Seeking a Theoretical Foundation for Design of In Sitro Usability Assessments

摘要

Recent studies on usability assessment methodology suggest that features of real-word use settings can be replicated in laboratories in order to combine realism with a high level of control. The field of human-computer interaction, however, lacks theoretical foundation for how to design well scoped and targeted in sitro, or simulation-based usability assessments. In this paper, we draw parallels between usability assessments and training simulations. We argue that the same mechanisms through which training simulations are adjusted to optimize transfer of skills can also be used in usability assessments conducted in sitro to trigger user reflections on specific design aspects.