CT026-3-2

Human Computer Interaction

Human Computer Interaction

User Profiling
Level 2

Prepared by: RHR First Prepared on: December, 2007 Last Modified on:
Quality checked by: MOH
Copyright 2004 Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology
 Topic and Structure of the Lesson

• Reasons for User Profiling

• Data Gathering Techniques
• User Profiling activity

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 2

 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, YOU should be able to:

•Explain the reasons for doing User Profiling

•Describe the various data gathering techniques
•Identify problems with data gathering
•Perform user profiling activity

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 3

 Key Terms you must be able to use

If you have mastered this topic, you should be able to

use the following terms correctly in your assignments
and exams :

• User Profiling
• Questionnaires
• Interview
• Observation
• Requirement Analysis

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 4

 User

“One most unfortunate product is the

type of engineer who does not realize
that in order to apply the fruits of science
for the benefit of mankind, he must not
only grasp the principles of science, but
must also know the needs and
aspirations, the possibilities and the
frailties, of those whom he would serve.”
1890-1974, well known
American Electrical
engineer
-- Vannevar Bush Directed programs like the
first development of atomic
bombs , mass production of
penicillin
CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 5
 Usability Engineering
Lifecycle
User Input via Original Product Concept
User Profiling Exploring other requirement
(task analysis, usability
goals & competitive
analysis)
Parallel Design Sketches
Participitory Design
– more input from First Prototype
users/designers

User Input via

Iterative Design Versions
Evaluation
(Formative)
Final Released Product
User Input via Evaluation (Summative)
CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 6
 What is User Profiling?
The process of establishing knowledge about the users
Find out
• who users are
– Children, Elderly, Professional, Scientist, Male, Female, Tech Savvy, IT
Illiterate

• what is the goal in using the product

– Withdraw cash, pay bills, find out movie time, online chat, gaming,
research, cook, wash, treatment

• what are the tasks involved? (observe existing work practices)

– To apply for leave: check schedule, get leave application form from
admin, fill in the form, get supervisor to approve, get manager to
approve, inform scheduler, inform colleagues, go on leave.
CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 7
 Why do User Profiling?

• Why do user profiling, why not define

“good” interfaces and just based your design
on them?
– infinite variety of tasks and users
– guidelines can be too vague to be generative
• e.g.,
“give adequate feedback”, “make the system enjoyable”
– how do you define the above guidelines and relate
to users?”

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 8

 User Requirement

• Captures the characteristics of the intended user

group
• Novice & Casual (clear step by step intro)
• Expert & Frequent (flexible interactions, wide range
of power/control, short cut keys)

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 9

 What do we want to know -
Who are the Users?
• Identify attributes of users
– Physical characteristics
• height; physical abilities or disabilities
– Background
• education; social; religious
– Skills
• task experience
– Preferences
• efficiency

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 10

 What do we want to know - Where
is the Task Performed?
• Office, laboratory, POS? (while standing, while sitting, in a
crowded place, effects of environment)

• Are users under stress? (in an operation theatre)

• Is confidentiality required? (information displayed)

• Do Users have wet hands? (at the butcher)

• Do Users consume drinks while doing tasks?

• What kind of lighting do they work under?

• Surrounding noise

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 11

 What do we want to know -
Relationship Between Users &
Data?
• Personal data
– always accessed at same machine?
– do users move between machines?
• Common data
– used concurrently?
– Passed sequentially between users?
• Access to data restricted?

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 12

 What do we want to know - How
Often are Tasks Performed?

• Frequent users remember more details

• Infrequent users may need more help
– even for simple operations
• Which function is performed
– most frequently?
– by which users?
– optimize system for these tasks will improve perception of good
performance

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 13

 What do we want to know - What
are the Time Constraints?
• What functions will users be in a hurry for?

– Positioning of functions (in video games)

• Which can wait?

• Is there a timing relationship between tasks?

– Time out

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 14

 Data Gathering
What:
How do we go about determining requirements
and concluding the results

An important part of the requirement activity

and also evaluation activity

Why:
Purpose is to collect sufficient, relevant and
appropriate data to produce a set of reliable
requirements/conclusions.
CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 15
 Data Gathering
Techniques

1. Questionnaires
• A series of questions designed to elicit specific
information
• Can give quantitative and qualitative data
• Administered at distance, no one to explain &
help in answering
• Advantages, disadvantages

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 16

 Data Gathering
Techniques

2. Interviews
• Involves asking someone a set of questions (often
f2f)
• Good for exploring issues, encourage people to
respond
• Advantages, disadvantages

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 17

 Data Gathering
Techniques

3. Workshops or focus groups

• Group interviews rather than one on one
• Gain a consensus view and/or highlighting
areas of conflicts
• Facilitator is required to keep conversation on
track
• Has to be carefully structured, participants
have to be carefully chosen
• Advantages, disadvantages

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 18

 Data Gathering
Techniques
4. Naturalistic observation
• Spend time with stakeholders in their day to day
tasks, observing work as it happens
• Good for understanding the nature and context of
the tasks
• Take notes, ask question (not too many)

Variation of this - ‘Ethnography’

• Observing from the ‘inside’ as a participant, full
involvement

Advantages, disadvantages
CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 19
 Data Gathering
Techniques

5. Studying documentation
• Good for getting background information on
procedures and rules (manuals, job logs)
• Advantages, disadvantages

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 20

 Problems with Data
Gathering
1. Identifying and involving stakeholders
2. Availability of key people
3. Communication between parties
• Within development team (more technical)
• With customer/user (less technical)
• Between users (different parts of an
organisation use different terminology)
4. Dominance of certain stakeholders
5. Balancing functional and usability demands

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 21

 Questionnaire Design

• Keep questions short

• Only ask a question if it contributes to
design
• Use closed questions for ease of analysis
• Interviews can explore responses to
questions or critical incidents
• Always pilot questionnaires/interview
schedules

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 22

 Questionnaire Samples

• Designing an interactive lavatory in a shopping

complex

(It is important to ensure that that the results

analysed will mean something to the design,
hence special consideration on the queries
should be put into data gathering activity)

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 23

 Questionnaire Samples

Characteristic Age
Question Please specify your age range
Result Work out the maths, find average, find
range
E.g. Range between 7 to 75
Impact on Design Particular consideration to the general
age group between 7 and 75 years old.
No very young toddlers.
Any special consideration to the young?
Elderly?

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 24

 Questionnaire Samples

Characteristic Language for the population

Question Preferred language
Result Number of people in your group speaking
English, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin, Tamil,
others (based on the location)
Work out the maths, demonstrate the result in a
chart form.
E.g. Out of 20 users interviewed/approached, 3
preferred Mandarin, 11 preferred English, 3
preferred Bahasa Melayu and 3 preferred Tamil.
All participants understand English.

Impact on .Simple English will be used on the control

Design panel (or other, decide and justify)

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 25

 Questionnaire Samples
Characteristic Lavatory type (preferences)
Question Which type of lavatory do you prefer to use.
Include pictures to give clear illustration

Result Work out the maths, demonstrate the result in a

chart form.
E.g. From the result, majority of the respondents
prefer the sitting type of lavatory.

Impact on Design The design will be done on a sitting type.

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 26

 Questionnaire Samples

Characteristic Frequency of use

Question How often do need to use lavatory when
visiting a shopping complex?
Result Work out the maths, demonstrate the
result in a chart form.
E.g. Everytime, Sometime, Never?

Impact on Design Since it is used very often, the toilet

will be designed with durability and
comfort in mind.

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 27

 Questionnaire Samples
Characteristic Types of problem people usually faced when using
lavatory
Question What are the common problems you often faced while
using lavatories?
- no tissue paper
- no water
- not sure how the flusher works
- mechanism failure
Result Work out the maths, demonstrate the result in a chart
form.
E.g. All of the above, analysis shows that user would like
to be informed the status of the toilet before using it (than
getting surprised after!)
Impact Design lavatory to inform user of the status beforehand

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 28

 Questionnaire Samples

Characteristic Frequency of cleaning

Question How often is the lavatory in your
house/residence cleaned?
Result Work out the maths, demonstrate the result
in a chart form.
E.g. Once a week
Impact on Design Since it is cleaned very often, the lavatory will
be designed with automatic cleaning as part of
the features.

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 29

 Data Gathering Activity
Consider what kind(s) of data gathering would
be appropriate for the following, explain and justify the
reasons for your choice(s):

1. You are developing a leave application system for an

educational institution. Currently there is no automated
system for this process.

2. You are developing a Malaysia tourism website

3. The FYP project you are currently working on

4. You are developing an information kiosk for a shopping mall

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 30

 Question and Answer Session

Q&A

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 31

 Next Session

Topic and Structure of next session

Task Analysis

CT026-3-2 Human Computer Interactions 32