This book introduces basic traditional semiotic concepts and adapts them so that they become useful for analyzing and designing computer systems in their symbolic context of work. It presents a novel approach to the subject, rich in examples, and is theoretically systematic but practical. The author refers to and reinterprets techniques already used, so that readers can deepen their understanding. In addition, it offers new techniques and a consistent perspective on computer systems that is particularly appropriate for new hardware and software whose main functions are presentation and...

For people with various forms of physical disability, extreme slowness of communication is commonplace. In the first part of this book a functional architecture for communication aids is discussed and the idea of automatically supplying the intrinsic redundancy contained in natural communication is explained. The distinction between adaptive and non-adaptive models of communication are shown and details are given of working predictive text generation systems.

This book introduces basic traditional semiotic concepts and adapts them so that they become useful for analyzing and designing computer systems in their symbolic context of work. It presents a novel approach to the subject, rich in examples, and is theoretically systematic but practical. The author refers to and reinterprets techniques already used, so that readers can deepen their understanding. In addition, it offers new techniques and a consistent perspective on computer systems that is particularly appropriate for new hardware and software whose main functions are presentation and...

MUSE is a method developed specifically to extend the scope of human factors contributions beyond late evaluation and thus increase their effectivness and uptake. This is accomplished by making inputs more explicit, early and continuous throughout the system development process. Since MUSE's scope spans user requirements to user interface design, it supports active human factors involvement in both design specification and evaluation. MUSE defines how, what and when particular human factor concerns should be addressed. It also specifies the procedures, notations, and documentation involved....

Extremely slow communication is a daily reality for many people with different forms of physical disability. Modern computer interfaces can be designed to enhance expressive communication. This is accomplished first by supplying facilities to tailor them to each particular user's residual physical disabilities, and second by automatically supplying much of the redundancy inherent in natural communication. In the first part of this book a functional architecture for communication aids is discussed and the idea of automatically supplying the intrinsic redundancy contained in natural...

Cognitive ergonomics and HCI encompass a wide range of research and development activities in both academic and industrial environments, and the book satisfies a clear need for the dissemination of the knowledge generated by work in progress, or completed. Detailed reports of numerous long-term research projects are provided, set within a framework for describing cognitive ergonomics activities and understanding their relationships. The contributors provide detailed coverage of substantial empirical investigations, rather than summarizing specific areas of theoretical speculations. The...