This article introduces the Complexity of Interaction Sequences model (CIS). CIS describes the structure of interaction techniques and predicts their performance in the context of an interaction sequence. The model defines the complexity of an interaction technique as a measure of its effectiveness within a given context. We tested CIS to compare three interaction techniques: fixed unimanual palettes, fixed bimanual palettes and toolglasses. The model predicts that the complexity of both palettes depends on interaction sequences, unlike toolglasses. CIS also predicts that fixed bimanual palettes outperform the other two techniques. Predictions were tested empirically with a controlled experiment and contrast with previous studies. We argue that, in order to be generalisable, experimental

Abstract. This paper investigates the problem of user interface design and evaluation for autonomous teams of heterogeneous mobile robots. We explore an operator modeling approach to multi-robot user interface evaluation. Specifically the authors generated GOMS models, a type of user model, to investigate potential interface problems and to guide the interface development process. Results indicate that our interface design changes improve the usability of multi-robot mission generation substantially. We conclude that modeling techniques such as GOMS can play an important role in robotic interface development. Moreover, this research indicates that these techniques can be performed in an inexpensive and timely manner, potentially reducing the need for costly and demanding usability studies.

This research in progress paper draws evidence from the anthropological, worldviews and systems design literature, to show how culture and context play a significant role in the way people perceive and approach their interaction with a multilingual e-commerce website. In doing so, this paper shows that a relationship exists between language, cultural context and usability. Some suggestions are provided for how the author might conduct useful research that will lead to some Argyris [1] style actionable knowledge, which designers can use as `rules of thumb'.

This study presents a framework for the evaluation of open learning environments integrating methodologies both from Education and from Human Computer Interaction. This framework emphasize, the role of field studies using real students, the formation of hypotheses using qualitative methodologies to analyze the field data and task analytic methodologies namely: Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and Goals, Operators, Methods and Selection Rules (GOMS) which are representative methodologies as interpreted in the constructivist context of learning. In this framework a case study regarding the evaluation of an open learning environment is also presented. The results that emerged from this study document the role of the constructed evaluation framework in illuminating essential learning and usability issues regarding the design of open learning environments. These issues can help-$3,7 designers to form a more student centered view in the design of such environments. 1.

In this paper we propose an analytical approach based on models of human performance to evaluate workspace collaboration. Our results indicate that the approach: 1) facilitates the fine-grained analysis of workspace collaboration; 2) provides quantitative estimates of collaborative actions executed in shared workspaces; and 3) affords comparing alternative designs using dimensions of team performance derived from the quantitative estimates.

Today, software products for nearly every possible purpose exist. Most of them enable users to accomplish their tasks somehow, yet often they do not support them in doing so. In many cases this is either due to the complex design of the software interfaces, or to a poorly designed underlying task model, leading to time-consuming procedures. This is why interface design, especially in terms of ergonomics and usability, is still a fruitful eld of research, providing many topics of interest for applied scienti c works as, for example, Ph.D. dissertations. Likewise growing is the eld of interface and usability evaluation, already providing a large number of di erent techniques. This raises the need for a comprehensive categorization of the techniques. Another interesting research question is, which techniques are actually usable and have been applied in the context of scienti c theses so far. This research report contributes to these topics in providing an extensive, categorized overview of usability evaluation techniques, and furthermore by reporting the results of the analysis of their actual application in the named context. Therefore, the relevant literature was reviewed and various Ph.D. and MA theses from computer science and strongly related

Evaluation of system-level dependability can benefit from representing and assessing the effects of user workarounds as a response to system component failures. We assemble sequence diagrams that represent UML scenarios into mission graphs that contain all possible paths from a particular mission starting point to a particular mission success goal point. Analysis of these graphs reveals potential dependability bottlenecks and the existence of possible workarounds that can be intentionally added to a design, retrofitted to fit an existing design, or discovered as an emergent property of existing system and user behaviors. Simulations of a moderately complex distributed embedded system demonstrate that this approach has potential benefits for representing and improving system-level dependability by including the ability of users to perform simple workarounds to achieve mission objectives.

This paper presents the results of an exploratory evaluation of the e-business readiness of tourism operators in Hong Kong. The paper draws upon the web design, e-business, information systems, and tourism and hospitality management literature to show that an interpretative evaluation process can be useful in moving towards a framework for the evaluation of the sophistication of the online operations of organisations involved in the online tourism sector. The results of a preliminary evaluation of eighty online tourism operators in Hong Kong is presented and the implications for practice and further research are discussed. Keywords: website evaluation, e-commerce, Internet, tourism industry, Hong Kong, China, interpretative, exploratory study