Human Factors for Informatics Usability

Front Cover
B. Shackel, S. J. Richardson
Cambridge University Press, Feb 14, 1991 - Computers - 438 pages
Human factors are a critical issue in informatics or information technology systems as the computer industry realizes the need to change from technology-dominated goals to the needs of computer users. The study of human factors can help to improve the usability of information systems and to help reduce the huge costs of human-computer interactions. However, information technology equipment is not easy to use. Even specialists in computing and information technology have difficulty with equipment produced by other experts. This book shows how knowledge and methods from the field of ergonomics can be used to help make information technology equipment easier to use. The principal audience is the many designers, software and hardware engineers, system design managers, management service managers, and user managers who are now becoming aware of the importance of usability. This book provides not only an introduction and overview but guidance on what they can do and how they can approach the problems of usability in informatics equipment.
 

Contents

Organisational Aspects and Design in Large Systems
17
Brian Shackel
21
The Business Case for Human Factors in Informatics
39
Human Factors Contributions to the Design Process
73
Helping the IT Designer to Use Human Factors
97
Interface Design Issues for the System Designer
121
An Approach to Formalised Procedures for UserCentred
133
The Contributions of Applied Cognitive Psychology to the Study
151
Organisational Issues and Task Analysis
247
Participation in Systems Design What Can It Offer?
267
Towards a Human Factors Strategy for Information Technology
291
A Taxonomy and Rule Base for the Selection of Interaction Styles
325
Designing and Evaluating Documentation for IT Users
343
Evaluating Usability
359
References
397
Author Index
425

Formal Models and Techniques in HumanComputer Interaction
183
Designing Expert Systems for Usability
207

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