Human-Computer Interaction 3e Dix, Finlay, Abowd, Beale
Is multi-modality always a good thing? Justify your answer.
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The likely answer is yes. Multi-modal systems utilise more than one channel of information, which allows users to focus on more than one thing (for example monitoring via sound a background process while doing another task visually in the foreground). They support learning, since people learn better when more than one channel is used. They provide access for users with special needs without the need to develop special applications, so giving them access to wider work opportunities. They provide more interest and enjoyment leading to greater satisfaction. They avoid overloading one channel, by a cluttered screen, for example. On the negative side - multi-modality may require additional resources, it is not always needed, there is a danger of introducing multi-modality for its own sake.
Other exercises in this chapter
ex.10.1 (tut), ex.10.2 (tut), ex.10.3 (tut), ex.10.4 (tut), ex.10.5 (tut), ex.10.6 (tut), ex.10.7 (tut), ex.10.8 (ans), ex.10.9 (tut), ex.10.10 (tut)
all exercises for this chapter