How can user interface designers
determine whether a user interface (element) will cause problems for users?
1. Analyze the interface using
"common sense" (?)
Intuitions
can reveal some obvious omissions, confusing and inefficient interaction.
Many flaws however
are not "intuitively" recognizable, even with experience in user interface design.
2. Develop a theory of "human
cognitive processing", and use it to predict problems that users will have
with the interface
Was only
successfull in limited areas so far.
3. Test the interface with users,
and watch whether problems can be observed or are reported by users
Tests with 5-8 users
already reveal major problems
Generalize the
findings from (3) and develop guidelines of what should not be done
+
"Usability Engineering"
How
can user interface designers determine whether a user interface (element) will
not cause problems for users?