Abstract
The purpose of this workshop is to provide a synthesized
view of the computer supported cooperative work
(CSCW) and groupware knowledge and literature as
specifically related to user interface design and evaluation.
Keywords:
user interface, design, evaluation,
groupware, multiple-user, multiple-use, human-computer
interaction, human-automation interaction, human-human
interaction
Introduction
This workshop considers the design and evaluation of
multiple-use, multiple-user software applications. At the
end of the two day workshop, participants will have
compiled a) matrices of user interface characteristics
uniquely relevant to different classes of multiple-user,
multiple-use user interfaces, b) matrices outlining the
unique usability evaluation constraints on these user
interfaces and 3) hyperlinked connections between these
two sets of matrices.
The majority of software products are designed for one
user with one purpose. Correspondingly, the extant
wealth of user interface design and usability knowledge
and related standards considers primarily the single user,
single use graphical user interface. However, the advent
of groupware applications meant to be used synchronously
(e.g., Intel's ProShare* conferencing application) and/or
asynchronously (e.g., Lotus Notes*) offers novel
challenges to the user interface designer and evaluator.
These challenges relate specifically to the design and
evaluation of applications that must simultaneously
support novel aspects of human-computer, human-
automation and human-human interactions.
THIS WORKSHOP
This two day workshop has two goals. The goal for the
first day is to quickly classify multiple-user, multiple-use
applications with respect to user interface design and
evaluation criteria so we can focus on the main task of
identifying those novel design characteristics related to
the support of human-computer, human-automation and
human-human interactions in these types of applications.
The second day will identify the different problems and
solutions evaluators of groupware applications have
encountered as related to the uniqueness of multiple-user,
multiple-use applications. The product of this workshop
will be a user interface framework consisting of a set of
matrices outlining user interface design and evaluation
criteria for multiple-use, multiple-user software
applications.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
Introduction
This workshop will address both synchronous and
asynchronous applications. This includes video and data
conferencing software, business meeting process software
(brainstorming, prioritizing, voting, agenda management,
task assignment management), group editors, electronic
mail programs, and workflow management applications.
Design
The first day of the workshop will produce a set of design
parameters for human-computer, human-automation and
human-human interactions relevant to multiple-user,
multiple-use software. For example, in single-user,
single-use applications, human-computer transactions
dominate the interaction. However, in a multi-user, multi-
use application several people interact simultaneously and
each user must interact implicitly and explicitly with their
computer, the others' computers and each other. A
specific example of supporting human-human interactions
might be creating rules for various types of turntaking,
e.g., who can speak, who can't, who can edit a file, who
can't etc. The workshop will produce a compiled set of
matrices identifying relevant human-computer, human-
automation and human-human, interaction parameters that
must be attended to for design. Following this, we will
identify possible values for these parameters. For
example, if one parameter is turntaking, values may be
conducted or not conducted. In addition, the workshop
will identify relevant literature and specific issues
requiring research in particularly relevant areas. Prior to
the workshop participants will submit their top user
interface design parameters for multiple-user, mutliple-use
applications. From these data a draft framework will be
produced that will be refined during the course of the first
day.
Evaluation
The second day of the workshop will systematically
consider the problems of and generate solutions for
evaluating multiple-user, multiple-use software
applications. Issues ranging from logistics to design
impact will be considered. For example, logistically,
multiple-user, multiple-use applications require
qualitatively different test construction, subject selection,
equipment set-up and data coding techniques. Relative to
design impact, we will identify qualitative and quantitative
usability test measures that contribute directly to product
design, e.g., identifying measures for examining
traditional application usability as well as those usability
issues directly related to human- computer, human-
automation and human-human interactions for multiple-
user, multiple-use applications. Again, workshop
participants will submit their top usability problems prior
to the workshop. These lists will be used to produce an
initial framework list that will be refined during the course
of the second day.
The final segment of the workshop will rank the cells in
the individual matrices and identify the logical
connections among the cells in all matrices. For example,
usability problems will be connected to the design
parameters of which they are symptomatic. Individual
cells will also contain references to appropriate literature
and identify key issues for continued research.
SUMMARY
Practically speaking, at the end of the two days, workshop
participants will have produced two inter-related sets of
matrices to share with the CHI community as a whole.
One will identify design parameters and values and the
other will identify usability evaluation parameters and
values specifically related to multiple-user, multiple-use
applications with pointers to relevant literature as well as
for identifying research opportunities. While the matrices
will not be complete they should represent a significant
accumulation of our knowledge related to the design and
evaluation of multiple-user, multiple-use applications.
These matrices will serve to identify what we think we
know and what we think we don't know. As such they
will be useful for both practitioners and researchers.
Practitioners in the field of multiple-user, multiple-use
applications will be able to identify what is known as well
as having starting points in the research literature for
information on particular issues. We would hope that
researchers would look at these matrices with the intent of
filling in the gaps in the available knowledge in this field.
* Third-party Trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
