Human Factors

Jakob Nielsen “User Advocate” Principal, Nielsen Norman Group, user experience consultants The web’s “Usability Czar”

Nielsen on Animation Continuity -- track changes during transition Dimensionality -- orient transition Change over Time Multiple information in one space Enriched graphical representation Attracting attention

Nielsen on Flash 99% Bad Encourages Design Abuse Breaks fundamental interaction principles Distracts attention from site’s core value

Nielsen on Flash Gratuitous Animation Presentation style over Interaction Nonstandard UI controls Doesn’t interact with standard browser controls and settings 2002 update! Nielsen works directly with MM now

Donald Norman Cognitive Scientist / Engineer Other Half of the Nielsen Norman Group Former VP, Apple ATG Design of Everyday Things (2002 reissue of 1988’s Psychology of Everyday Things

Norman on Designing Things Affordances –Perceived and actual properties of a thing –Causality, e.g. doors Constraints –Limit the possibilities (scissors vs. digital watches) Mappings –Set of possible operations between affordances and constraints –Natural and Synthetic mappings

Feedback Giving the user information about what action has taken place Telephone examples Feedback is harder on new technology platforms Feedback comes at a cost

Conceptual Models Forming a mental model of the thing Mentally simulating its operation Making things visible in the conceptual model => better, easier use

Edward Tufte Statistician and Information Designer THE information design theorist Professor Emeritus, Yale Graphics Press

Micro/Macro Design An Overview with the ability to compare and sort through detail Condensation and Personalization Multiple and hierarchical layers of interaction Isometric Map of Midtown Manhattan Vietnam Memorial

Kim Vicente Human Factors Engineer Medical and Environmental Industries (esp. Nuclear energy)

Human Tech More serious than just Norman Doors –Nuclear power, medical equipment, environmental equipment, etc. Humanistic and Mechanistic View –Political –Organizational –Team –Psychological –Physical