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Written by psychologists, this book focuses on the design of computer systems from the perspective of the user. The authors place human beings firmly at the centre of system design and so assess their cognitive and physical attributes as well as their social needs. The model used specifically takes into consideration the way in which computer technology needs to be designed in order to take account of all these human factors.
The text comprises a careful mix of theory and applications and is spiced throughout with practical examples of do's and don'ts in designing systems.

User-Centred Design of Systems

1 Defining Systems.- 1 What Is a System?.- 1.1 Systems.- 1.2 Levels of Systems.- 1.3 Levels of Design.- 1.4 Paradoxical Technology.- 1.5 Allocation of Function.- 1.6 Mission Analysis.- 1.7 Conclusions.- 1.8 Exercise.- 1.9 Selected References.- 2 Who Will Use the System? 17.- 2.1 Users.- 2.2 Defining Users.- 2.3 Humans as Systems.- 2.4 Eliciting User Knowledge.- 2.5 Conclusions.- 2.6 Exercises 2 and.- 2.7 Selected References.- 3 What Will the System Be Used For? 37.- 3.1 Communication of Information.- 3.2 Presenting Information to the Human.- 3.3 Stimulus-central Processing-Response Compatibility.- 3.4 Conclusions.- 3.5 Exercise.- 3.6 Selected References.- 4 What Are the Main Components of the System? 55.- 4.1 Operational Level Interfaces.- 4.2 Input Technologies.- 4.3 Output Technologies.- 4.4 Control-Display Relationships.- 4.5 Conclusions.- 4.6 Exercise.- 4.7 Selected References 5.- 2 Developing Systems.- 5 How Will the System Be Designed?.- 5.1 Life cycles.- 5.2 Generic Activities in System Development.- 5.3 User involvement.- 5.4 Modelling Engineering Approaches.- 5.5 Conclusions.- 5.6 Selected References.- 6 How Well Do the Users Think the System Works?.- 6.1 The Need for Methods.- 6.2 Subjective Methods.- 6.3 Heuristics.- 6.4 Checklists.- 6.5 Questionnaires.- 6.6 Interviews.- 6.7 Focus Groups.- 6.8 Conclusions.- 6.9 Exercise 6.- 6.10 Selected References.- 7 How Well Does the System Really Work?.- 7.1 Objective Methods.- 7.2 Observation.- 7.3 Requirements' Capture.- 7.4 Task Analysis.- 7.5 Error Identification.- 7.6 Human Reliability Assessment.- 7.7 Conclusions.- 7.8 Exercise.- 7.9 Selected References.- 8 How Well Does the System Under Development Work? 135.- 8.1 Empirical Methods.- 8.2 Experimentation.- 8.3 User Trialling.- 8.4 User Modelling.- 8.5 Analyses and Reporting.- 8.6 Conclusions.- 8.7 Exercise.- 8.8 Selected References.- 9 Can the System Be Improved? 147.- 9.1 Summative Evaluation.- 9.2 Performance Measures.- 9.3 Usability.- 9.4 Modelling and Simulations.- 9.5 Mock-ups, Walkthroughs and Talkthroughs.- 9.6 Verbal Protocols.- 9.7 'Fitting Trials' and Mannequins.- 9.8 Data Collection and Recording Methods.- 9.9 Conclusions.- 9.10 Exercise.- 9.11 Selected References.- 3 Deploying Systems 165.- 10 How Can the System Be Introduced Into a Workplace?.- 10.1 Defining the Workplace.- 10.2 New Technology.- 10.3 Implications for Organisations.- 10.4 Productivity and Computers.- 10.5 Introducing New Technology.- 10.6 Job Design.- 10.7 Health and Safety.- 10.8 Conclusions.- 10.9 Selected References.- 11 How Will the System Be Used in the Workplace?.- 11.1 At the End of the Life Cycle.- 11.2 Assessing Effectiveness.- 11.3 Role of Ergonomics.- 11.4 A Final Comment.- 11.5 Selected References.- 12 Bibliography.- Periodicals.- Magazines and Bulletins.- Conference Proceedings.- 13 References.