Using errors to direct design

摘要

Within many of the large IT companies, systems are being developed iteratively. This iterative development is often guided by the results of usability trials, where systems are tested with user in ‘usability laboratories’. Much of the analysis of these trials is concentrated upon a qualitative assessment of the errors that occur during interaction. There is, however, no generally accepted means by which errors are analysed. Consequently, an evaluative scheme for classifying user-system errors has been developed, and is outlined in this paper. The results of an initial limited study of the use of the scheme are described, together with some example recommendations for changing the system that was analysed during the study.