Keith A. Butler

Work-centered design: a case study of a mixed-initiative scheduler

We present the case study of a complex, mixed-initiative scheduling system to illustrate Work-Centered Design (WCD), a new approach for the design of information systems. WCD is based on theory of distributed cognition and extends established user-centered methods with abstract task modeling, using innovative techniques for work ontology and top-level algorithms to capture the logic of a human-computer interaction paradigm. WCD addresses a long-standing need for more effective methods of function allocation. The illustrating case study succeeded on a large, difficult problem for aircraft scheduling where prior expensive attempts failed. The new system, called Solver, reduces scheduling labor from 9 person-days a week to about 1 person-hour. These results were obtained from the first user test, demonstrating notable effectiveness of WCD. Further, the value of Solvers higher quality schedules is far-reaching. WCD extends HCI methods to fill an important need for technical problem-solving systems.

Connecting the design of software to the design

Carroll and Campbell [2] and Suchman [11] have also argued that software embodies user work processes, but stopped short of examining the profound implications for organizations and businesses. They need to respond to accelerating change in the world by improving their work processes continuously, and in some cases by reengineering them completely. Often an information system will be the principal means to implement the desired new process. However, applications that don’t carefully build in the desired work process actually end up selecting one by implication rather than by design. The implied work model may actually contradict a good business process for performing the work. Then the power of computing can turn into a kind of ubiquitous, electronic superbureaucrat that imposes unnecessary overhead while stubbornly frustrating users’ attempts to work productively.

Design models for interactive problem-solving: context & ontology, representation & routines

We describe and illustrate a new framework for the design of interactive problem-solving based on recent research on the psychology of distributed cognition.

Report on the workshop on analytical models

Analytical models are extremely useful and important tools for design engineering in many fields. They provide engineers with performance predictions for a specified design, and they also can assist in design improvements by identifying the sources of performance deficiencies.Currently analytical models are not commonly used for design engineering in HCI. However, university research has produced some promising results, and has led to exploratory development projects in several major corporations.

Conceptual models for coordinating the design of user work with the design of information systems

Abstract The design of an information system (IS) has many consequences for the work of its users. We describe a methodical structure that applies conceptual modeling for the iterative, coordinated design of user work and its supporting IS software. Our goal for this structure is to support an effective, efficient dialog between domain experts and computing technologists. However, the design of work and the design of software require different modeling languages, so we describe the requirements for conceptual modeling of work versus the software needed to support it. We also describe some techniques for relating the two types of models to support iterative design on two converging tracks, one for work and the other for its supporting software.

Human-computer interaction: introduction and overview

The objective of this special introductory seminar is to provide newcomers to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with an introduction and overview of the field. The material will begin with a brief history of the field, followed by presentation and discussion of how good application development methods pull on the interdisciplinary technologies of HCI. The topics will include the psychology of human-computer interaction, psychologically-based design methods and tools, user interface media and tools, and introduction to user interface architecture.

Using conceptual work products of health care to design health IT

This paper introduces a new, model-based design method for interactive health information technology (IT) systems. This method extends workflow models with models of conceptual work products. When the health care work being modeled is substantially cognitive, tacit, and complex in nature, graphical workflow models can become too complex to be useful to designers. Conceptual models complement and simplify workflows by providing an explicit specification for the information product they must produce. We illustrate how conceptual work products can be modeled using standard software modeling language, which allows them to provide fundamental requirements for what the workflow must accomplish and the information that a new system should provide. Developers can use these specifications to envision how health IT could enable an effective cognitive strategy as a workflow with precise information requirements. We illustrate the new method with a study conducted in an outpatient multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic. This study shows specifically how the different phases of the method can be carried out, how the method allows for iteration across phases, and how the method generated a health IT design for case management of MS that is efficient and easy to use.

Re-engineering health care with information technology: the role of computer-human interaction

There is critical, nation-wide need to improve health care and its cost. Health information technology has great promise that is yet to be realized. In this panel four noted experts will discuss key issues that should drive health IT, and the challenges for the CHI community to play a leading role.

Ontology models for interaction design: case study of online support

We report a case study for online self-support, which illustrates an advanced form of work modeling based on ontology technology. This new method enables a much earlier understanding of the design problem and promotes interdisciplinary design collaboration. A functional prototype was implemented for user testing and showed significant improvement in content discovery.

CHI 2010 engineering community SIG: the role of engineering work in CHI

The Engineering Community faces a number of serious challenges around its role in the larger CHI community and its contribution to CHI-sponsored conferences. This SIG is its forum to identify key issues and begin developing positions to address them.