Shahtab Wahid
HW 9
To determine the IRC for a specific system, one can follow the descriptions given. As they try to find the closest match, they will get to a value that best describes the system. These descriptions, some of which are claims, can be used for both the design and user models.
Interruption:
Spontaneous Interruptions
Interruption occurs in the center of the screen, you use for your primary task
Pops up with message giving you some information
The user is most likely asked for some reaction
The alert is in the center or takes over the whole screen
Reallocates attention immediately
Ex: ePoster messaging system
I = 1
Interruption occurs in the corner of the screen you use for your primary task
Pops up with message giving you some information
Alerts a user by rapidly changing an aspect of the system – color, speed
Considerable amount of space is taken in the corner for notification
Reallocates attention immediately
Ex: MSN Messenger message alert, Bonzi Buddy stupid question
I = .75
Noise that is sudden and keeps on going until user reacts
Reallocates attention immediately
Ex: Alarm
I = 1
Passive Interruptions
User is alerted of new information without taking much screen space
Change is done in the corner of the screen to only a very small part
Icon change in the system tray
Text value changes for stationary text
User does not always see the notification
Ex: WeatherBug temperature change, Sideshow displaying number of bugs
I = .25
Constant data changes occur at a relatively slow speed
Ticker rolling, scrolling, or fading information
Corner of the screen or on a secondary display
Does not always reallocate attention
Ex: KlipFolio
I = .25
Constant data change at rapid speed in the corner of display or on secondary display
Limited screen space with rapid flashing
Noise that is played for a short amount of time
Will reallocate attention almost immediately but by using less space, noise and lower rates compared to spontaneous alerts
Ex: Window flashing in taskbar
I = .50
User is not alerted in any way unless the user actually looks at the notification system
Usually on an alternate display
Does not use noise
Ex: Info Art
I = 0
KlipFolio shows headlines from sites that are parsed by rolling them. The system is usually put in the corner of a screen or on a secondary display. The user tends to ignore most of the information because it does not interrupt the user much. Therefore, the I is .25
Reaction:
Fast Responses:
User can not afford to wait once notified
Must determine a course of action immediately
Other users may depend on the reaction time
Ex: Systems monitoring critical data
R = 1
User can afford to wait for a limited amount of time
In most cases the user act immediately
R = .75
Slower Responses:
User can afford to do nothing about half of the notifications
User chooses to ignore some of the information
Ex: New mail in Inbox
R = .50
User has a limited reaction to the notification
Constant flow of data that causes user not to respond
The user ignores most of the information once the notification is done
Ex: KlipFolio
R = .25
User has no reaction
The user does not actively choose to ignore
R = 0
KlipFolio constantly gives data to the user, but the user does not react to most of the data. The user only reads the data once in a while and may click on one of the headlines. When we look at the total time that KlipFolio runs we see that the user does not react most of the time. Therefore the R = .25
Comprehension:
High Comprehension:
The system gives all the information the user needs to comprehend the information
User can gain of the rate at which information values change over time
The system itself provides all the data needed
The system can act as an information system
Ex: WeatherBug
R = 1
The system points the user to where it can find more information
The system provides you with alternate resources
Ex: KlipFolio
R = .75
Lower Comprehension:
The system does not give any indication as to what previous values were
The user is not given supplemental information
The user can not tell how fast the information is changing
R = .50
The user is given very little information
The system only provides a single value
Ex: Flowers in Bloom
R = .25
The system provides no information that is of use to the user
R = 0
KlipFolio is a system that has high comprehension because it can point the user to where they can find more information by letting the user click on headlines. The system also keeps track of the number of updates, giving the user a sense of how fast information is changing. Therefore the C = .75