- From: Gregg Vanderheiden <gv@trace.wisc.edu>
- Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 23:36:05 -0500
- To: "GL - WAI Guidelines WG \(E-mail\)" <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
Interesting - but they didn't study the question we would like to see Is pictures and words better than words. PLEASE NOTE THAT a to e WERE NOT RESULTS BUT THE QUESTIONS. ONLY (a) TURNED OUT TRUE FOR THE STUDY Gregg PICTURES AND WORDS ON BUTTONS IMPROVE USABILITY-Testing the boundaries of two user-centered design principles: metaphors and memory load, Vaughan, M.W., International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 10(3), 265-282 (1998). In a second study, Misha Vaughan (1998) at Indiana University attempted to determine: a. if an interface uses pictures and words on buttons, is it more usable than an interface that uses only pictures, b. if an interface uses familiar metaphors, will it be more usable than one that uses system metaphors, c. if an interface uses the user's natural language, will it be more usable than an one that uses system language, d. if an interface uses simple metaphors, is it more usable than one that uses complex metaphors, and e. if an interface uses shorter names for tasks and functions, is it more usable than one that uses longer names. Participants were 108 experienced computer users. The results indicated that only when an interface 'used pictures and words on buttons' did the usability reliably improve. -- ------------------------------ Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. Professor - Human Factors Dept of Ind. Engr. - U of Wis. Director - Trace R & D Center Gv@trace.wisc.edu, http://trace.wisc.edu/ FAX 608/262-8848 For a list of our listserves send “lists” to listproc@trace.wisc.edu
Received on Friday, 28 April 2000 00:32:44 UTC