Effects of System-Timing Parameters on Operator Performance in a Personnel Records Task

摘要

Meaningful human factors applications to the design of human/computer tasks require a quantitative data base that describes operator behavior as a function of various independent variables. Three classes of metrics--operator satisfaction ratings, work sampling procedures, and embedded performance measurement--are described as important measures in evaluating human/computer interfaces. Polynomial regression procedures were used to generate functional relationships between each of these classes of metrics and four independent variables representing timing attributes of an interactive computer system used to enter and update personnel records (system delay, display rate, keyboard echo rate, and rollover buffer length of the keyboard). Each of the 22 dependent variables in the three classes of metrics showed different functional relationships among the four system variables, but overall system delay and keyboard echo rate were the major predictors of operator behavior. Additionally, the three classes of metrics were combined into three underlying interface dimensions relating to operator production, waiting, and planning activities. (Author)