User-System Interface (USI) Prototyping

Abstract

This demonstration presents the u t i l i t y o f US1 prototyping (of computer-based systems) as a human f a c t o r s engineering design tool. W e will present our US1 prototyping tool, i t s composition, and a sample application.Throughout the demonstration we will i l l u s t r a t e how prototype USIs can be generated quickly and e f f i c i e n t l y f o r user evaluation and immediate insertion into system design. Our tool f o r prototyping USIs i s called a "US1 Prototyping System (USIPS)." USIPS i s divided into four components: Imagetool, Fonttool, Dynatool, and On-Line Help. Imagetool i s used t o build s t a t i c images of t e x t and graphics. Fonttool i s used t o design the fonts used in the images. Dynatool i s used t o link these s t a t i c images into user and event driven USIS t h a t interface t o real and or simulated data bases. As a r e s u l t these USIs On-Line Help i s used t o provide unfamiliar users with information on how t o operate USIPS. W e will describe each of these components in the demonstration.appear t o work as they would in the target system. US1 prototyping i s used t o formally and informally study design options f o r the US1before coding takes place.As the system design i s being developed, d i f f e r e n t ways of interacting with users and displaying information i s studied a t r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e cost. These studies yield an e f f e c t i v e US1 design which can then be implemented. A large bonus of US1 prototyping i s t h a t i t enables early and congenial interaction with future users of the system. User working groups can be formed and included e a r l y in the US1 design process.Since the user i s actively involved in the US1 design process, user acceptance problems would be kept t o a minimum.US1 prototyping i s also used t o provide rapid answers t o questions arising during the system development process.