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Cognitive work analysis and the design of user interfaces

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Abstract

When a user interface needs to be designed for a task that depends on information integration, such as navigation, very few theoretical tools are available. Cognitive task analysis (CTA) and hierarchical task analysis (HTA) are the basic analysis techniques. A choice between them depends on the type of task or objective at hand. In this article, it is argued that for interface design a combination of CTA and HTA forms the basis of the interface definition. When this expanded to a full cognitive work analysis (CWA), it will form the human-factors analysis required for the user-interface design.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Patrick van Erve, Brian Hilburn, Barry Kirwan, and the Rotterdam Pilots for their help during the various projects and their help and support during the preparation of this article.

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  1. Umantec, Haarlem, The Netherlands

    Fulko van Westrenen

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  1. Fulko van Westrenen
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Correspondence to Fulko van Westrenen.

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van Westrenen, F. Cognitive work analysis and the design of user interfaces. Cogn Tech Work 13, 31–42 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-010-0153-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-010-0153-4

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