HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ianr@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Ian Rogers)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors,comp.graphics.visualization,comp.cog-eng
Subject: echons vs. earcons (was Re: Beyond bleeps and bloops)
Summary: It's all greek to me
Keywords: real words
Date: 13 Apr 92 13:02:43 GMT
Followup-To: comp.graphics.visualization
Organization: University of Sussex at Brighton

lindahl@arrisun3.uta.edu (Charlie Lindahl) writes:
>
> Basically, they discuss the auditory equivalents of graphical
> visualization. One thing I remember from the paper, that was kinda
> cute, was the use of the term "earcon" (to replace the graphical
> "icon").

I remember, last summer, a discussion to the effect that earcon is a
non-word; the correct word being echon. Something to do with the
Greek (or Latin :) derivation. Unfortunately I lost the proof. If
someone could mail me a copy I'll post one of them :-) to the net.

Sorry to be pedantic, but I feel that incorrect jargon can be
destructive, especially if there's a correct word available.


Ian Rogers
Research Fellow
School of Cognitive Science, Sussex University, Falmer, Brighton, UK

             "Deep in the fundamental heart of mind and Universe,"
           said Slartibartfast, "there is a reason" - Douglas Adams
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: bathurst@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Bruce Bathurst)
Subject: Re: Color considered harmful
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 17:00:01 GMT

Again I quickly browsed through the posted articles on color.

I don't remember anyone proposing that color be abandoned by scientists or
engineers visualizing abstract images.  My complaint was that it was used
without purpose by those writing screens and word-processing programs, and
pop-up everythings.

Since then I repaired some broken software on two office PC's.  I had
no idea how widespread the use of color is.  I was stunned by the word
processor, which displayed white letters on a vibrant blue background.
Every color was a vibrant blue, green, red, or .. well I guess those
were they.  The local consultant had made his own screens, using a
liberal amount of magenta, cyan, and yellow.  (My favorite was blue
writing on a red background--finally laying to rest that ancient
(post-1990) artist's aphorism "warm colors advance; cool colors
recede".)

I didn't know a "Super VGA" board and monitor were capable of displaying only
three primary colors; but, as someone wrote, three is all we need.

I was impressed that not one of the prodigious glut of references that
people have been kind to provide me, is by an artist.  Instead I have
been reading about freqencies and such, and impressive scientific
comments as to its meaning in the use of color.  The perspicious
remarks on the "color wheel" were especially illuminating.  Indeed, I
now understand why I should disrespect Tufte's "armchair" and
"intuitive" comments on the tasetful use of color on computer screens.

[Further, I'm now convinced that only engineers should be allowed to
write and publish musical compositions.  It's time to rid the musical
community of amateurs who imagine people might enjoy their
compositions, yet write them without any technical defense of their
work in terms of amplitudes and frequencies; for as all of you who
play muscial instruments know, amplitude, frequency, and the
appropriate use of Fourier analysis is essential to being a competant
musician, let alone a composer.]

Thank you for your illuminating comments.

Bruce  <screen_color = "cyan"; text_color = "magenta">
-- 
Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
bathurst@phoenix.princeton.edu bathurst@pucc.bitnet !princeton!phoenix!bathurst
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: raveling@Unify.com (Paul Raveling)
Subject: Function vs. interface (was about tractors)
Organization: Unify Corporation (Sacramento)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 20:15:25 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.142752.25718@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>, overmyer@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Scott Overmyer) writes:

> ...  I believe that people who actually practice human
> factors engineering or design (as opposed to those who just talk about
> it), would agree that there is only so much that can be done to a design
> to completely remove any safety hazards without severely impeding task
> performance.
> 
> The space shuttle is one example, a tractor is another.

	Another one that was interesting in quite a few ways was the
	X-15.  For example, it provided absolutely no controls
	for the pilot to guide his landing rollout -- no brakes,
	no steering.  They weren't needed for landing on dry lakes,
	would only get in the way, add complexity, and add weight.

	On the other hand, it was as kind as possible to the pilot
	for flight controls.  The cockpit offered a standard center
	stick and rudder pedals, a right-hand side stick for aerodynamic
	controls, and a left-hand  side stick for nonaerodynamic attitude
	controls (thrusters burning hydrogen peroxide).  Perhaps
	the most important human factor development for these controls
	was development of stability augmentation systems to assist
	the pilot in several flight regimes -- ranging from pure space
	flight through hypersonic aerodynamic flight to "low" speed
	flight.  ("Low" speed to the X-15 was about 300 knots in the
	landing pattern.)


------------------
Paul Raveling
Raveling@Unify.com

Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: agleespe@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Abney V Gleespen)
Subject: Documenting Standard Operating Procedures - Empirical Studies
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 16:42:48 GMT

Can anyone recommend published empirical studies measuring the benefits of:
(1) having Standard Operating Procedures in an organization
(2) documenting Standard Operating Procedures

I'd like info about the effects on human performance: decreased defects, 
improved safety, faster task completion, faster learning/mastery of jobs, etc.
Studies need not involve tasks using computers, but may -- could be paperwork 
processing, aircraft maintenance, medical services, etc.

Thanks in advance!  -- Abbie

                       agleespe@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: sguerlai@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephanie A Guerlain)
Subject: Student News
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 21:29:48 GMT


I'm posting this message to clarify what "HFS" and "HFS Bulletin" means.

I posted earlier saying I needed submissions for the student column for
the HFS Bulletin.  Since then, many people have sent me messages asking
what HFS means.  

HFS stands for the (American) Human Factors Society.  The headquarters are
located in Santa Monica, CA.  Besides the national chapter, there are many
local chapters around the US (and Canada, I think) and there are many student
chapters as well.  The national chapter puts out a journal every other month
and The Bulletin, a monthly newsletter.  In the Bulletin, there are feature
articles as well as monthly columns, one of which is the student news column, 
hence the previous post.  I am the editor for the student column, so any
submissions can be sent to me either by e-mail, or to:
Stephanie Guerlain
Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory
282 Baker Systems
1971 Neil Ave
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43201

Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: bathurst@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Bruce Bathurst)
Subject: The Engineers, the armchairs, and the art people (Was: color c. harmful)
Summary: It's all in the right hands.
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Keywords: French impressionism bit-mapped graphics pragmatism
Organization: Princeton University
Distribution: net
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 06:47:32 GMT

I'm sorry, I lost the last article on color.  But I think I remember what
it said.  (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Engineers are artists, even though they prefer practical to the pretty
that the art people produce.  Screen design is really French
impressionism, done right; but with the colors of van Gogh.  Something
about neurological...Oh yes, I think the implication was that a
spreadsheet screen ideally produces temporal-lobe seizures; but this
may be reading too much into the article.  There was something about
video games clearly being in the spirit of Hieronymus Bosch.

Oh, yes...it's those nasty USERS that responsible for everything bad.
That's what happens when you allow untrained people a little freedom!

Was I a fool!  Here I thought the optometrist down the street was 
suffering his psychedelic word processor because he could only type
A, B, or C at the menus.  The crafty fellow no doubt wrote a TSR
BIOS video interrupt handler without my knowing, so his screens--in
clear view of his patients--will drum up business.

Thanks!

Bruce
-- 
Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
bathurst@phoenix.princeton.edu bathurst@pucc.bitnet !princeton!phoenix!bathurst
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: sguerlai@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephanie A Guerlain)
Subject: Submit to HFS Bulletin student column!
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 01:56:28 GMT


Hi!

Is anyone interested in submitting an article for the Student News
column of the HFS Bulletin?  

Various topics that have been addressed in the past are:

Searching for a human factors program
Improving communication between students
Anectodatal stories of life as a HF student

Please send me a message if you'd like to submit, or just find out more 
information.

Stephanie Guerlain
Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory
The Ohio State University

sguerlai@magnus.acs.ohio-state.eduj 
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: cscott@csc.afit.af.mil (Carl W. Scott)
Subject: Recommendations for Prototype Evaluation
Date:  9 APR 92 21:45:06    
Expires: 30 APR 92 21:45:06
Reply-To: cscott@csc.afit.af.mil
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology - WPAFB, OH, USA
Keywords: Prototype, Testing, Evaluation 
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   

I'm currently working on a thesis project which involves the development of
a database system for managing the university's research program and 
helping students select research topics.  I will be beginning the design
phase (using ORACLE) within the next few weeks and would like to ensure I 
consider human factors in the design.  In addition, I'm currently searching
for some evaluation criteria (in the form of questionnaires/surveys with
'sliding scale' ratings).  

I've developed personal systems in the past and have a several articles/
books on the subject, but would appreciate any additional guidance or 
recommendations (especially with regard to the evaluation instrument).

Thanks in advance!
Carl Scott
AFIT/LSG
Wright Patterson AFB OH 45431
(513) 255-8989
cscott@csc.afit.af.mil
From: Peter.Gorny@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de (Peter Gorny)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: cost of poor usability metrics
Date: 8 Apr 92 23:17:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: arbi.1992Apr8.233828.22419
Organization: University of Oldenburg, Germany

schaffer@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Doug Schaffer) writes:
>In article <48993@athertn.Atherton.COM> mcgregor@atherton.com writes:
>>I've been thinking about profiling usage during customer usability tests, and
>>keeping a ratio of code accessed by users during tests and total code written.
>>100% coverage would represent a very usable and desirable set of features, and
>>products with coverages near 0% represent low degrees of usability and
>>desirability in the feature sets.

>I think you should be careful of using a strict formula like coverage to
>define a software product's usability and desirability.  Many packages

Poor usability is more than the features mentioned so far in this dis-
cussion. Poor help functions, bad mapping of multiple choice items to
function keys or other keys, poorly phrased menu texts - only a short
list of point coming into mind. 
Worse (and more expensive) is the time needed for training new users
(Apple advertises with a research report stating that it takes only
half the time to train people for the Mac compared to DOS machines.)
And system maintenance (Operating systems as well as application 
systems) is also a high cost factor!
In a comparative experiment Matthias Rauterberg of ETH Zuerich has
shown, that a database system which exists in a menu/cursor key
driven version and in a direct manipulation version, has only 57 %
effectivity in the cursor-key version (DOS) vs. 100 % on the Mac.
(The 24 test persons had to solve 10 standard tasks . They were
chosen with no preknowledge or 3000 hours practice in either Mac
or DOS system handling (6 persons in each of these four groups).)

My conclusion: you can (perhaps) compare systems for the same
tasks - but only pairwise. You can (perhaps) order these results
in a ranking.
So far I do not know any allover metrics - only methods to measure
very small areas of usability and only on a semantically very low
level: key stroke or basic tasks..

Peter Gorny



+--------------------------  Prof. Dr. Peter Gorny  --------------------------+
| Informatics Department    -   Computer Graphics & Software-Ergonomics Group |
| Carl von Ossietzky Universitaet Oldenburg  -  POB 2503  -  D-2900 Oldenburg |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| * Internet *                                   * Telephone *                |
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: doug@clarity.Princeton.EDU (Douglas Merrill)
Subject: Re: Menu studies
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University Cognitive Science Lab
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 21:13:46 GMT

In article <matjmm.702746042@gsusgi1.gsu.edu> matjmm@gsusgi1.gsu.edu (John Morgan Morris) writes:

   <stuff about menues deleted>
   I find this hard to believe. Are there any studies
   that demonstrate performance benefits for menus?
   Particularly for inexperienced users???
   -- 
   John Morgan Morris
   Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
   Georgia State University
   Atlanta, GA. 30303-3083
   matjmm@gsusgi1.gsu.edu
   (404) 651-2253

Albert Corbett published a paper in _The Proceedings of the
International Conference on the Learning Sciences_ last summer.  Their
paper included some preliminary data of students using the CMU LISP
Tutor either selecting functions from hierarchical menus or typing in
the functions by hand.  Surprisingly enough, they found that novices
did *WORSE* when selecting the functions off the menu.

I can't remember the details -- it's been a long time since I read the
paper.   If you can't find it, drop me a e-mail note & I'll ship you a
more complete reference.

Doug Merrill
Cognitive Science Lab
Princeton University
doug@clarity.princeton.edu
From: cohill@vtserf.cc.vt.edu (Andrew M. Cohill)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: Very poor human interface on Kubota tractor
Keywords: tractor controls
Date: 14 Apr 92 13:36:49 GMT
Organization: Fire in the Mountain

In article <m!xj#5f.nagle@netcom.com> nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle) writes:
>
>      Many of the control problems mentioned could be handled by providing
>a lever with "field" and "road" positions, to reconfigure the tractor for
>field operations or road travel.  In road mode, the differential would
>unlock, 4WD would be disengaged, the brake pedals would lock together,
>the power takeoff would be disengaged, and the transmission would
>shift into a higher speed range.  Switching back to field mode 
>makes all the options available again.
>

The tractor would also cost more.  Unfortunately, many design decisions
are dictated by marketing people, and indirectly, by consumers
themselves.  In the post that started this thread, the human factors
people seemed to be blamed (ndirectly) for this state of affairs.

I don't disagree that some of the unsafe qualities of tractors could be
improved, but there would still be considerable opportunity to use a
tractor in an unsafe way, and this is the point I was trying to make.
Making a sharp turn right or left while going up or down a hill, for
example, almost guarantees that you will roll the tractor.  Why?
Because the high clearance and high center of gravity of tractors....
Remove the high clearance wheels and lower the engine and drive train,
and you remove the unsafe condition.  But now you don't have a tractor,
you have something else.

Andrew Cohill
-- 
|          ...we have to look for routes of power our teachers never       
|              imagined, or were encouraged to avoid.   T. Pynchon          
|                    
|Andrew Cohill        cohill@vtserf.cc.vt.edu            VPI&SU
From: sdpage@andersen.co.uk (Stephen Page)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: On-screen fonts...
Date: 8 Apr 92 08:11:06 GMT
Organization: Andersen Consulting (UK Practice)

marty@beta.lanl.gov (Martin G. Halvorson) writes:
>The aspect in question is size. 

I think stroke width is as important as size in some applications. In
particular, we have found that a font with poor stroke width will cause
strain when trying to read it in "greyed out" (50% dithered) rendering
in a Motif application.
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: mcginn@cu8.crl.aecl.ca
Subject: Re: pie menus
Organization: AECL Research
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 13:58:28 GMT

 Has anyone prototyped pie menus on a PC, Mac or Unix box? I would like to
try them out.

Tim
mcginn@crl.aecl.ca


Newsgroups: comp.human-factors,comp.graphics.visualization
From: lindahl@arrisun3.uta.edu (Charlie Lindahl)
Subject: Re: Beyond bleeps and bloops: sound in the user interface
Organization: Automation and Robotics Research Institute, U Texas @ Arlington
	<9208010.7417@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU> <0s!jrghkaminski@netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 09:26:47 GMT

I recently ran into a Dr. Diane Cooke of University of South Florida.
She is an alumnus of University of Illinois at Urbana . 

While she was visiting here, we talked about sonification, and she 
referred me to some work being done at Illinois on the subject (I got
a fairly thick paper on their work). 

Basically, they discuss the auditory equivalents of graphical 
visualization. One thing I remember from the paper, that was kinda
cute, was the use of the term "earcon" (to replace the graphical
"icon"). 

If there is interest on the net, I'll post info on how to get the
paper. Please EMAIL me directly, as I don't read this bboard very
often. 

--
Charlie S. Lindahl
Automation and Robotics Research Institute
University of Texas at Arlington
Internet EMAIL: lindahl@sparki.uta.edu

"Texas: where the men are men and the women are mayors!" 
    - Molly Ivins, Fort Worth Star/Telegram columnist

Disclaimer: These be my own musings/opinions ... the University 
            of Texas at Arlington has nothing to do with them. 

From: jeffries@hplred.HP.COM (Robin Jeffries)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 20:20:19 GMT
Subject: Re: Financial Benefits of Usability
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors

> I am looking for specific, concrete examples of the benefits of usability engineering, either
> in papers or personal experiences.

> Susan McIntyre 

I don't have exact citations conveniently at hand, but here are two places to
look.

1.  Marilyn Mantei wrote a paper on exactly this topic about 3-4 years ago in
Communications of the ACM.  She is either first or second author on this paper.

2.  Clare-Marie Karat does research on this.  She is teaching a tutorial
at CHI'92, May 3-7 in Monterey (see back of CACM for a conference announcement
if you don't have the advance program and registration materials handy.)  Clare-Marie
also has a paper in the conference describing her latest work in this area. 

Robin Jeffries
           
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Very poor human interface on Kubota tractor
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 16:52:52 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Keywords: tractor controls

cohill@vtserf.cc.vt.edu (Andrew M. Cohill) writes:
>Tractors are inherently dangerous.  It sounds like Kubota knows that
>some of the people that buy their equipment are not familiar with this
>fact, and try to point that out.  Ergonomics is not about *eliminating*
>risk, it is about minimizing it.  A tractor that is completely safe to
>use would also very likely be unusable by most farmers.

      The tractor industry fought roll bars and seat belts for years, but
tractors finally have them.  Just because tractors are traditionally
unsafe doesn't mean they have to be.

      Many of the control problems mentioned could be handled by providing
a lever with "field" and "road" positions, to reconfigure the tractor for
field operations or road travel.  In road mode, the differential would
unlock, 4WD would be disengaged, the brake pedals would lock together,
the power takeoff would be disengaged, and the transmission would
shift into a higher speed range.  Switching back to field mode 
makes all the options available again.

      Anyone know how the newer heavy equipment with microprocessor
control ("plow-by-wire?") handles these issues?

					John Nagle