Beyond User Friendly

Abstract

What is meant when the interface to a computer software program is called user-friendly? In the Note, we describe six easy to ... dimensions for use-computer interfaces that distinguish among aspects of a program's behavior often confused within the 'user-friendly' rubric. Some of these dimensions are mutually antagonistic, so priorities and choices must be made depending on the user's context. We apply the six dimensions to aid in understanding the love/hate relationship some software interfaces engender. Through categorizations of user interface traits, such as the example proposed here, we hope to aid both the design and procurement of effective user-computer interfaces for software products.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA258134

Entities

People

  • Norman Z. Shapiro
  • Robert H. Anderson

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • C Programming Language
  • Communication Networks
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Corporations
  • Electronic Mail
  • Language
  • Learning
  • Linguistics
  • Multiagent Systems
  • Procurement
  • Programming Languages
  • User Friendly
  • User Interface

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.