Usability of Pictograms as an Automated Information Input Mechanism In Graphic User Interface (GUI) for Mobile Computing Devices on Construction Sites
T. Qu, P. H. Jones, Wei Jie Sun · Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014) · 2014
Field documentation is an important link in the construction industry on the individual project basis and for the entire company operations. The information contained in the field documentation is the primary source for the management to monitor the status of the project and perform various analyses. This information also provides the basis to establish the historical cost data used for securing future work. The advancements in the information technology industry, especially in the mobile computing technologies, have provided many opportunities to computerize and automate the field information flow. Over the years, studies have examined various hardware technologies on their usability for fulfilling this task. This paper examines the past research from a usability point of view and focuses on the Graphic User Interface (GUI) part of the system. The study evaluated the usability properties of pictograms and pre-determined text lists as mechanisms for automated data entry on mobile computing devices. Results showed foremen and construction professionals performed visual search tasks faster with pictograms than with pre-determined text lists.