Power, Performance, and Perception (P3): Integrating Usability Metrics and Technology Acceptance Determinants to Validate a New Model for Predicting System Usage

Currently, there are two distinct approaches to assist information technology managers in the successful implementation of office automation software. The first approach resides within the field of usability engineering, while the second approach is derived from the discipline of management information systems (MIS). However, neither approach has successfully produced conclusive evidence that explains what characteristics facilitate system use as well as influence user acceptance of the system. This study reports on the validity of a new model, entitled the Power, Performance, Perception (P3) model, that links the constructs of usability engineering to user acceptance. Additionally, speech recognition software (SRS) was used in an experimental setting to validate the P3 model. This research also examined the viability of employing SRS in an Air Force office environment. The results of this study failed to validate the P3 model. However, an alternate model for predicting user acceptance, the Usability Acceptance Model, did emerge from the research which showed that the usability metric of user satisfaction can explain 53% of the variance of user intention to use a new technology. Additionally, the results of this study indicate that users in a typical Air Force office environment would utilize SRS for text processing

M-health review: joining up healthcare in a wireless world

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver health and social care. This trend is bound to continue as providers (whether public or private) strive to deliver better care to more people under conditions of severe budgetary constraint

Usability and Internet-based banking

Usability refers to the study and measurement of the quality of human-computer interaction. Internet-based banking is a task-oriented, goal-directed, Web-based, E-commerce application where users access and manipulate bank accounts remotely through a Web browser interface. The examination of the usability of this interaction through the distributed medium of the Internet formed the research basis. The aims of the research are to review the application of general usability principles and properties to Internet-based banking, examine existing usability guidelines for hypermedia and Web design, and apply these during a structured evaluation of local and international online banking facilities. The research instrument is a combination of a checklist-based and heuristic evaluation, and is preceded by a task analysis. Three research questions are addressed and solutions suggested. These are related to improving Internet banking usability, finding the best approach for measuring this, and creating an awareness that Web usability is important.ScienceM.Sc. (Informatyion Systems

Keeping ubiquitous computing to yourself: a practical model for user control of privacy

As with all the major advances in information and communication technology, ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) introduces new risks to individual privacy. Our analysis of privacy protection in ubicomp has identified four layers through which users must navigate: the regulatory regime they are currently in, the type of ubicomp service required, the type of data being disclosed, and their personal privacy policy. We illustrate and compare the protection afforded by regulation and by some major models for user control of privacy. We identify the shortcomings of each and propose a model which allows user control of privacy levels in a ubicomp environment. Our model balances the user's privacy preferences against the applicable privacy regulations and incorporates five types of user controlled 'noise' to protect location privacy by introducing ambiguities. We also incorporate an economics-based approach to assist users in balancing the trade-offs between giving up privacy and receiving ubicomp services. We conclude with a scenario and heuristic evaluation which suggests that regulation can have both positive and negative influences on privacy interfaces in ubicomp and that social translucence is an important heuristic for ubicomp privacy interface functionality

Internet Reference Sources for Computing and Computer Science: A Selected Guide

Computing and computer science bibliographic databases, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, and guides, along with finding aids for technical reports, online books, and book reviews are listed and described. Subscription-based sources as well as free alternatives are covered. Resources are listed for all levels of computing ability including faculty and professionals, graduate students, undergraduates, and general users

A usability study for promoting eContent in higher education

eContents used in education can be from a number of sources: from traditional electronic journals (eJournals), and electronic books (eBooks) to more specific formats such as: electronic research reports (eResearch-reports), electronic lecture modules (eLecture-modules), electronic lecture notes (eLecture-notes), and electronic lecture slides (eLecture-slides). This paper discusses a number of issues relevant to publishing of eContent. The first section describes the advantages, as well as the disadvantages of such contents. It also elaborates on how eContent can be promoted through the use of Internet, WWW and SMS. Next, related issues on the usability of eContent on the Web are discussed. Four popular usability design guidelines are studied and critically reviewed. The final part concludes that although designing and publishing eContent is more complex than the printed version, eContent has a huge potential in education

Evaluation des systèmes mobiles et ubiquitaires: proposition de méthodologie et retours d'expérience

International audienceThe evaluation of mobile and/or ubiquitous interactive systems via user testing seems a priori more relevant in the field than in a usability laboratory. However, the results of the literature are contradictory. In this article, we aim at explaining the reasons why, and we propose a methodology that could minimize biases. The experiments described in the literature and our own experiments lead us to define the interactive environment concept and three possible experimental approaches: laboratory, field and reality testing. Then, we propose a methodology and a technique -the Trojan horse- adapted to the evaluation in reality testing. At last, we illustrate the theoretical approach by three experiments and give experience feedbacks on them. We conclude on the limits of our approach.L'évaluation des systèmes interactifs mobiles et/ou ubiquitaires par l'intermédiaire des tests utilisateurs semble a priori plus pertinente sur le terrain qu'en laboratoire d'utilisabilité. Pourtant, les résultats de la littérature apparaissent comme contradictoires. Notre objectif dans cet article est d'en expliciter les raisons et de proposer une méthodologie minimisant les biais. Les expérimentations décrites dans la littérature et nos propres travaux nous ont amenés à définir le concept d'environnement interactif et trois approches expérimentales possibles : laboratoire, terrain et situation réelle. Nous proposons ensuite une méthodologie et une technique (le cheval de Troie) adaptées à l'évaluation en situation réelle. Enfin, nous illustrons notre approche théorique par trois expérimentations et en donnons des retours d'expérience. Nous concluons ensuite sur les limites de notre approche

A framework for evaluating the usability of political web sites : towards improving cyberdemocracy

Phd ThesisThe use of the World Wide Web (WWW) for political purposes, sometimes known as Cyberdemocracy, is growing rapidly. Web sites in particular have potential in improving people's participation in politics; which is one of the basic principles of democracy. However, currently very few studies have focussed on the usefulness and effectiveness of such web sites. This research, therefore, investigates the issue of web usability and proposes a framework for evaluating the usability of web sites particularly political web sites. It also highlights the potentials of the Internet technology as an effective political communication medium and emphasises the need for proper design, maintenance, and evaluation of web sites in order to improve their effectiveness. The research began with a literature search on web usability where seven major factors were identified namely Screen Appearance, Consistency, Accessibility, Navigation, Media Use, Interactivity, and Content - leading to the formation of a model called SCANMIC. Further exploration was conducted to elicit criteria relevant to each factor. The criteria and the model were then commented on and verified by experts in related fields. An online survey was carried out to identify the importance of these criteria from the perspectives of Internet users. Additional criteria which affect the usability of political web sites were also identified through interviews with frequent visitors of political web sites and web developers, and through content analysis of twenty political web sites in four different countries: Malaysia, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The findings from the usability criteria elicitation, expert reviews, survey and web content analysis resulted in a comprehensive list of web usability criteria, which formed the basis of the evaluation framework. The framework was based on a benchmarking approach; an approach that has proven its success in the business area but not widely used in web evaluation. It proposes eight cyclical steps for benchmarking web usability, including - decide what to benchmark, determine what to measure, identify who to benchmark against, identify who will benchmark, perform the benchmark, analyse data and determine gap, redesign, and monitor progress. The framework can be used to benchmark the overall usability of any types of web sites but is particularly suitable for political web sites. Furthermore, it can guide people with technical or non-technical background, who intend to benchmark the usability of their web sites against others. It is a very useful tool for an organisation to identify any gap which might exist between the usability of its web site and those of its competitors. The framework was tested for its applicability and practicality on several major political web sites in Malaysia, a developing country with a fast growth in terms of Internet access. The outcome of the testing was used to refine and finalise the framework. Research limitations are discussed in the last chapter and for each limitation, a suggestion for future studies is proposed. For example, there is an urgent need for a computerised tool to assist the benchmarking process. Testing the applicability of the benchmarking framework on other types of web sites also calls for future investigations. In addition, extending the applicability of the framework to include small displays technologies such as mobile phones and hand-held devices requires urgent attention.Universiti Utara Malaysi

SDK development for bridging heterogeneous data sources through connect bridge platform

Nesta dissertação apresentou-se um SDK para a criação de conectores a integrar com o CB Server, que pretende: acelerar o desenvolvimento, garantir melhores práticas e simplificar as diversas atividades e tarefas no processo de desenvolvimento. O SDK fornece uma API pública e simples, suportada por um conjunto de ferramentas, que facilitam o processo de desenvolvimento, explorando as facilidades disponibilizadas através da API. Para analisar a exatidão, viabilidade, integridade e acessibilidade da solução apresentam-se dois exemplos e casos de estudo. Através dos casos de estudo foi possível identificar uma lista de problemas, de pontos sensíveis e melhorias na solução proposta. Para avaliar a usabilidade da API, uma metodologia baseada em vários métodos de avaliação de usabilidade foi estabelecida. O múltiplo caso de estudo funciona como o principal método de avaliação, combinando vários métodos de pesquisa. O caso de estudo consiste em três fases de avaliação: um workshop, uma avaliação heurística e uma análise subjetiva. O caso de estudo envolveu três engenheiros de software (incluindo programadores e avaliadores). A metodologia aplicada gerou resultados com base num método de inspeção, testes de utilizador e entrevistas. Identificou-se não só pontos sensíveis e falhas no código-fonte, mas também problemas estruturais, de documentação e em tempo de execução, bem como problemas relacionados com a experiência do utilizador. O contexto do estudo é apresentado de modo a tirar conclusões acerca dos resultados obtidos. O trabalho futuro incluirá o desenvolvimento de novas funcionalidades. Adicionalmente, pretende-se resolver problemas encontrados na metodologia aplicada para avaliar a usabilidade da API, nomeadamente problemas e falhas no código fonte (por exemplo, validações) e problemas estruturais.In this dissertation, we present an SDK for the creation of connectors to integrate with CB Server which accelerates deployment, ensures best practices and simplifies the various activities and tasks in the development process. The SDK provides a public and simple API leveraged by a set of tools around the API developed which facilitate the development process by exploiting the API facilities. To analyse the correctness, feasibility, completeness, and accessibility of our solution, we presented two examples and case studies. From the case studies, we derived a list of issues found in our solution and a set of proposals for improvement. To evaluate the usability of the API, a methodology based on several usability evaluation methods has been established. Multiple case study works as the main evaluation method, combining several research methods. The case study consists of three evaluation phases – a hands-on workshop, a heuristic evaluation and subjective analysis. The case study involved three computer science engineers (including novice and expert developers and evaluators). The applied methodology generated insights based on an inspection method, a user test, and interviews. We identify not only problems and flaws in the source code, but also runtime, structural and documentation problems, as well as problems related to user experience. To help us draw conclusion from the results, we point out the context of the study. Future work will include the development of new functionalities. Additionally, we aim to solve problems found in the applied methodology to evaluate the usability of the API, namely problems and flaws in the source code (e.g. validations) and structural problems