Demonstration-based help for interactive systems

The usability of day-to-day applications is of utmost importance. The lack of usability of these is one of the causes of frustration at work, as it creates barriers to the execution of tasks. The Change of applications by third parties, to increase usability, is difficult because it requires, usually, access to source codes and an increase on its complexity. This work proposes and implements a demonstration help tool that allows the improvement of tasks completion, decreases the time spent, and reduces the cost of learning. An analysis of work on aid tools is presented identifying positive aspects and research opportunities. The help tool developed allows the creation of automation through picture-driven computing, which makes it possible to develop help mechanisms independent from application source codes. Since the tool is image oriented, and tasks can involve multiple applications, it is also possible to develop help scripts that are not restricted to just one application. User studies were done with the objectives of validating the work developed and identifying platforms and tasks with usability problems in the business world. It was concluded that the work has positive effects in the accomplishment of tasks.A usabilidade das aplicações utilizadas no dia-a-dia é de extrema importância. A falta de usabilidade destas é um dos causadores de frustração no trabalho, pois cria barreiras à execução de tarefas. A alteração das aplicações por terceiros de forma a aumentar a usabilidade é difícil pois requer, usualmente, acesso aos códigos fonte e incremento da sua complexidade. Este trabalho propõe e implementa uma ferramenta de ajuda por demonstração que visa melhorar o sucesso na realização de tarefas, reduzir o tempo despendido, e diminuir o esforço de aprendizagem. Uma análise a trabalhos sobre ferramentas de ajuda é apresentada identificando aspetos positivos e oportunidades de investigação. A ferramenta de ajuda desenvolvida permite a criação de automações através de computação por imagem, que tornam possível o desenvolvimento de mecanismos de ajuda independentes dos códigos fonte das aplicações. Sendo que a ferramenta é orientada a imagem, e que as tarefas podem envolver múltiplas aplicações, torna-se também possível o desenvolvimento de scripts de ajuda não restringidos a apenas uma aplicação. Foram realizados estudos com utilizadores com os objetivos de validar o trabalho desenvolvido e identificar plataformas e tarefas com problemas de usabilidade no meio empresarial. Deste modo, concluiu-se que o trabalho tem efeitos positivos na realização de tarefas

Help through demonstration and automation for interactive computing systems: a survey of recent works

Usability is very important however, it is still difficult to develop interactive computing systems that meet all user’s specificities. Help systems should be a way of bridging this gap. This paper presents a general survey on recent works (building upon previous surveys) related to improving applications’ help through demonstration and automation and, identifies which technologies are acting as enablers. The main contributions are, identifying (i) which are the recent existing solutions; (ii) which aspects must be investigated further; and (iii) which are the main difficulties that are preventing a faster progress.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Help through demonstration and automation for interactive computing systems: a survey of recent works

Usability is very important however, it is still difficult to develop interactive computing systems that meet all user’s specificities. Help systems should be a way of bridging this gap. This paper presents a general survey on recent works (building upon previous surveys) related to improving applications’ help through demonstration and automation and, identifies which technologies are acting as enablers. The main contributions are, identifying (i) which are the recent existing solutions; (ii) which aspects must be investigated further; and (iii) which are the main difficulties that are preventing a faster progress.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Demonstration-based help: a case study

The usability of today’s applications is of utmost importance, and to fully achieve it some changes are yet to be adopted. Help systems are part of the applications and allow users to understand it and use it. However, this is one of the fields that some corporates still neglect. Moreover, every system has its characteristics and customizations and being able to explain how something works on a generic but efficient way is a major challenge. Studies have been conducted and applications, especially on a daily-use context, are still cause of frustration to its users. Contextual and demonstration-based strategies are examples of beneficial approaches to improve the status. Additionally, current technologies like picture-driven computing and automation are enablers facilitating the interaction with “closed” applications, whose source codes are not available, and allowing for the process to be reproduced automatically on any platform. Our solution deploys fast easy learning. It allows users to learn how to perform tasks by watching them get done on their own system. This was done by the manual creation of picture-driven scripts with the use of a tool named Sikuli. This paper presents our tool and a preliminary case-study. A preliminary evaluation with users was made and positive results were shown. When tracking metrics relative to a first interaction with a system/realization of a specific tasks, users achieved the goal five times faster with the demonstration-based help tool. On second time executions, the performance from users that used our tool and users that learned through exploration and manual readings were similar, indicating that learning by observation does not detract the learning process. The solution is now to be implemented in a technology corporation where problematic tasks and platforms will be identified, automation scripts developed, and an evaluation with its employees will be conducted. From this evaluation, the usability of the tool will be measured, as learning improvements and increased task performance will be tracked. The availability to help other users, developing and sharing scripts is also one of the research points.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Load flow studies on stand alone microgrid system in Ranau, Sabah

This paper presents the power flow or load flow analysis of Ranau microgrid, a standalone microgrid in the district of Ranau,West Coast Division of Sabah. Power flow for IEEE 9 bus also performed and analyzed. Power flow is define as an important tool involving numerical analysis applied to power system. Power flow uses simplified notation such as one line diagram and per-unit system focusing on voltages, voltage angles, real power and reactive power. To achieved that purpose, this research is done by analyzing the power flow analysis and calculation of all the elements in the microgrid such as generators, buses, loads, transformers, transmission lines using the Power Factory DIGSilent 14 software to calculate the power flow. After the analysis and calculations, the results were analysed and compared

Supporting GUI exploration through USS tool

Advances in usability and design techniques (e.g. user-centered design) try to facilitate the use of interactive systems. However, users still have to adapt to interactive systems, i.e. they have to learn the steps required to accomplish a task either by trial and error or by obtaining help. While advanced users are usually able to adapt without much effort this is far from being the case with beginners. Some interactive systems offer different interaction styles in an attempt to meet the needs of all types of user but this is not the case with all interactive systems. In this sense, we present an approach to support the use of any interactive system making use of enriched models and picture-driven computing to achieve tasks automation. The USS tool (User Support System) is the basis to the adaptation of interactive systems accordingly to the users' needs. The approach provides the foundation for the addition of help (based on demonstration) to any graphical user interfaces (GUI) facilitating learning and use. The work is illustrated by a case study and completed with a preliminary user evaluation which provides insights about the validity of the approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio