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2013 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

8. Cognitive Interface Design

Author : Iliano Cervesato

Published in: The Deductive Spreadsheet

Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

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Abstract

In this chapter we introduce the methodology we follow as we design the user interface of the deductive spreadsheet. Because meeting the cognitive requirements of the user is paramount, we combine two recent proposals from cognitive science: the attention investment model takes an abstract view of the problem solving task by framing it in economic terms; in contrast, the cognitive dimension of notations proposes a number of criteria on which to evaluate individual design choices.

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previous chapter The Traditional Interface
next chapter Toward a Deductive Interface
Footnotes
1
This paper describes Forms/3, a conservative extension of the traditional spreadsheet with procedural abstractions such as recursion, data abstractions such as graphical values, and graphic time-based output. As it does so, it strives to maintain the usability characteristics that have made the spreadsheet popular with end-users.
 
2
This paper describes uses of the attention investment model within the Forms/3 spreadsheet system [BAD + 01], finding it a useful design tool for the development of end-user programming features.
 
3
This paper looks back at developments and applications of the cognitive dimensions of notation methodology in the ten years since it was first proposed. At the time it was written, it had become a fairly established methodology to assist the designers of notational systems, whether graphical or not, evaluate their design with respect to the impact they will have on users.
 
4
This paper takes a critical look at the cognitive dimensions of notations methodology. It does not dispute its effectiveness but attempts a disciplined, scientific categorization of the original and subsequently proposed cognitive dimensions.
 
5
This paper advocates the cognitive dimensions of notations framework as a device to helps designers build graphical user interfaces that with the desired cognitive properties. This practical study of the people tho design interfaces is in contrast with mainstream theoretical frameworks and user-centric approaches.
 
6
This paper is concerned with the process of determining what new dimensions should be included in the cognitive dimensions of notation framework. It does so by recounting conversations with that method’s creator, Thomas Green, and explores ideas for developing a methodology for evaluating candidate dimensions.
 
7
This is the original paper on the attention investment model. It focuses on the initial attitude of non-professional end-users when given tasks that have a programming component (e.g., writing spreadsheet formulas or programming a VCR). In particular, the attention investment model examines the first steps these users take and tries to understand their actions based on task and system at hand.
 
8
This paper applies the cognitive dimensions of notation framework to the evaluation for visual programming environments, finding it particularly effective and a good complement for other techniques.
 
9
This is the original paper on the cognitive dimension of notations. At the time, it focused not so much on graphical user interfaces but on interactive devices and programming notations.
 
10
In the talk on which this extended abstract is based, Thomas Green discusses the reasons that led him to develop the cognitive dimensions of notation framework. This is a good first-person motivation of the origins of the methodology.
 
11
In this talk, Thomas Green discusses the progress in visual programming environments as well as some limitations. At he does this, the explains how his cognitive dimensions of notations can benefit the design of such systems as well as some usability targets for such designs.
 
12
This paper advocates a design methodology for graphical systems that is driven by concrete examples of tasks that users are expected to accomplish (problems) rather than abstract cognitive targets. This expands the space of design alternatives and acts as a benchmark to evaluate solutions.
 
13
This is a classic textbook on practical approaches to engineering usability in software. It covers both cost-effective methods that will help developers improve their user interfaces and software engineering principles to reduce delays due to usability issues in a project.
 
14
This collection of essays brings together the best approaches to predictive user modeling in use at the time, with special emphasis on various types of cognitive walkthrough. It reports on numerous case studies and gives practical guidance to developers interested in embedding usability inspection into the software cycle.
 
15
This retrospective paper explores the advances of cognitive sciences and human-computer interaction technology since the proposals of the GOMS model. It also spells out the numerous shortcomings of methodologies of the time, for example their inability to account for things like user fatigue, individual differences, or mental workload. This is a very interesting read.
 
16
This very influential article carried out a systematic study of the number and type of errors found in spreadsheets. At the outset, the results are surprisingly high, which should limit our confidence about decisions made on the basis of spreadsheet calculations. This research also finds that this type and number is similar to programming in general, except that software engineering has developed methods to curb this error rate, while spreadsheet users take a more informal approach.
 
17
This paper proposes a method for extending the traditional spreadsheet with user-defined functions without the expectation that an everyday user will acquire the sophistication of an addon programmer. This work relies on cognitive psychology techniques such as the cognitive dimension of notations and the attention investment model to retain the usability that characterizes the traditional spreadsheet. This work was extremely influential in the development of the deductive spreadsheet.
 
18
This paper proposes a streamlined variant of the cognitive walkthrough approach to usability analysis that mitigates some of the drawbacks of the original methodology observed in software companies.
 
Literature
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Peyton-Jones, S., Blackwell, A., & Burnett, M. (2003). A user-centred approach to functions in Excel. In Proceedings of the eighth ACM SIGPLAN international conference on functional programming, Uppsala (pp. 165–176). ACM. 17
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Spencer, R. (2000). The streamlined cognitive walkthrough method, working around social constraints encountered in a software development company. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems – CHI’00, The Hague (pp. 353–359). 18
Metadata
Title
Cognitive Interface Design
Author
Iliano Cervesato
Copyright Year
2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Book
The Deductive Spreadsheet

Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37746-4

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-642-37747-1

Copyright Year: 2013

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37747-1_8

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