BEN CARSON

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CHAPTER 6

• BEN CARSON
• SUNIL D SOUZA
• RAJESH GOLLA

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Section 6.1 - Introduction

• Users of systems incorporating direct
  manipulation are enthusiastic supporters
• Traits of direct manipulation systems typically
  include
• Easy to learn
• Competent and efficient use of the system
• Enjoy using
• Eager to learn more about the system
• Visibility of objects and actions

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6.2 Examples

• Word Processing Systems
• Spreadsheets
• Spatial data management
• Video games
• Computer Aided Design
• Office Automation

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Word Processing

• Progression of word processing systems
• Line-oriented
• Full-page display editors
• WYSIWYG
• Enhancements
• Inclusion of objects
• Desktop publishing
• Slide presentation software
• Hypermedia environments
• Improved macros
• Spell/grammar checkers and thesauri
• Documents assemblers
• Enjoyment from easily designing complex documents
  versus original command line editors

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Spreadsheets

• Progression of spreadsheets
• VisiCalc
• Lotus 1-2-3
• Excel
• Enhancements
• Graphics
• 3-D representations
• Multiple sheets
• Database features
• Enjoyment from ease of making many tedious
  calculations quickly and representing it in many
  meaningful forms

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Spatial Data Management

• Visual representation of a specific area of
  interest
• Personnel of a company
• Map with travel information
• File directories
• Enjoyment from interacting with the visual
  elements of this type of system

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Video Games

• PONG
• 1st video game
• Commands are physical actions, results on-screen
• Can be entertaining and/or educational
• Differs from other systems behavior
• Game systems challenge the user
• Non-game systems try not to challenge the user
• Enjoyment from user being challenged and
  entertained

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Computer Aided Design (CAD)

• virtually design products and receive quick
  feedback
• Computer aided manufacturing
• Aids in improving already existing processes
• Enjoyment from ability to manipulate systems
  directly and easily view multiple alternatives.

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Office Automation

• Uses direct manipulation principles
• hardware and software has evolved to support more
  and better graphics, dropdowns, icons, etc.
• Enjoyment from easier working environment than
  with command line based environments

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6.3 - Explanations of Direct Manipulation

• Nelson
• Principle of virtuality
• Rutkowski
• Principle of transparency
• Hutches
• Gulf of execution and evaluation
• All refer to making the interface as invisible as
  possible

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Problems with Direct Manipulation

• Visual representation may not be the best way to
  represent a particular problem or scenario
• Must learn meaning of visuals
• Can be misleading
• Using a mouse can be more time-consuming than a
  keyboard

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Objects-Actions Interface (OAI) model explanation
of direct manipulation

• D.M. systems usually have the following
• Consistent and meaningful visual representations
  and actions
• Physical actions or labeled button presses
  replace complex command syntax
• Quick reversible changes on objects with
  immediately visible results
• Users report D.M. systems to be
• Easy to learn
• Experts are very fast and effective and can
  expand upon existing functionality of the system
• Easy to retain knowledge
• Error messages rarely needed
• Less anxiety-inducing because of ease-of-use and
  reversible actions
• D.M. systems operate on a high-level task domain
• Easy of learning and use is a result of their
  more intuitive interface, compared with command
  syntax based environments

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6.4 Visual Thinking and Icons

• Concepts of Visual language and visual thinking-
  promoted by Arnheim (1972)
• Computer provides remarkable visual environment
• New- WIMP
• Old -inflexible and stubborn
• Different people have different cognitive styles

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Issue of Icons

• An icon is an image, picture or symbol
  representing a concept.
• For visually oriented tasks- stay visual by using
  icons
• For text document- stay textual by using textual
  menus
• Sometimes use a mix of both.

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ICONS or TEXT

• Icons or Text depends on
• Users
• Tasks
• Quality of the icons or tasks.

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Icon specific guidelines

1. Represent the object in a familiar manner.
2. Limit he number of icons.
3. Make the icon stand out from its background.
4. Consider 3-D icons.
5. Single selected icon clearly visible when
   surrounded by unselected icons.
6. Make each icon distinctive from every other icon.
7. Ensure the harmoniousness of each icon as a
   member of family of icons.
8. Design the movement animation.
9. Add detailed information. Ex-shading to show size
   of file.
10. Explore the use of combinations of icons.

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Four levels of design

1. Lexical qualities Machine generated tasks-pixel
   shape, color, brightness, blinking.
2. Syntactics Appearance and movement-lines,
   patterns, size, shape.
3. Semantics Objects represented- concrete versus
   abstract, part versus whole.
4. Pragmatics overall legibility, utility,
   identifiable, memorable, pleasing.
5. Dynamics receptivity to clicks.

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6.5 Direct Manipulation

• Performing tasks by DM- not the only goal
• Programming by DM

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CHALLENGES

• Five challenges of programming in the user
  interface
• Access to appropriate date structures.
• Sufficient computational generality.
• Ease in programming and editing programs.
• Simplicity in invocation and assignment of
  arguments.
• Low risk.

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6.6 Home Automation.

• Prediction of larger market in extensive controls
  in homes- but only if the user interfaces can be
  made simple.

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6.7 Remote Direct Manipulation

• Teleoperation/Remote Controlled Environment
• E.g. Home-automation, applications underwater

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TELEMEDICINE

• Disadvantages
• Time Delays
• Incomplete Feedback
• Cumbersome due to multiple sensors
• Unanticipated Interferences

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6.8 VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

• Components
• Visual display
• Head position sensing
• Hand position sensing
• Force feedback
• Sound input and output

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6.9 SUMMARY
Benefits
Concerns

• Faster feedback
• Reduced error rates
• Faster learning retention
• Encourages innovation

• More resources, possibly
• Some actions cumbersome
• Tracing difficult?
• Difficult for visually impaired users

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6.10 RESEARCHERS AGENDA

• Better understanding of factors
• Better history keeping
• Encourage innovation in DM using software tools