Browsing by Author "Brooks, Peter"
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Item Open Access Facilitating the comprehension of human-computer interaction design intent within a software team(Cranfield University, 1998-12) Myhill, Carl; Brooks, PeterA large proportion of today’s software development is unsuccessful. One reason for this is thought to be lack of attention to the user. Maintaining a user-centred focus during software production is regarded as a major problem. Introducing an HCI designer role into the software team (they usually function as external advisors) is thought to be a means of addressing this problem. Issues surrounding the introduction of an HCI designer role into software teams were explored by a qualitative investigation. Participant-observation studies were carried out on two year-long software projects, with the researcher performing the role of HCI designer within the software teams. Aspects of comprehension within the team were found to be fundamental to successful collaboration. Prototypes were found to be an effective means of facilitating team members' comprehension of HCI design intent, and of maintaining conceptual integrity. However, this use of prototypes was flawed because they introduced the potential for ambiguity and they were inaccessible. Focusing on the collaboration of the HCI designer and programmers, requirements for a prototype-centred explanation tool were specified to exploit the potential of prototyping to facilitate comprehension, by addressing the flaws discovered. Such a tool, called ‘ProtoTour’, was designed and implemented, based on the requirements specified. An experiment was conducted with 22 commercial programmers to ascertain whether a ProtoTour representation of an existing, commercially developed prototype, facilitated comprehension more effectively and was more accessible than a conventional prototype. Results of the experiment found that programmers using ProtoTour gained a significantly better understanding of HCI design intent, than programmers using a conventional prototype. Those using ProtoTour also asked the HCI designer significantly fewer questions about the HCI design intent. Results suggest that prototype-centred explanation tools have the potential to improve programmers’ comprehension of HCI design intent. Introducing an HCI designer into a software team was found to be an effective way of improving the user-centred focus of software during production. A prototype-centred explanation tool appears to have potential as a means of helping programmers comprehend HCI design intent.Item Open Access Factors influencing perceived usability and utility of LIBERTAS at Cranfield :(1992) Brooks, PeterA survey of user opinions towards and experience of Cranfield’s LIBERTAS library automation system was conducted in order to determine user attitudes towards the system, user characteristics which predict these attitudes and the key areas for improvement in service provision. The survey (n = 137) included student and staff users of the academic library and included in-library and remote access of LIBERTAS. Two key attitudes concerned the main uses to which LIBERTAS can be put and the learning effort required for its use. The study identified that in general user perceptions of the utility and usability of the system are positive but indicate the need for improvements in system design and user education. It was found possible to predict more positive user attitudes on the basis of regularity and frequency of general system use and, in particular, use of the inter-library loan facility and certain catalogue searching facilities. However, other user characteristics such as demographic details and previous education and experience were not found to be associated with user attitudes toward the system. Six service change areas were identified from user opinion on recommended improvements and were concerned with additional functionality, system prompts, paper-based information support, training, Boolean searching and networking. Recommendations for service improvements in each of these areas are provided and include networking LIBERTAS with CD-ROM bibliographic retrieval systems.Item Open Access Preventing driver error and motorcycle accident causation :(1991) Brooks, PeterDriver error rather than rider error has been highlighted as a major factor in powered-two wheeler (PTW) accidents. However, little work on understanding and preventing these driver errors has taken place. Previous research which has addressed the issue of driver involvement has focused upon increasing the conspicuity of the PTW or rider and has tended to ignore issues associated with car driver behaviour. A framework is presented which facilitates an understanding of driver error in interactions with PTWs. The concepts of Technical Awareness and Social Awareness are used to describe conditions which may predispose drivers to errors when interacting with PTWs. An empirical examination of the framework is presented, examining the relationship between lack of Technical and/or Social Awareness and accident involvement. Relevant information was obtained from over 700 drivers involved in accidents with PTWs within 9 police divisions in England. This information was compared with responses to a random survey of over 1500 drivers sampled from the same area. The results indicate that some of the most important factors in PTW accidents may be accounted for by lack of driver Technical and Social Awareness. These findings have specific implications for the direction of future research and counter measure development and indicate where previous accident reduction efforts have been lacking. In particular, current emphasis on rider performance and rider conspicuity should be supplemented with direct consideration of drivers. It is concluded that using training and education to increase the Technical and Social Awareness of drivers would be an area of high potential effectiveness.