dennis wixon - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by dennis wixon
In this methodology paper we define a metric we call impact ratio. We use this ratio to measure t... more In this methodology paper we define a metric we call impact ratio. We use this ratio to measure the effectiveness of inspections and other evaluative techniques in getting usability improvements into products. We inspected ten commercial software products and achieved an average impact ratio of 78%. We discuss factors affecting this ratio and its value in helping us to appraise usability engineering's impact on products.
Interface style and eclecticism: Moving beyond categorical approaches
How do people really use text editors
ACM Sigoa Newsletter, 1982
Keystroke statistics were collected on editing systems while people performed their normal work. ... more Keystroke statistics were collected on editing systems while people performed their normal work. Knowledge workers used an experimental editor, and secretaries used a word processor. Results show a consistent picture of free use patterns in both settings. Of the total number of keystrokes, text entry accounted for approximately 1/2, cursor movement for about 1/4, deletion for about 1/8, and all
Engineering for usability (panel session): lessons from the user derived interface
ABSTRACT The focus here is on the lessons learned from the UDI project for building usability int... more ABSTRACT The focus here is on the lessons learned from the UDI project for building usability into the software development process. In the UDI project we attempted to engineer a usable system. That process involved:defining an appropriate metric for measuring usability,setting explicit levels of usability to be achieveddetermining an appropriate methodology for building usability into the system,delivering a seemingly functional system with an easily changed interface very early in the development cycle, andrecognizing the tentative nature of the initial design.Using the UDI project as an example, each of the above principles will be discussed in detail.
Building a user-derived interface
Communications of The ACM, 1984
... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command l... more ... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command languages. Through careful observation and analysis of user behavior, a mail interface unusable by novices evolved into one that let novices do useful work within minutes. ...
Building a user-defined interface
... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command l... more ... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command languages. Through careful observation and analysis of user behavior, a mail interface unusable by novices evolved into one that let novices do useful work within minutes. ...
User performance with command, menu, and iconic interfaces
Abstract Performance and subjective reactions of 76 users of varying levels of computer experienc... more Abstract Performance and subjective reactions of 76 users of varying levels of computer experience were measured with 7 different interfaces representing command, menu, and iconic interface styles. The results suggest three general conclusions: there are large ...
Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings
Page 1. Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings’ .by John Whiteside and Den... more Page 1. Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings’ .by John Whiteside and Dennis Wixon ... One of these, contextualism, is discussed in depth. ...
Field methods casebook for software design
... of Washington, Seattle. Judith Ramey, Digital Equipment Corporation. Publisher, John Wiley &a... more ... of Washington, Seattle. Judith Ramey, Digital Equipment Corporation. Publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ... Adaptation of an ethnographic method for investigation of the task domain in diagnostic radiology [full citation] Judith Ramey, Alan H. Rowberg, Carol Robinson. ...
What makes strategic usability fail?: lessons learned from the field
... Surprisingly, basic research in human factors is one; the other is ethnographic research abou... more ... Surprisingly, basic research in human factors is one; the other is ethnographic research about the target audience. Although usability groups often treat ethnographic field studies as expensive adjuncts to usability testing, for strategic usability the reverse is true. ...
We offer an introduction to contextual design as an emergent method for building effective system... more We offer an introduction to contextual design as an emergent method for building effective systems. Contextual design addresses a number of the inadequacies in previous methods by emphasizing: interview methods conducted in the context of the user's work, codesigning with the user, building an understanding of work in context, and summarizing conclusions through out the research. We contrast this design method to usability engineering and artifact examination.
Field Methods are a collection of tools and techniques for conducting studies of users, their tas... more Field Methods are a collection of tools and techniques for conducting studies of users, their tasks, and their work environments in the actual context of those environments. The promise of such methods is that they help teams design products that are both useful and usable by providing data about what people really do. Participants in this forum will address:
In this methodology paper we define a metric we call impact ratio. We use this ratio to measure t... more In this methodology paper we define a metric we call impact ratio. We use this ratio to measure the effectiveness of inspections and other evaluative techniques in getting usability improvements into products. We inspected ten commercial software products and achieved an average impact ratio of 78%. We discuss factors affecting this ratio and its value in helping us to appraise usability engineering's impact on products.
Interface style and eclecticism: Moving beyond categorical approaches
How do people really use text editors
ACM Sigoa Newsletter, 1982
Keystroke statistics were collected on editing systems while people performed their normal work. ... more Keystroke statistics were collected on editing systems while people performed their normal work. Knowledge workers used an experimental editor, and secretaries used a word processor. Results show a consistent picture of free use patterns in both settings. Of the total number of keystrokes, text entry accounted for approximately 1/2, cursor movement for about 1/4, deletion for about 1/8, and all
Engineering for usability (panel session): lessons from the user derived interface
ABSTRACT The focus here is on the lessons learned from the UDI project for building usability int... more ABSTRACT The focus here is on the lessons learned from the UDI project for building usability into the software development process. In the UDI project we attempted to engineer a usable system. That process involved:defining an appropriate metric for measuring usability,setting explicit levels of usability to be achieveddetermining an appropriate methodology for building usability into the system,delivering a seemingly functional system with an easily changed interface very early in the development cycle, andrecognizing the tentative nature of the initial design.Using the UDI project as an example, each of the above principles will be discussed in detail.
Building a user-derived interface
Communications of The ACM, 1984
... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command l... more ... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command languages. Through careful observation and analysis of user behavior, a mail interface unusable by novices evolved into one that let novices do useful work within minutes. ...
Building a user-defined interface
... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command l... more ... This experience contradicts the idea that user input is irrelevant to the design of command languages. Through careful observation and analysis of user behavior, a mail interface unusable by novices evolved into one that let novices do useful work within minutes. ...
User performance with command, menu, and iconic interfaces
Abstract Performance and subjective reactions of 76 users of varying levels of computer experienc... more Abstract Performance and subjective reactions of 76 users of varying levels of computer experience were measured with 7 different interfaces representing command, menu, and iconic interface styles. The results suggest three general conclusions: there are large ...
Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings
Page 1. Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings’ .by John Whiteside and Den... more Page 1. Contextualism as a world view for the reformation of meetings’ .by John Whiteside and Dennis Wixon ... One of these, contextualism, is discussed in depth. ...
Field methods casebook for software design
... of Washington, Seattle. Judith Ramey, Digital Equipment Corporation. Publisher, John Wiley &a... more ... of Washington, Seattle. Judith Ramey, Digital Equipment Corporation. Publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ... Adaptation of an ethnographic method for investigation of the task domain in diagnostic radiology [full citation] Judith Ramey, Alan H. Rowberg, Carol Robinson. ...
What makes strategic usability fail?: lessons learned from the field
... Surprisingly, basic research in human factors is one; the other is ethnographic research abou... more ... Surprisingly, basic research in human factors is one; the other is ethnographic research about the target audience. Although usability groups often treat ethnographic field studies as expensive adjuncts to usability testing, for strategic usability the reverse is true. ...
We offer an introduction to contextual design as an emergent method for building effective system... more We offer an introduction to contextual design as an emergent method for building effective systems. Contextual design addresses a number of the inadequacies in previous methods by emphasizing: interview methods conducted in the context of the user's work, codesigning with the user, building an understanding of work in context, and summarizing conclusions through out the research. We contrast this design method to usability engineering and artifact examination.
Field Methods are a collection of tools and techniques for conducting studies of users, their tas... more Field Methods are a collection of tools and techniques for conducting studies of users, their tasks, and their work environments in the actual context of those environments. The promise of such methods is that they help teams design products that are both useful and usable by providing data about what people really do. Participants in this forum will address: