ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF TIME IN A TIME SHARING SYSTEM
Abstract
One of the most important problems in the design and/or operation of a computer utility is to obtain dynamical characteristics that are acceptable and convenient to the on-line user. This report is concerned with the problems of access to the computer utility, response time and its effect upon conversational use of the computer, and the effects of the load on the system (and its fluctuations) upon the other aspects. Primary attention is placed upon response time. Some of the difficulties in its definition are pointed out through examination of the typical interaction process. It is concluded that rather than a single measure a set of response times should be measured in a given computer utility, in correspondence to the different types of operations requested. Next, it is tentatively assumed that the psychological value of short response times stems from a subjective cost measure of the user's own time, largely influenced by the value of concurrent tasks being postponed. A measure of cost (to the individual and/or his organization) of the time-on-line required to perform a task might thus be derived. More subtle is the problem of the user's acceptability is a function of the service requested (e.g., length of computation), and variability with respect to expectations due both to uncertainty in the user's estimation and to variations in the response time originated by variable loads on the system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0670604
Entities
People
- Jaime R. Carbonell
- Jerome I. Elkind
- Raymond S. Nickerson
Organizations
- BBN Technologies