Predictive evaluation using task knowledge structures
Fraser Hamilton · 1996
Task Knowledge Structures (TKS) are models of users' domain tasks. These TKS models are being utilised within the design process to facilitate design generation and early evaluation of interactive systems. By understanding the knowledge users possess of their domain, we believe that we can support designers in generating designs in a principled manner. Often it may be desirable to change the ways in which users perform their tasks, e.g. to improve task efficiency. However, in changing the nature of users' tasks it is possible to introduce learning problems. We are attempting to produce a framework for predicting what difficulties users might have in using the new system by comparing the knowledge they currently have about their domain to the knowledge required to interact effectively with a system designed to support their goals in that domain. Keywords Models, conceptual design, TKS, prediction, evaluation. INTRODUCTION Usability problems in a design at the conceptual level (e.g. ...