flera ärenden som tidigare utfördes utanför hemmet, såsom inköp av böcker, filmer och kläder, nu även sker online. Det finns idag även flera företag som erbjuder tjänster för att signera dokument elektroniskt. Jag har i detta examensarbete valt att studera arbetsflödet för just elektronisk signering. Studien är fokuserad på företaget Comfacts lösning där de använder SMS i identifieringsprocessen. De olika stegen användarna går igenom för att signera dokument är otydliga. Genom att studera arbetsflödet för Comfacts elektroniska signering hoppas jag bringa kunskap i hur man kan utforma flödet så användarna förstår processen och upplever signeringen som enkel och smidig. Förstudien bestod av en heuristisk utvärdering av tjänsten, en konkurrentanalys av liknande tjänster samt användbarhetstester. Resultatet visade att det största problemet med den nuvarande lösningen är vissa ord och meningar som är formulerade så att deltagarna inte förstår. Detta ihop med dålig information om vad som händer resulterar i ett otydligt arbetsflöde som leder till onödigt tänkande för användarnas del. Genom att använda mig av kunskaper jag tillgodosett mig genom teori och förstudie utvecklade jag ett förslag på ett nytt gränssnitt. Detta testade jag sedan på en ny grupp användare och kunde då påvisa mätbara förbättringar från det tidigare gränssnittet. Slutsatsen av arbetet är att ett gränssnitt bör utformas med följande aspekter i åtanke för att bättre guida användarna igenom signeringsprocessen: 1) Designa efter användarna, inte den bakomliggande tekniken. 2) Ge tydlig information om vad som händer 3) De olika elementen i gränssnittet ska vara synliga 4) Designen ska vara enhetlig 5) Använd funktioner som användarna känner igen Genom att designa efter dessa principer i framtiden kan man undvika användare som utbrister ”Nej, men vad dålig jag känner mig nu!”, utan istället säger: ”Aha, jag förstår!”. / A continuous increase of the accessibility to the Internet has lead to several instances where errands previously performed outside the home now can be carried out online as well, such as purchases of books, movies and clothes. Today, several companies offer services for the electronic signing of documents. In this thesis, I have chosen to study the workflow for such electronic signatures. The focus of the study is the company Comfacts solution, which uses SMS as part of the identification process. The steps that users go through to sign a document are not clearly defined. By studying the workflow of the system Comfact uses for electronic signage, I hope to bring insight of how to design a flow where users understand the process and feel that signing electronic documents online is a simple and straightforward process. The preliminary study consisted of a heuristic evaluation of the service, a competitor analysis of similar services and usability tests. The result showed that the main problem with the current solution is that certain words and sentences are structured in a way that the participants feel they don’t understand. This, combined with poor information on how the signing process works results in an overall unclear workflow. An unclear workflow will, in turn, cause the users to reflect upon the process itself more than should be necessary. By using the knowledge gained though theoretic studies and the preliminary study I developed a proposal for a new user interface. This interface was then tested by a new group of users, and I was able to demonstrate measurable improvements from the previous user interface. The conclusion of my study is that a workflow should be designed with the following aspects in mind, in order to better guide the users through the signing process: 1) Design with the users in mind, not the underlying technology 2) Provide clear information about what is going on 3) Different elements should be visible 4) The design should be consistent 5) Use functions familiar to the users By designing according to these principles in the future, users exclaiming “Oh, I feel so stupid!” can be avoided, and more users feel “Aha, I understand!”