User Interface Design from the Viewpoint of Human Learning

Abstract

Information Technology is a special kind of artifact, in relation to its use by human users. IT systems and IT applications are characterised by a very complex structure, even if we restrict our focus to those parts of IT that an “end user” needs to understand in using it. At the same time the very nature of IT prohibits direct observation of the complexity of the processes and data structures that are relevant for the user. Consequently, users need to construct their own mental representations of the underlying complexity, in order to plan their use, to execute task delegation, and to interpret the actions of the system.

As far as the user is concerned, the relevant part of an IT system might be indicated by the concept “user interface”, which in this case should be considered to indicate both the functionality provided to the user, the interaction means (language, media, representations), and all means to help the user maintain and improve interaction with the system (metacommunication).

In our contribution we will classify the different aspects of the design of the user interface (which might also be indicated as the user’s “virtual machine”) for which a focus on human learning is needed. This will include both the design of the functionality (object structure, events, task delegation), the interaction modes (including the lexicon, the graphic representations, and the interaction language), and the methods and facilities for metacommunication (learning, help facilities, metaphors and models).

We will illustrate these aspects with field studies and experimental results showing their relevance, and the relation to individual differences in human learning.