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Reading self-pacced moving text on a computer display
literature for central London, 1 9 7 9 1985. Part 2: Studied reactions. Information Des J, 1987, 5.2, 8 7 - 1 1 0 . This is the second part of a paper discussing the problems of putting across information about bus travel in London. Part 1, published in
Information Design Journal, 5.1, described the basic needs of bus users and the development of a new bus map for central London. In Part 2, reactions to the new map are described and the new design is analysed, with an examination of cartographic problems such as complex routeing, road naming, railway station location and one-way streets.
20.3.18 (111334)
Chen, H.C., Chan, K.T., and Tsoi, K.C. Reading self-paced moving text on a computer display. Human Factors, 1988, 3 0 . 3 , 2 8 5 - 2 9 1 . Readability of text moved horizontally along a single line on a computer display was studied as a function of two line lengths and three jump lengths. In an experiment, text was advanced in continuous jumps of one or several characters at a time and the speed of text display was controlled in real time by subjects via a control knob. The results showed that j u m p lengths of five and nine character spaces resulted in a higher reading rate than the one-character jump condition. Furthermore, text appearing in 20character windows was read as fast as text in 40-character windows. However, when text was advanced one character space at a time, the small window condition resulted in higher comprehension than the large window condition. Implications of these results for reading self-paced computer displays are discussed.
20.3.19 (111339)
Thaeker, P., and Babu, A.J.G. Effects of graphic boundaries in tabular displays. A human factors evaluation. Computers & Indust Engng, 1988, 14.3, 307-314. There are several techniques for highlighting displayed information. This paper presents the results of an experiment which investigated one form of highlighting - drawing graphic boundaries around the information. Two different tasks involving tabular data with low information density were performed by the subjects. These results indicate a significant difference in search time due to task, but no significant difference due to the amount of highlighting. The subjective ratings show a significant difference between highlighted and non-highlighted displays for both the tasks.
234
Applied Ergonomics
20.3.20 (111340)
Kurosu, K., Furuya, T., Asakawa, K., and Kawasaki, I. Factor analysis of emergency telephone calls. In: Training, Human Decision Making and Control, J. Patrick and K.D. Duncan (Eds), North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1988, pp 3 9 5 - 4 0 3 . This paper examines prediction of duration of emergency calls based on quantification theory I. Predictor variables are related to informers, victims, accident spots and operators. According to the results of analysis, factors relating to operators and accident spots have larger weight coefficients than others, if the data are within 100 s, while the factor relating to victims has the largest weight and the factor relating to operators is the next largest if data are over 100 s. So it is concluded that improvements in operators' procedures or man-machine systems could have a great effect on shortening time between occurrence of accidents and despatch of a fire engine or an ambulance.
20.3.21 (111350)
Sperandio, J.C., and Des~tigne, M.F. An experimental comparison of visual and auditory messages displayed to car drivers (Une comparaison experimentale entre modes de presentation visuels ou auditifs de messages d'informations routieres a des conducteurs automobiles). (In French.) Travail Humain, 1988, 51.3, 257-269. The aim of this experiment was to compare the efficiency of messages visually or auditorily displayed to car drivers. Criteria were reading speed and recall of messages. Three formats of messages were tested, with or without repetition and with 6 or 12 information units. Results indicated that recall of auditory messages was significantly higher in all conditions. However, the efficiency of visual messages was largely improved by maps or graphics. It is concluded that auditory messages are more convenient than visual messages for car drivers, but this conclusion should not be necessarily valid in another context.
20.3.22 (111356)
McDonald, J.E., Dayton, T., and McDonald, D.R. Adapting menu layout t o tasks. Int J Man-Machine Studies, 1988, 28.4, 417-435. Menus are an increasingly popular style of user-system interface. Although many aspects of menu design can affect user performance (e g, item names and selection methods), the organisation of
September1989
items in menus is a particularly salient aspect of their design. Unfortunately, empirical studies of menu layout have yet to resolve the basic question of how menus should be organised to produce optimal performance. Furthermore, a disturbingly common finding has been that any initial effects of menu layout disappear with practice. Thus it is tempting to conclude that menu organisation is not important or that it only affects performance during learning. I n this paper the authors present some reasons to doubt this conclusion. In particular, they have found persistent effects of layout with multiple-item selection tasks, in contrast with studies employing a single-item selection paradigm. The results of a controlled study comparing various menu designs (fast-food keyboards) show that the types of tasks to be performed by users must be considered in organising items in menus and that there may be sustained effects of menu organisation with some tasks. In addition, the results of this study support the use of a formal methodology based on user knowledge for menu design. By comparing the performance of subjects using menus designed using the authors' methodology with the performance of subjects using 'personalised' menus, it was possible to demortstrate the general superiority of this method for designing menus, and for tailoring menus to meet task requirements as well.
Display and control design 20.3.23 (111425)
Hertting.Thomasius, R., Rotti~, M., Luczak, H., Klutmann, B., and Kruger, D. Ergonomic design of a hand-held terminal for recording system data (Ergonomische Gestaltung eines Handterminals zur Betriebsdatenerfassung). (In German~.) Zeitschrift fur Arbeitswissenschaft, 1988, 42.2, 8 3 - 8 8 . In the quality control department, an automobile manufacturer uses a hand-held terminal which is carried by the inspector and used in conjunction with a computer system. A redesign of the hand-held terminal according to ergonomics principles brought significant advantages in usage (e g, integrated dictionary function, variable data input) and in handling (e g, better grip design suitable for both right- and left-handers). The requirements for the new terminal are discussed. Various designs are used to translate ergonomics specifications into hardware. The type and layout of the chosen controls and form are thoroughly justified.
Information Design Journal, 5.1, described the basic needs of bus users and the development of a new bus map for central London. In Part 2, reactions to the new map are described and the new design is analysed, with an examination of cartographic problems such as complex routeing, road naming, railway station location and one-way streets.
20.3.18 (111334)
Chen, H.C., Chan, K.T., and Tsoi, K.C. Reading self-paced moving text on a computer display. Human Factors, 1988, 3 0 . 3 , 2 8 5 - 2 9 1 . Readability of text moved horizontally along a single line on a computer display was studied as a function of two line lengths and three jump lengths. In an experiment, text was advanced in continuous jumps of one or several characters at a time and the speed of text display was controlled in real time by subjects via a control knob. The results showed that j u m p lengths of five and nine character spaces resulted in a higher reading rate than the one-character jump condition. Furthermore, text appearing in 20character windows was read as fast as text in 40-character windows. However, when text was advanced one character space at a time, the small window condition resulted in higher comprehension than the large window condition. Implications of these results for reading self-paced computer displays are discussed.
20.3.19 (111339)
Thaeker, P., and Babu, A.J.G. Effects of graphic boundaries in tabular displays. A human factors evaluation. Computers & Indust Engng, 1988, 14.3, 307-314. There are several techniques for highlighting displayed information. This paper presents the results of an experiment which investigated one form of highlighting - drawing graphic boundaries around the information. Two different tasks involving tabular data with low information density were performed by the subjects. These results indicate a significant difference in search time due to task, but no significant difference due to the amount of highlighting. The subjective ratings show a significant difference between highlighted and non-highlighted displays for both the tasks.
234
Applied Ergonomics
20.3.20 (111340)
Kurosu, K., Furuya, T., Asakawa, K., and Kawasaki, I. Factor analysis of emergency telephone calls. In: Training, Human Decision Making and Control, J. Patrick and K.D. Duncan (Eds), North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1988, pp 3 9 5 - 4 0 3 . This paper examines prediction of duration of emergency calls based on quantification theory I. Predictor variables are related to informers, victims, accident spots and operators. According to the results of analysis, factors relating to operators and accident spots have larger weight coefficients than others, if the data are within 100 s, while the factor relating to victims has the largest weight and the factor relating to operators is the next largest if data are over 100 s. So it is concluded that improvements in operators' procedures or man-machine systems could have a great effect on shortening time between occurrence of accidents and despatch of a fire engine or an ambulance.
20.3.21 (111350)
Sperandio, J.C., and Des~tigne, M.F. An experimental comparison of visual and auditory messages displayed to car drivers (Une comparaison experimentale entre modes de presentation visuels ou auditifs de messages d'informations routieres a des conducteurs automobiles). (In French.) Travail Humain, 1988, 51.3, 257-269. The aim of this experiment was to compare the efficiency of messages visually or auditorily displayed to car drivers. Criteria were reading speed and recall of messages. Three formats of messages were tested, with or without repetition and with 6 or 12 information units. Results indicated that recall of auditory messages was significantly higher in all conditions. However, the efficiency of visual messages was largely improved by maps or graphics. It is concluded that auditory messages are more convenient than visual messages for car drivers, but this conclusion should not be necessarily valid in another context.
20.3.22 (111356)
McDonald, J.E., Dayton, T., and McDonald, D.R. Adapting menu layout t o tasks. Int J Man-Machine Studies, 1988, 28.4, 417-435. Menus are an increasingly popular style of user-system interface. Although many aspects of menu design can affect user performance (e g, item names and selection methods), the organisation of
September1989
items in menus is a particularly salient aspect of their design. Unfortunately, empirical studies of menu layout have yet to resolve the basic question of how menus should be organised to produce optimal performance. Furthermore, a disturbingly common finding has been that any initial effects of menu layout disappear with practice. Thus it is tempting to conclude that menu organisation is not important or that it only affects performance during learning. I n this paper the authors present some reasons to doubt this conclusion. In particular, they have found persistent effects of layout with multiple-item selection tasks, in contrast with studies employing a single-item selection paradigm. The results of a controlled study comparing various menu designs (fast-food keyboards) show that the types of tasks to be performed by users must be considered in organising items in menus and that there may be sustained effects of menu organisation with some tasks. In addition, the results of this study support the use of a formal methodology based on user knowledge for menu design. By comparing the performance of subjects using menus designed using the authors' methodology with the performance of subjects using 'personalised' menus, it was possible to demortstrate the general superiority of this method for designing menus, and for tailoring menus to meet task requirements as well.
Display and control design 20.3.23 (111425)
Hertting.Thomasius, R., Rotti~, M., Luczak, H., Klutmann, B., and Kruger, D. Ergonomic design of a hand-held terminal for recording system data (Ergonomische Gestaltung eines Handterminals zur Betriebsdatenerfassung). (In German~.) Zeitschrift fur Arbeitswissenschaft, 1988, 42.2, 8 3 - 8 8 . In the quality control department, an automobile manufacturer uses a hand-held terminal which is carried by the inspector and used in conjunction with a computer system. A redesign of the hand-held terminal according to ergonomics principles brought significant advantages in usage (e g, integrated dictionary function, variable data input) and in handling (e g, better grip design suitable for both right- and left-handers). The requirements for the new terminal are discussed. Various designs are used to translate ergonomics specifications into hardware. The type and layout of the chosen controls and form are thoroughly justified.