MAP-01-011 HFI Technical Guide - Human Factors Integration ...

MAP-01-011 – HFI Technical Guide (STGP 11)A3.12.3Interface SurveysClosely aligned to the use of checklists are interface surveys that focus on thephysical aspects of a HMI in order to pinpoint design inadequacies for aninterface or design concept. Typical types of interface surveys include:1. Control and Display survey - Used to evaluate the controls and displaysprovided by a particular interface.2. Labelling surveys – Used to examine the labelling provided by theinterface under analysis. Kirwan & Ainsworth (DTC115 - 1992) suggestthat the following aspects of each label are recorded: reference, wording,size, position, and colour.3. Coding consistency survey – Used to analyse any coding used on theinterface under analysis. Typical types of coding used are colour coding(e.g. green for go, red for stop), positional coding, size coding and shapecoding (DTC115 - Kirwan & Ainsworth 1992).4. Operator modification survey - The end users of systems often addtemporary modifications to the interface in order to eradicate designinadequacies. Typically, operators use labels or markings to highlightwhere specific controls should be positioned or place objects such aspaper cups over redundant controls. The modifications made by the endusers offer an intriguing insight into the usability of the interface, oftenhighlighting bad design, poor labelling, and simpler procedures (i.e.missing out one or two actions).5. Sightline surveys – Used to analyse operator sightlines in terms ofdistance, angle and obstructions.6. Environmental survey – Used to measure the state of the ambientenvironment e.g. noise, illumination, temperature and humidity levels.A survey approach implies two things, firstly that the physical interface exists onwhich to conduct the survey, and secondly that defined assessment criteria exist.Sophisticated computer-based models may overcome the first point, but the needto establish agreed and valid assessment criteria remains. Much work ondeveloping HMI survey techniques and guides was carried out in the 1980s in theUS nuclear power domain. These guides can be adapted to other domain uses,but the overall approach can be highly resource demanding.• Advantages• Each of the surveys described are easy to apply, requiring very littletraining.• The surveys are generic and can be applied in any domain.• The output of the surveys offers a useful analysis of the interface underanalysis, highlighting instances of bad design.• Standards and guidelines can be used in conjunction with the techniques inorder to ensure comprehensiveness.May 2006 Page A3-118 Issue 4