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Human-Computer Interaction 3e Dix, Finlay, Abowd, Beale
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Can you suggest any improvements to the screen button feedback problem discussed in Section 18.2 that would distinguish at the interface between the two cases of hitting or missing the button? Is there any guarantee with your solution that the user will notice the distinction?
answer
One fix for the button feedback problem would be to have the function attached to the button be invoked when the mousekey is pressed down, rather than up. But this solution would not work for functions invoked on pop-up menus. Another possibility is to have some visible or audible feedback from the button associated with the invocation of the function on the mousekey release. This solution does not guarantee that the user notices the added effect unless their attention is focused on the added visual or aural effect. Another possibility, subtly different from the last suggestion, would be to associate the addition verbal or aural cue to the error case, when the mouse accidentally slips off the button between the press and release of the mousekey.
Brian wants to make a dinner date with
Alison. He knows she will not be able to read email,
as she is away for a few days, and he doesn't have
her hotel number. He types and prints a letter, which
he puts in her pigeonhole. Alison's secretary always
checks the pigeonhole several times a day, and when
she finds the letter she reads it and rings Alison
and tells her.
Analyse this story using a status-event description.
answer available for tutors only
Look again at the tea making task analysis in Chapter 15 (figure 15.4). Go through this and look for triggers and placeholders. You will need to make assumptions (e.g. is the kettle the kind that whistles when it boils?) so document these.
answer available for tutors only
Rank the following in terms of levels
of intention or consciousness
automatic doors into hotel, automatic water taps in
wash basin, reversing lights in a car, ultrasonic
burglar alarm, auto-numbering lists in a word processor,
web page counter, font menu in word processor that
shows recent fonts at the top of the list
If you have a group, you could each rank them separately
and then discuss your answers.
Why are some more consciously considered than others?
Think of more examples.
answer available for tutors only