- Email: [email protected]
Research notes
/nternationa/Journal
oflnformation
Management
(1993), 13 (68-69)
Research Notes Human-computer interaction research This issue’s research notes draws attention to the activities of one of the most well-known centres for research into human-computer interactions. The centre is engaged in both theory and applications. It was established with fl .S million funding from the Alvey directorate in 1986. The centre is managed by Dr Patrik O’Brian Holt and Professor Kilgour. Dr Nirnal Juyuratnu Heriot- Wutt University, Riccartm Cumpus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK e-mail nimrrl@lrk.(4c.hw.~s
Human-computer interaction: a Scottish initiative Scotland has a long commitment to human-computer interaction and usnbility. In 1984 the Man-Machine Interaction Support Unit was founded at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the Scottish HCI Centre was established in 1986 as a logical next step. The Centre operates on a semicommercial basis serving industry with clients, collaborators and contacts in the UK, Europe, the USA and the Far East. Since establishment the Centre has recruited a strong international team of experts with extensive and wide-ranging industrial HCI experience. The Centre’s firm philosophy is that HCI is interdisciplinary engineering which applies knowledge and techniques in an eclectic manner. The main focus is solving problems for clients through breaking down boundaries between traditional engineering and scientific disciplines. The Centre hosts one of the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s
68
Usability Now! Presentation Laboratories and has linked up with the Design Council Scotland to increase the scope and penetration of the usability awareness programme. The Usability Now! programme aims to increase awareness of user centred design and usability in UK industry and commerce in preparation for new legislation on the design of interaction due in 1993 (the new legislation is based on a European Community Directive on computer based systerns).
Research activities Since establishment the Scottish HCI Centre has conducted fundamental research and R&D in a number of HCI related areas.
Evuluatiorl of usability This project investigates a variety of techniques for evaluating user behaviour, preferences and performance in the application of interactive computer systems, and aims to refine current interactive system design methodologies to take fuller account of the capabilities and skills of intended users. Target areas for evaluation studies have included iconic interfaces, hypertext information systems, the relevance of cognitive metrics, discourse analysis applied to writing, user recovery strategies, user interface management systems (UIMS), the applicability of command Language Grammar in predictive task analysis, dialogue specification formalisms, decision support systems and rapid prototyping.
Computers und writing The study of how computers can be used to assist in the writing process is a relatively young area. The Scottish HCI Centre is conducting several research projects on writing which include an investigation of cognitive models to describe the writing pro-
0266-4012/93/01
cess, the use of induction to describe written style, modelling logical connections in hypertext documents, interactive fiction and technical documentation. The Centre has also been responsible for organizing several international conferences on computers and the writing process and administers the Computers and Writing Association.
Multi-media systems A good example of complete usability solutions offered by the Scottish HCI Centrc is the Property Information database, a multi-media system designed and developed for an industrial client and launched as a commercial product in September 1990. The system supports the work of surveyors and property managers through the delivery and management of property information. The system is designed for both single, stand-alone and multiuser and networked environments and contains textual information, maps, video images and aerial photographs of every commercial property in Scotland. Highly interactive multi-media systems of this kind present special design problems in order to achieve a high degree of usability. Additionally, the system is aimed at users with no prior computer experience or knowledge. The idea for the Property Information database was brought to the Centre as a simple concept by a team of surveyors who initially wanted an evaluation of the technological feasibility of designing and implementing such a system. Following a feasibility study the Centre designed and implemented the system, including hardware configurations and the software tools required for data input. The user documentation is also designed, written and produced by the Centre. Work on the Property Information database combines the Scottish HCI Centre’s research and development activities with consultancy and training to produce a comprehensive usability solution.
0068-02~1993
Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd
Research notes
Work on multi-media systems has continued with the design and development of a hypermedia database system which supports planning activities. The database combines local planing documents, maps, aerial photographs, property photographs and live video in hypermedia format (hypertext with mul~i~media). The system has been developed on a number of different platforms, including IBM PC compatibles and Apple Macintosh.
Commercial
services
In addition to fundamental and applied research the Scottish HCI Centre maintains strong links with industry by offering a range of commercia1 services. Unlike narrowly specialized organizations the Centre offers complete and comprehensive usability solutions which are firmly founded in
state-of-the-art and techniques.
technology,
methods
Comuftancy and training The Centre offers a design and software engineering consultancy service which covers: 0
The practice of user centred design and prototyping. 0 User requirements analysis. 0 Conceptual, functional and dialogue design. 0 Prototyping and usability evaluation 0 Implementation and product development. The interdisciplinary nature of the centre’s activities also allows it to offer wider services related to usability. These include c~)nsulting and training in: 0
Inter-personal communication skills e.g. interviewing.
0
0
Human written ~onlmunicati~~n e.g. report writing, software documentation and user manuals. The use of computer technology to support writers e.g. electronic publishing and hypertext documentation.
The centre provides training courses in ail the consultancy areas mentioned above. Two types of courses are offered, open courses which cover general users interface design and implementation issues and in-house bespoke courses, the contents of which are negotiated with the client. The Centre also develops training materials such as demonstration software. For further information please contact: Dr Patrik O’Brian Holt, Scottish HCI Centre, Department of Computing and Electricaf Engineering, Heriot-Watt University. Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland; Tel: (031) 451 3414.
69
oflnformation
Management
(1993), 13 (68-69)
Research Notes Human-computer interaction research This issue’s research notes draws attention to the activities of one of the most well-known centres for research into human-computer interactions. The centre is engaged in both theory and applications. It was established with fl .S million funding from the Alvey directorate in 1986. The centre is managed by Dr Patrik O’Brian Holt and Professor Kilgour. Dr Nirnal Juyuratnu Heriot- Wutt University, Riccartm Cumpus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK e-mail nimrrl@lrk.(4c.hw.~s
Human-computer interaction: a Scottish initiative Scotland has a long commitment to human-computer interaction and usnbility. In 1984 the Man-Machine Interaction Support Unit was founded at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the Scottish HCI Centre was established in 1986 as a logical next step. The Centre operates on a semicommercial basis serving industry with clients, collaborators and contacts in the UK, Europe, the USA and the Far East. Since establishment the Centre has recruited a strong international team of experts with extensive and wide-ranging industrial HCI experience. The Centre’s firm philosophy is that HCI is interdisciplinary engineering which applies knowledge and techniques in an eclectic manner. The main focus is solving problems for clients through breaking down boundaries between traditional engineering and scientific disciplines. The Centre hosts one of the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s
68
Usability Now! Presentation Laboratories and has linked up with the Design Council Scotland to increase the scope and penetration of the usability awareness programme. The Usability Now! programme aims to increase awareness of user centred design and usability in UK industry and commerce in preparation for new legislation on the design of interaction due in 1993 (the new legislation is based on a European Community Directive on computer based systerns).
Research activities Since establishment the Scottish HCI Centre has conducted fundamental research and R&D in a number of HCI related areas.
Evuluatiorl of usability This project investigates a variety of techniques for evaluating user behaviour, preferences and performance in the application of interactive computer systems, and aims to refine current interactive system design methodologies to take fuller account of the capabilities and skills of intended users. Target areas for evaluation studies have included iconic interfaces, hypertext information systems, the relevance of cognitive metrics, discourse analysis applied to writing, user recovery strategies, user interface management systems (UIMS), the applicability of command Language Grammar in predictive task analysis, dialogue specification formalisms, decision support systems and rapid prototyping.
Computers und writing The study of how computers can be used to assist in the writing process is a relatively young area. The Scottish HCI Centre is conducting several research projects on writing which include an investigation of cognitive models to describe the writing pro-
0266-4012/93/01
cess, the use of induction to describe written style, modelling logical connections in hypertext documents, interactive fiction and technical documentation. The Centre has also been responsible for organizing several international conferences on computers and the writing process and administers the Computers and Writing Association.
Multi-media systems A good example of complete usability solutions offered by the Scottish HCI Centrc is the Property Information database, a multi-media system designed and developed for an industrial client and launched as a commercial product in September 1990. The system supports the work of surveyors and property managers through the delivery and management of property information. The system is designed for both single, stand-alone and multiuser and networked environments and contains textual information, maps, video images and aerial photographs of every commercial property in Scotland. Highly interactive multi-media systems of this kind present special design problems in order to achieve a high degree of usability. Additionally, the system is aimed at users with no prior computer experience or knowledge. The idea for the Property Information database was brought to the Centre as a simple concept by a team of surveyors who initially wanted an evaluation of the technological feasibility of designing and implementing such a system. Following a feasibility study the Centre designed and implemented the system, including hardware configurations and the software tools required for data input. The user documentation is also designed, written and produced by the Centre. Work on the Property Information database combines the Scottish HCI Centre’s research and development activities with consultancy and training to produce a comprehensive usability solution.
0068-02~1993
Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd
Research notes
Work on multi-media systems has continued with the design and development of a hypermedia database system which supports planning activities. The database combines local planing documents, maps, aerial photographs, property photographs and live video in hypermedia format (hypertext with mul~i~media). The system has been developed on a number of different platforms, including IBM PC compatibles and Apple Macintosh.
Commercial
services
In addition to fundamental and applied research the Scottish HCI Centre maintains strong links with industry by offering a range of commercia1 services. Unlike narrowly specialized organizations the Centre offers complete and comprehensive usability solutions which are firmly founded in
state-of-the-art and techniques.
technology,
methods
Comuftancy and training The Centre offers a design and software engineering consultancy service which covers: 0
The practice of user centred design and prototyping. 0 User requirements analysis. 0 Conceptual, functional and dialogue design. 0 Prototyping and usability evaluation 0 Implementation and product development. The interdisciplinary nature of the centre’s activities also allows it to offer wider services related to usability. These include c~)nsulting and training in: 0
Inter-personal communication skills e.g. interviewing.
0
0
Human written ~onlmunicati~~n e.g. report writing, software documentation and user manuals. The use of computer technology to support writers e.g. electronic publishing and hypertext documentation.
The centre provides training courses in ail the consultancy areas mentioned above. Two types of courses are offered, open courses which cover general users interface design and implementation issues and in-house bespoke courses, the contents of which are negotiated with the client. The Centre also develops training materials such as demonstration software. For further information please contact: Dr Patrik O’Brian Holt, Scottish HCI Centre, Department of Computing and Electricaf Engineering, Heriot-Watt University. Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland; Tel: (031) 451 3414.
69