The effects of tool container location on user performance in graphical user interfaces

A common way of organizing Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointers (WIMP) interfaces is to group tools into tool containers, providing one visual representation. Common tool containers include toolbars and menus, as well as more complex tool containers, like Microsoft Office’s Ribbon, Toolglasses, and marking menus. The location of tool containers has been studied extensively in the past using Fitts’s Law, which governs selection time; however, selection time is only one aspect of user performance. In this thesis, I show that tool container location affects other aspects of user performance, specifically attention and awareness. The problem investigated in this thesis is that designers lack an understanding of the effects of tool container location on two important user performance factors: attention and group awareness. My solution is to provide an initial understanding of the effects of tool container location on these factors. In solving this problem, I developed a taxonomy of tool container location, and carried out two research studies. The two research studies investigated tool container location in two contexts: single-user performance with desktop interfaces, and group performance in tabletop interfaces. Through the two studies, I was able to show that tool container location does affect attention and group awareness, and to provide new recommendations for interface designers

Statistical user interfaces

A statistical user interface is an interface between a human user and a statistical software package. Whenever we use a statistical software package we want to solve a specific statistical problem. But very often at first it is necessary to learn specific things about the software package. Everyone of us knows about the ?religious wars? concerning the question which statistical software package/method is the best for a certain task; see Marron (1996) and Cleveland and Loader (1996) and related internet discussions. Experienced statisticians use a bunch of different statistical software packages rather than a single one; although all of the major companies (at least the marketing departments) tell us that we only need their software package. --

The Effects of Task, Task Mapping, and Layout Space on User Performance in Information-Rich Virtual Environments

How should abstract information be displayed in Information-Rich Virtual Environments (IRVEs)? There are a variety of techniques available, and it is important to determine which techniques help foster a user’s understanding both within and between abstract and spatial information types. Our evaluation compared two such techniques: Object Space and Display Space. Users strongly prefer Display Space over Object Space, and those who use Display Space may perform better. Display Space was faster and more accurate than Object Space for tasks comparing abstract information. Object Space was more accurate for comparisons of spatial information. These results suggest that for abstract criteria, visibility is a more important requirement than perceptual coupling by depth and association cues. They also support the value of perceptual coupling for tasks with spatial criteria

Supporting Transitions To Expertise In Hidden Toolbars

Hidden toolbars are becoming common on mobile devices. These techniques maximize the space available for application content by keeping tools off-screen until needed. However, current designs require several actions to make a selection, and they do not provide shortcuts for users who have become familiar with the toolbar. To better understand the performance capabilities and tradeoffs involved in hidden toolbars, we outline a design space that captures the key elements of these controls and report on an empirical evaluation of four designs. Two of our designs provide shortcuts that are based on the user’s spatial memory of item locations. The study found that toolbars with spatial-memory shortcuts had significantly better performance (700ms faster) than standard designs currently in use. Participants quickly learned the shortcut selection method (although switching to a memory-based method led to higher error rates than the visually-guided techniques). Participants strongly preferred one of the shortcut methods that allowed selections by swiping across the screen bezel at the location of the desired item. This work shows that shortcut techniques are feasible and desirable on touch devices and shows that spatial memory can provide a foundation for designing shortcuts

Goal Driven Interaction (GDI) vs. Direct Manipulation (MD), an empirical comparison

Interacción'15, September 07-09, 2015, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain ACM 978-1-4503-3463-1/15/09. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2829875.2829892This paper presents a work in process about Goal Driven Interaction (GDI), a style of interaction intended for inexperienced, infrequent and occasional users, whose main priorities are to use a system and achieve their goals without cost in terms of time or effort. GDI basic philosophy is to guide the user about the "what" to do and the "how" to do it in each moment of the interaction process, without requiring from the user a previous knowledge to use the interface. This interaction style was introduced in previous work, where a description of its characteristics and the most appropriate user interface for it, were described. Those works included a methodology for the analysis and synthesis of the whole interactive process through a language of specification. This paper presents partial results we are collecting in real user testing, with the main aim of comparing GDI with direct manipulation interfaces (MD), nevertheless the most extended and commonly regarded as the most suitable for novice and experienced users.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Experimental Case Studies for Investigating E-Banking Phishing Techniques and Attack Strategies

Phishing is a form of electronic identity theft in which a combination of social engineering and web site spoofing techniques are used to trick a user into revealing confidential information with economic value. The problem of social engineering attack is that there is no single solution to eliminate it completely, since it deals largely with the human factor. This is why implementing empirical experiments is very crucial in order to study and to analyze all malicious and deceiving phishing website attack techniques and strategies. In this paper, three different kinds of phishing experiment case studies have been conducted to shed some light into social engineering attacks, such as phone phishing and phishing website attacks for designing effective countermeasures and analyzing the efficiency of performing security awareness about phishing threats. Results and reactions to our experiments show the importance of conducting phishing training awareness for all users and doubling our efforts in developing phishing prevention techniques. Results also suggest that traditional standard security phishing factor indicators are not always effective for detecting phishing websites, and alternative intelligent phishing detection approaches are needed

Investigations of dental cavities: between x-ray radiography and OCT

Nowadays in dentistry a correct diagnosis is given only after a clinical and radiological evaluation. Radiographs are also required for treatment assessments. The aim of this study is to present results obtained on evaluating dental cavities in a dental clinic in Western Romania, using both X-ray radiography and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The most common methods for daily-basis clinical imaging are utilized, i.e. panoramic radiography and three-dimensional (3D) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Advantages of OCT as an imaging method in dentistry are discussed: it avoids exposing the patient to X-ray radiation, and image resolution of OCT is superior. This led us to test this technique for dental assessments and see how it can work in conjunction with radiography. The study also provides upsides and downsides of both medical imaging techniques. Panoramic radiographs and 3D CBCT to several extracted teeth are performed. Dedicated toolbars from Romexis software (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) are analyzed with regard to their capability to make precise measurements. Processing of images are made to obtain a high-quality; measurements are done and data are collected. The same teeth are scanned with an in-house developed SS-OCT system. Images from both investigations are presented, and clinical conclusions are drawn. For dental issues (i.e., cavities) that appear on the surface of the teeth, OCT proves to be more suitable than radiographs; it is also more accurate and radiation-free