An Activity Theory Evaluation of a User Interface for a Web-based Virtual Research Environment (VRE)

Activity Theory is a framework or descriptive tool which is commonly used in Human-computer Interaction. In particular, it is used more and more in the design and evaluation of some collaborative systems such as a modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment. Activity Theory offers many advantages to interface design for interactive systems when compared with the traditional cognitive psychology approach. This is because the traditional cognitive method cannot penetrate the human side. Therefore, the thorough analysis of human activities in Activity Theory makes it an effective and efficient method for evaluation and design of a system. There is currently some ongoing research work on the design or evaluation of interactive systems, in particular commercial information systems. However, none of them are about online virtual research environments. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the interface of an online virtual research environment called CRADLE using Activity Theory. We will conduct a humanities study in this project, which seeks to find contradictions between the current interface and user expectations, which will in turn be used to design the next generation of CRADLE. In order to find a better way to represent the human community in CRADLE’s digital humanities context, we proposed two candidate proposals and refined them based on participants feedback

Preventing common errors when composing email

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-86).Facemail is a system designed to investigate and prevent common errors that users make while composing emails. Users often accidentally send email to incorrect recipients by mistyping an email address, accidentally clicking "Reply-to-all" rather than just "Reply", or using the wrong email address altogether. Facemail is a user interface addition to an email client that provides the user with more information about the recipients of their email by showing their actual faces. This form of information is much more usable than the simple text in current displays, and it allows the user to determine whether his email is going to the correct people with only a glance. This thesis discusses the justification for this system, as well as the challenges that arose in making it work. In particular, it discusses how to acquire images of users based on their email address, and how to interact with lists, both in learning their members as well as displaying them to the user. This thesis discusses how Facemail fits into current research as well as how its ideas could be expanded into further research.by Eric Lieberman.M.Eng

Using knowledge management to innovate U.S. Coast Guard Command Center Processes

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) responds to thousands of alerts received each year from the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system. Each alert requires an efficient and effective response to assist a potential mariner in distress. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of the process employed by USCG Command Centers in responding to SARSAT alerts. The purpose of this analysis is to identify alternatives that can improve the knowledge work performed in the process. This thesis builds on recent work that focuses on knowledge management and system design from three integrated perspectives: 1) reengineering 2) expert systems knowledge acquisition and representation, and 3) information systems analysis and design. The integrated framework covers the gamut of design considerations from the enterprise process at large, through alternative classes of knowledge in the middle, and on to specific systems in detail. The SARSAT response process is examined using this integrated framework and identifies five technological and organizational alternatives that offer significant potential to improve the overall performance of the process.http://archive.org/details/usingknowledgema109451097

From Resilience-Building to Resilience-Scaling Technologies: Directions -- ReSIST NoE Deliverable D13

This document is the second product of workpackage WP2, "Resilience-building and -scaling technologies", in the programme of jointly executed research (JER) of the ReSIST Network of Excellence. The problem that ReSIST addresses is achieving sufficient resilience in the immense systems of ever evolving networks of computers and mobile devices, tightly integrated with human organisations and other technology, that are increasingly becoming a critical part of the information infrastructure of our society. This second deliverable D13 provides a detailed list of research gaps identified by experts from the four working groups related to assessability, evolvability, usability and diversit