Authors : Chien-Hsiung Chen , Wen-Chih Chang and Wen-Te Chang
Abstract: This study investigates user interface task performance in terms of 3 design proposals (linear, hierarchical and network types), 3 task difficulties (easy, medium and hard), 6 usability self-report criteria (enjoyability, layout, understandability, learnability, fluency and convenience), as well as participants� subjective evaluation. The participants were 36 college students. As the study result indicated, different degrees of task difficulty were interrelated with the topological structure of user interfaces. When task difficulty was very high, both network and hierarchical types of structure resulted in better user performance. In contrast, when task difficulty was low, the linear type of structure performed better. The network type of structure had the highest rating in a self-report usability questionnaire and user preference. Our results integrate the evaluation of user performance, usability and preference and provide an example of the use of topological structures to evaluate interfaces.
Chien-Hsiung Chen , Wen-Chih Chang and Wen-Te Chang , 2008. The Efficiency, Usability and Preference of User Interface with Regards to Topological Structure and Task Type. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 3: 538-544.