Susan Harker

The change and evolution of requirements as a challenge to the practice of software engineering

The difficulty of handling changing requirements within traditional development processes is described. The origins of changing user and organizational requirements are discussed and different types are classified. The author identifies a number of ways in which different approaches to design may help to deal with change as well as mechanisms which should underpin effective communication between users and designers.<<ETX>>

The use and usefulness of functions in electronic journals: the experience of the SuperJournal Project

This paper examines the general value to users of a range of electronic journal functions and their usefulness in the specific context of the SuperJournal Project. For the evaluation of each of the functions three types of data were analysed in relation to each other and in light of other contextual data: logged data of usage, survey data on user satisfaction, and survey data on the perceived importance of the function. The analysis shows that basic browsing, printing and search make up the core functions of electronic journals; other functions, such as saving of bibliographic data, alerting, customising, links with external resources and communication, serve as peripheral functions. The usefulness of both the core functions and the peripheral functions in a specific service is influenced by various implementation factors. However, it is the realised usefulness of the core functions which determines the use of a service.

Representing socio-technical systems options in the development of new forms of work organization

Abstract It is widely accepted that effective implementation of new technology into work organizations needs an integrative approach in which developments in both technical and social systems are considered. Furthermore, success depends upon the effective participation of significant stakeholders in this process. This article reviews the methods available for this purpose and concludes that a particular weakness is the methods that can be used to generate and review socio-technical system opportunities early in the development process. Whilst methods exist to support stakeholder participation at this stage, they need to represent future socio-technical opportunities if they are to make an effective contribution. This article presents the ORDIT (Organizational Requirements Definition for Information Technology Systems) methodology, which uses responsibility modelling as a basis for constructing socio-technical systems opportunities. The application of telemedicine in health care is presented as a case stud...

ISO 9241-11 Revised: What Have We Learnt About Usability Since 1998?

A revision is currently being undertaken of ISO 9241-11, published in 1998 to provide guidance on usability. ISO-9241-11 defines usability in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a particular context of use. The intention was to emphasise that usability is an outcome of interaction rather than a property of a product. This is now widely accepted. However, the standard also places emphasis on usability measurement and it is now appreciated that there is more to usability evaluation than measurement. Other developments include an increasing awareness of the importance of the individual user’s emotional experience as discretionary usage of complex consumer products and use of the World Wide Web have became more widespread. From an organisational perspective, it is now appreciated that usability plays an important role in managing the potentials risks that can arise from inappropriate outcomes of interaction. The revision of ISO 9241-11 takes account of these issues and other feedback.

The software accessibility of human-computer interfaces—ISO Technical Specification 16071

This paper describes the recently published Technical Specification ISO 16071 from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), along with the process through which the document has been developed. ISO TS 16071 contains guidelines on designing accessible software. This paper also relates the activities within ISO to other ongoing standardisation activities, within, for example, W3C and ETSI. Scope, contents, guidelines and the definition of accessibility in ISO 16071 are discussed in relation to other definitions. Finally, the process of turning the technical specification (TS) into an international standard (IS) is discussed.

The development of ergonomics standards for software

This paper introduces the background to the development of ergonomics standards for software, describes some of the issues that influence the standards that are developed, and provides a brief overview of the scope and current status of standards under development.

Guidelines, standards, methods and processes for software accessibility

With the ever increasing use of computer and telecommunications technologies, there is a growing awareness of the need to ensure that they are accessible to as many people as possible. The uptake of computers in the work place focused attention on the fact that the benefits of the technology could not be realised unless technology was made more usable. In a similar way, we are now recognising that design has to address a great diversity of user needs represented within the whole population, including the increasing numbers of elderly people and people with disabilities. For many people, the use of the technology offers opportunities to engage in activities that would otherwise be impossible. However, this potential can only be realised if the technology is designed so that it can support people in achieving their goals. There are many factors that contribute to achieving designs for accessibility, but one important issue is the availability of knowledge about how to design solutions that will take into account users and their diverse characteristics. This knowledge can be made available in a variety of forms, including guidelines and standards. The purpose of this special issue is to establish what progress has been made in developing these forms of support, and to explore future opportunities to move forward. 2 The aim and scope of the special issue

A USER CENTRED APPROACH TO THE DESIGN OF A KNOWLEDGE BASED SYSTEM

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a user-centered approach to the design of a knowledge based system. Major investments are currently being made in the development of knowledge-based systems. In many developmental laboratories, the hunt is on for worthwhile applications of the expert systems technology that has been developed. Most information technology systems encounter usability and acceptability problems when they are implemented, which may seriously curtail their effectiveness or even cause their rejection. If this can happen to systems that support routine office functions, it is even more likely when a system purports to provide expert advice. The normal procedure in developing an expert system is to locate a domain of expert knowledge and then to engage in a knowledge elicitation procedure that draws from the experts in this domain the set of rules that underpins their expertise. These rules are then built into an expert system so that, when posed with a relevant problem, it can work through the rules to deliver an expert view.

New ISO Standards for Usability, Usability Reports and Usability Measures

Several new and revised ISO standards will be published in 2016/17 that define the basic terms and concepts of usability ISO 9241-11, give guidance on processes and outcomes of human-centred design ISO 9241-220, provide examples of measures that can be used in usability evaluation ISO/IEC 25022 and 25023 and define what should be included in usability evaluation reports for usability tests, inspections and surveys ISO/IEC 25066. The paper explains some of the new content and how it can be used.

Psychological Processes in the Use of Electronic Journals

Evidence of user behaviour with electronic journals from the Super Journal project is reviewed to identify the psychological processes being employed. The article reviews patterns of use, the dominance of browsing as the means of seeking information, the depth, breadth and range of use and the tendency to print. The article concludes that the dominant user approach is a coping strategy that maximises success for minimum psychological effort.