Experimental Evaluation of the ZOG Frame Editor.
Abstract
ZOG is a rapid-response menu-selection system whose databases are networks of frames or screenfuls. ZOG's frame editor, ZED, combines facilities like those of other text editors, and facilities specialized to the network character of the ZOG database. This paper describes an effort to evaluate ZED for overall ease of use, time to do specific tasks, and keystrokes required to do a task. We began with Teresa Roberts' study, Evaluation of Computer Text Editors, which uses specific document editing tasks to compare four text editors -- Wang, NLS, TECO, and Wylbur. Four subjects did Roberts' tasks using ZOG. The results showed that overall task time in ZED was most comparable with TECO, Roberts' slowest editor. To analyze the sources of the task time in detail, we applied Card, Moran, and Newell's keystroke level analysis of search-modify-verify cycles in editing (Keystroke-Level Model for User Performance Time with Interactive Systems). Using this method, we were able to account for most of the actual time required to do the tasks. This level of analysis and the attendant partitioning of the total editing time showed specific types of tasks at which ZED excelled and others at which ZED was less efficient than the other editors. We thus identified specific system changes which would result in immediate and visible improvements in editing with ZED. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA104827
Entities
People
- Allen Newell
- C. Kamila Robertson
- Donald L. Mccracken
Organizations
- Carnegie Mellon University