A New Agenda for Computing Professionals
Ben Shneiderman ([email protected])Founding Director (1983-2000), Human-Computer Interaction Lab Professor, Department of Computer ScienceMember, Institutes for Advanced Computer Studies &Systems Research
Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
Interdisciplinary research community - Computer Science & Psychology - Information Studies & Education
www.cs.umd.edu/hcil
Scientific Approach (beyond user friendly)Specify users and tasksPredict and measure (theory-driven, hypothesis-testing)time to learnspeed of performancerate of human errorshuman retention over timeAssess subjective satisfaction (Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction)Accommodate individual differencesConsider social, organizational & cultural context
Design IssuesInput devices & strategiesKeyboards, pointing devices, voiceDirect manipulationMenus, forms, commands Output devices & formatsScreens, windows, color, soundText, tables, graphicsInstructions, messages, helpCollaboration & communitiesManuals, tutorials, trainingwww.awl.com/DTUI usableweb.com hcibib.org useit.com
U.S. Library of Congress
Scholars, Journalists, Citizens Teachers, Students
Visible Human Explorer (NLM)Doctors Surgeons
Researchers Students
NASA Environmental DataScientists Farmers
Land planners Students
U.S. Bureau of Census
Economists, Policy makers, Journalists Teachers, Students
Treemap - Stock market, clustered by industry
Four challenges1) Prevent future terror2) Strengthen communities - increase vigilance - enable rapid response - support communities in coping3) Broaden participation & universal usability4) Reduce inequities by international development
http://www.hcibib.org/preventterror/ /communities/ /participation/ /development/
Preventing future terrorNational ID systems: authenticate, monitor, deter Monitor selected email, financial transactions, and travel patternsImprove transportation security: air, train, ships, roadsProtect public utilities: nuclear, water, electricAttack terrorist sourcesEliminate root causes of terror
Study the process of terrorRecruitmentTrainingDecision-making strategiesChoice of targetsTravel plansBorder crossingGaining identity Local preparationsImplementation
10 Questions for ID System DevelopersHow do youcollect, verify and update the data? what data? (signature, photo, thumbprint, eyescan)validate new applications and lost cards? (are expired cards destroyed?)conductsverifications? (you need terminals everywhere)respond when a false ID is detected?
10 Questions for ID System Developers
verify security (prevent hacker destruction), privacy (keep data in control) & reliability (limit & cope with software /hardware/network/power failures?) hire, train, and manage employees tocontinually improve quality
10 Questions for ID System Developershandle inquiries from police, immigration, intelligence, and other government agencies?ensure appropriate management and judicial oversight? measure costs, benefits, effectiveness?
Special classes of usersfrequent travelers who agree to closer monitoring of their behavior in exchange for faster processingnon-citizen visitors whose background is checked more carefullyairline/airport/trucking/port personnel
Opportunities to increase rightsShould citizens be able to view their records to verify contentsthe log of usage government inquiries
What form of citizen or judicial oversight?
Cautions for ID system proponentsAre identification systems a good investment?Are other approaches more effective?How easy are they to compromise?What are the worst case risks?Do they generate a false sense of security
Four challenges1) Prevent future terror2) Strengthen communities - increase vigilance - enable rapid response - support communities in coping3) Broaden participation & universal usability4) Reduce inequities by international development
http://www.hcibib.org/preventterror/ /communities/ /participation/ /development/
Social Support: ConceptsOnline communitiesE-commerce customer service & consumer conversationsMedical support groups & information exchangeEducational discussions & teamworkNeighborhood forums & political organizing TechnologiesSynchronous text: Instant messaging, chat rooms Asynchronous text: Listservs, bulletin boards, newsgroupsAudio,video, virtual realities
Social Support: GoalsSupporting SociabilityPeople: Target a populationPurposes: Clearly state focusPolicies: Make expectations explicit behavior, privacy, moderation, joining rules Designing UsabilityUsers: Know the usersTasks: Understand frequencies and sequencesSystems: Choose seamless combinations of tools
Online Communities: Supporting Sociability, Designing Usability Jenny Preece, John Wiley & Sons, June 2000
Social Support: TrustInvite participation by ensuring trustDisclose patterns of past performance Provide references from past and current usersGet certifications from third partiesMake policies for privacy & security easy to find & read
Accelerate action by clarifying responsibilityClarify each participant's responsibilitiesProvide clear guarantees with compensationDescribe dispute resolution and mediation services
Communications of the ACM, Dec. 2000, Special Issue on Trust
Restore social capitalDecline in community groups since 1965Less volunteerism, reciprocity, honesty, trust, philantropyMore commuting, women working, TV watching, solitary activitiesGenerational changePotential remediesYouth and school projectsWorkplace changesUrban and metropolitan designReligionArts & culturePolitics & government
Bowling Alone Robert Putnam, 2000
Four challenges1) Prevent future terror2) Strengthen communities - increase vigilance - enable rapid response - support communities in coping3) Broaden participation & universal usability4) Reduce inequities by international development
http://www.hcibib.org/preventterror/ /communities/ /participation/ /development/
Broad participationUniversal usability increases participationInvolvement and contribution generate prideResponsibility and participation increase protectiveness
Universal Usability Technology variety: Support broad range of hardware, software, and network accessUser diversity: Accommodate users with different skills, knowledge, age, gender, literacy, culture, income, disabilities, disabling conditions (mobility, injury, noise, light)...Gaps in user knowledge: Bridge the gap between what users know and what they need to knowCommunications of the ACM, May 2000
Technology variety: Support broad range of hardware, software, and network access1 to 100 range in processor speeds 286 486 Pentium
1 to 100 range in screen sizes
Palm devices Laptops Large Desktop or Wall Display 30,000 480,000 3,840,000 pixels
Software Versions Compatibility File conversion Multiple platformsDevice Independence Input: keyboard, speech,... Output: visual, auditory,... Conversion: Text-speech Speech-text,...
User diversity: Accommodate different usersLanguage & Culture Western, Eastern, developing...Personality Introvert vs extravert Thinking vs feeling Risk aversion Locus of control Planful vs playfulSkills Computer newbie to hacker Knowledge Domain novice to expert
Age Young to oldGender Male or FemaleIncome Impoverished to wealthyDisabilities Visual, auditory, motoric, cognitive Disabling conditions Mobility, injury, noise, sunlight
Gaps in User Knowledge Bridge the gap between what users know and what they need to know
Online help Context sensitive, tables of contents, Indexes, Keyword search, FAQs, Newsgroups, Chat rooms Online communities Design Layered Level-structured Task-orientedTraining Fade-able scaffolding Training wheels Minimalist
Online Learning (evolutionary, phased) Introductory tutorials Getting started manuals, Cue cards Walkthroughs/Demos Minimalist/ActiveCustomer service Email Phone Help desks
ACM Code of EthicsIn a fair society, all individuals would have equal opportunity to participate in, or benefit from, the use of computer resources regardless of race, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin or other such similar factors.
Four challenges1) Prevent future terror2) Strengthen communities - increase vigilance - enable rapid response - support communities in coping3) Broaden participation & universal usability4) Reduce inequities by international development
http://www.hcibib.org/preventterror/ /communities/ /participation/ /development/
Information Technology & DevelopmentSupport development agenciesDisaster reliefAgricultural specialists & farm workersHospitals, clinics, doctors Roads, irrigation, water, sewage, electricity,Education & trainingEntrepreneurship & business developmentPromote democratic principlesCivil rights, voting & judicial processesFree press & open marketsCompetent & responsive governments
Rodrigo Baggio in Brazil
Thomas Jefferson I feel... an ardent desire to see knowledge so disseminated through the mass of mankind that it may...reach even the extremes of society: beggars and kings. -- Reply to American Philosophical Society, 1808
Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
19th Annual SymposiumMay 30-31, 2002 www.cs.umd.edu/hcil