Designing for learnability: improvement through layered interfaces

Article

Forsey, H., Leahy, D., Fields, B., Minocha, S., Attfield, S. and Snell, T. 2024. Designing for learnability: improvement through layered interfaces. Ergonomics in Design. https://doi.org/10.1177/10648046241273291
TypeArticle
TitleDesigning for learnability: improvement through layered interfaces
AuthorsForsey, H., Leahy, D., Fields, B., Minocha, S., Attfield, S. and Snell, T.
Abstract

A significant cost of system operation is the training required for the end users to achieve and maintain competence. The training need is partially determined by user interface properties that make it harder or easier to learn. This article explores improving system learnability through human-machine interface design. A design pattern of Progressive Disclosure through Layered Interfaces is proposed to improve learnability (time taken to learn) by presenting users with a subset of functionality. An experimental study supported tentative conclusions. Interesting differences between experiment participants suggest a customised approach, including Progressive Disclosure, to reduce the training burden.

Keywordsprogressive disclosure; human-machine interface; training demand; interface design; experiment; system interaction
Sustainable Development Goals9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
PublisherSAGE Publications
JournalErgonomics in Design
ISSN1064-8046
Electronic2169-5083
Publication dates
Online23 Aug 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted12 Jul 2024
Deposited12 Nov 2024
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/10648046241273291
Web of Science identifierWOS:001296963500001
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/193qq8

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
forsey-et-al-2024-designing-for-learnability-improvement-through-layered-interfaces.pdf
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 0
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Formalizing federated learning and differential privacy for GIS systems in IIIf
Kammueller, F., Piras, L., Fields, B. and Nagarajan, R. 2024. Formalizing federated learning and differential privacy for GIS systems in IIIf. 3rd International Workshop on System Security Assurance. Bydgoszcz, Poland 19 - 20 Sep 2024 Springer.
Characteristics and circumstances of rail suicides in England 2019-2021: a cluster analysis and autopsy study  
Norman, H., Marzano, L., Fields, B., Brown, S., MacDonald Hart, S. and Kruger, I. 2024. Characteristics and circumstances of rail suicides in England 2019-2021: a cluster analysis and autopsy study  . Journal of Affective Disorders. 354, pp. 397-407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.020
Patterns and motivations for method choices in suicidal thoughts and behaviour: qualitative content analysis of a large online survey
Marzano, L., Katsampa, D., Mackenzie, J., Kruger, A., El-Gharbawi, N., Ffolkes-St-Helene, D., Mohiddin, H. and Fields, B. 2021. Patterns and motivations for method choices in suicidal thoughts and behaviour: qualitative content analysis of a large online survey. BJPsych Open. 7 (2), pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.15
An approach to human-machine teaming in legal investigations using anchored narrative visualisation and machine learning
Attfield, S., Fields, B., Windridge, D. and Xu, K. 2019. An approach to human-machine teaming in legal investigations using anchored narrative visualisation and machine learning. Conrad, J., Pickens, J., Jones, A., Baron, J. and Henseler, H. (ed.) First International Workshop on AI and Intelligent Assistance for Legal Professionals in the Digital Workplace (LegalAIIA 2019).. Montreal, Canada 17 Jun 2019 CEUR Workshop Proceedings. pp. 7-11
Factors deterring and prompting the decision to attempt suicide on the railway networks: findings from 353 online surveys and 34 semi-structured interviews
Marzano, L., Mackenzie, J., Kruger, A., Borrill, J. and Fields, B. 2019. Factors deterring and prompting the decision to attempt suicide on the railway networks: findings from 353 online surveys and 34 semi-structured interviews. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 215 (4), pp. 582-587. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2018.303
A resources model for distributed sensemaking
Attfield, S., Fields, B. and Baber, C. 2018. A resources model for distributed sensemaking. Cognition, Technology and Work. 20 (4), pp. 651-664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-018-0529-4
MIRTO: an open-source robotic platform for education
Androutsopoulos, K., Aristodemou, L., Boender, J., Bottone, M., Currie, E., El-Aroussi, I., Fields, B., Gheri, L., Gorogiannis, N., Heeney, M., Micheletti, M., Loomes, M., Margolis, M., Petridis, M., Piermarteri, A., Primiero, G., Raimondi, F. and Weldin, N. 2018. MIRTO: an open-source robotic platform for education. 3rd European Conference on Software Engineering Education. Seeon, Germany 14 - 15 Jun 2018 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). pp. 55-62 https://doi.org/10.1145/3209087.3209106
Common ground in collaborative intelligence analysis: an empirical study
Laurence, S., Fields, B. and Attfield, S. 2016. Common ground in collaborative intelligence analysis: an empirical study. 30th International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference (HCI 2016). Bournemouth University, Poole, UK 11 - 15 Jul 2016 BCS Learning and Development. pp. 1-11 https://doi.org/10.14236/ewic/HCI2016.30
360 Cinematic literacy: a case study
Passmore, P., Glancy, M., Philpot, A. and Fields, B. 2017. 360 Cinematic literacy: a case study. International Broadcasting Convention Conference 2017. Amsterdam 14 - 18 Sep 2017 International Broadcasting Convention.
Behaviours preceding suicides at railway and underground locations: a multimethodological qualitative approach
Mackenzie, J., Borrill, J., Hawkins, E., Fields, B., Kruger, A., Noonan, I. and Marzano, L. 2018. Behaviours preceding suicides at railway and underground locations: a multimethodological qualitative approach. BMJ Open. 8 (4), pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021076
Insight/inside learning: a participatory app for analysing the effectiveness of school environments
Szynalska, K., Fields, B. and Bardill, A. 2017. Insight/inside learning: a participatory app for analysing the effectiveness of school environments. People, Personal Data and the Built Environment: A DIS2017 Workshop. Edinburgh 10 Jun 2017
User experience of panoramic video in CAVE-like and head mounted display viewing conditions
Philpot, A., Glancy, M., Passmore, P., Wood, A. and Fields, B. 2017. User experience of panoramic video in CAVE-like and head mounted display viewing conditions. TVX '17: ACM International Conference on Interactive Experiences for TV and Online Video. Hilversum, The Netherlands 14 - 16 Jun 2017 New York, NY, USA Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). pp. 65-75 https://doi.org/10.1145/3077548.3077550
Effects of viewing condition on user experience of panoramic video
Passmore, P., Glancy, M., Philpot, A., Roscoe, A., Wood, A. and Fields, B. 2016. Effects of viewing condition on user experience of panoramic video. Reiners, D., Iwai, D and Steinicke, F. (ed.) ICAT-EGVE 2016 - International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexistence and Eurographics Symposium on Virtual Environments. Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. 07 - 09 Dec 2016 The Eurographics Association. https://doi.org/10.2312/egve.20161428
Developing a model of distributed sensemaking: a case study of military analysis
Wheat, A., Attfield, S. and Fields, B. 2016. Developing a model of distributed sensemaking: a case study of military analysis. Informatics. 3 (1). https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics3010001
SensePath: understanding the sensemaking process through analytic provenance
Nguyen, P., Xu, K., Wheat, A., Wong, B., Attfield, S. and Fields, B. 2016. SensePath: understanding the sensemaking process through analytic provenance. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. 22 (1), pp. 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2015.2467611
Articulating resources: the impact of electronic health records on cross-professional healthcare work
Fields, B. and Duncker-Gassen, E. 2003. Articulating resources: the impact of electronic health records on cross-professional healthcare work. Interaction Design Centre - Middlesex University.
Towards cyber-physical systems as services: the ASIP protocol
Bordoni, M., Bottone, M., Fields, B., Gorogiannis, N., Margolis, M., Primiero, G. and Raimondi, F. 2015. Towards cyber-physical systems as services: the ASIP protocol. 2015 IEEE/ACM 1st International Workshop on Software Engineering for Smart Cyber-Physical Systems (SEsCPS). Florence, Italy 17 - 17 May 2015 IEEE. pp. 52-55 https://doi.org/10.1109/SEsCPS.2015.18
Distributed sensemaking: a case study of military analysis
Attfield, S., Fields, B., Wheat, A., Hutton, R., Nixon, J., Leggatt, A. and Blackford, H. 2015. Distributed sensemaking: a case study of military analysis. 12th International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making. McLean, Virginia, USA 09 - 12 Jun 2015
Visual analysis of streaming data with SAVI and SenseMAP
Xu, K., Nguyen, P. and Fields, B. 2014. Visual analysis of streaming data with SAVI and SenseMAP. 2014 IEEE Conference on Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST). pp. 389-390
The application of mHealth to mental health: opportunities and challenges
Marzano, L., Bardill, A., Fields, B., Herd, K., Veale, D., Grey, N. and Moran, P. 2015. The application of mHealth to mental health: opportunities and challenges. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2 (10), pp. 942-948. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00268-0
Hard-to-get-at data from difficult-to-access users
Fields, B., Bardill, A., Marzano, L. and Herd, K. 2015. Hard-to-get-at data from difficult-to-access users. Abascal, J., Barbosa, S., Fetter, M., Gross, T., Palanque, P. and Winckler, M. (ed.) 15th IFIP TC 13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. Bamberg, Germany 14 - 18 Sep 2015 Springer. pp. 409-416 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22723-8_32
External representation of provenance in intelligence analysis
Wheat, A., Attfield, S. and Fields, B. 2014. External representation of provenance in intelligence analysis. Provenance for Sensemaking IEEE VIS 2014 Workshop. Paris, France 10 Nov 2014
From global terminology to local terminology: a review of cross-cultural interface design solutions
Duncker-Gassen, E., Sheikh, J. and Fields, B. 2013. From global terminology to local terminology: a review of cross-cultural interface design solutions. in: Rau, P. (ed.) Cross-Cultural Design. Methods Practice and Case-Studies: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference CCD 2013, held as part of HCI Inernational 2013, Las Vegas Springer.
Conversational spaces for learning and designing
Fields, B., Bardill, A. and Jones, S. 2010. Conversational spaces for learning and designing. CHI2010 Workshop on New Generation of HCI and Education. Atlanta, GA, USA 10 - 15 Apr 2010
A grounded theory approach towards conceptualizing CIS for heterogeneous work communities
Selvaraj, N. and Fields, B. 2009. A grounded theory approach towards conceptualizing CIS for heterogeneous work communities. Proceedings of the 23rd British HCI Group Annual Conference on People and Computers: Celebrating People and Technology. Cambridge, UK 01 - 05 Sep 2009 Swindon, UK British Computer Society. pp. 471-479
The roles of time, place, value and relationships in collocated photo sharing with camera phones
Stelmaszewska, H., Fields, B. and Blandford, A. 2008. The roles of time, place, value and relationships in collocated photo sharing with camera phones. England, D. and Beale, R. (ed.) The 22nd British HCI Group Annual Conference on People and Computers: Culture, Creativity, Interaction. Liverpool, UK 01 - 05 Sep 2008 Swindon, UK British Computer Society.
The cultural integration of knowledge management into interactive design
Sheikh, J., Fields, B. and Duncker-Gassen, E. 2011. The cultural integration of knowledge management into interactive design. HI'11 Proceedings of the 2011 international conference on Human interface and the management of information. Orlando, FL, USA 09 - 14 Jul 2011 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21793-7_6
Mediation role of boundary objects in articulating common information spaces.
Selvaraj, N. and Fields, B. 2010. Mediation role of boundary objects in articulating common information spaces. Workshop held in conjunction with the 9th International Conference on the Designing Cooperative Systems (COOP 2010). Aix-en-Provence, France 18 - 21 May 2010
Design tribes and information spaces for creative conversations
Bardill, A., Griffiths, W., Jones, S. and Fields, B. 2010. Design tribes and information spaces for creative conversations. The 12th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education. Trondheim, Norway 02 - 03 Sep 2010
Lo-fi prototyping to design interactive-tabletop applications for children
Rick, J., Francois, P., Fields, B., Fleck, R., Yuill, N. and Carr, A. 2010. Lo-fi prototyping to design interactive-tabletop applications for children. The 9th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children. Barcelona, Spain 09 - 12 Jun 2010 New York, NY, USA Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). pp. 138-146
Developing a framework of common information space (CIS): grounded theory analysis of airport CIS
Selvaraj, N. and Fields, B. 2010. Developing a framework of common information space (CIS): grounded theory analysis of airport CIS. Kolfschoten, G., Herrmann, T. and Lukosch, S. (ed.) 16th Collaboration Researchers' International Working Group Conference on Collaboration and Technology. Maastricht, The Netherlands 20 - 23 Sep 2010 Berlin, Germany Springer. pp. 281-296 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15714-1_21
3D-in-2D Displays for ATC.
Wong, B., Rozzi, S., Boccalatte, A., Gaukrodger, S., Amaldi, P., Fields, B., Loomes, M. and Martin, P. 2007. 3D-in-2D Displays for ATC. in: Brochard, M. and Jurgens, M. (ed.) 6th EUROCONTROL innovative research workshop & exhibition. Eurocontrol. pp. 47-62
A framework for considering spatial-temporal representation design needs in air traffic control.
Wong, B., Rozzi, S., Amaldi, P., Woodward, P. and Fields, B. 2006. A framework for considering spatial-temporal representation design needs in air traffic control. in: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 50th annual meeting: October 16 - 20, 2006, San Francisco. Santa Monica, CA. HFES. pp. 250-254
Research into EMD at the London ambulance service: stage 1 report requirements, priorities and projects.
Wong, B., Fields, B. and Blandford, A. 2000. Research into EMD at the London ambulance service: stage 1 report requirements, priorities and projects. London Middlesex University.
Emergency medical dispatch at the London ambulance service.
Wong, B., Blandford, A. and Fields, B. 2000. Emergency medical dispatch at the London ambulance service. Middlesex University.
Evaluating combined 2D/3D displays for ATC.
Rozzi, S., Woodward, P., Amaldi, P., Fields, B. and Wong, B. 2006. Evaluating combined 2D/3D displays for ATC. in: 5th EUROCONTROL innovative research workshop & exhibition: proceedings. Eurocontrol: [http://inoworkshop.eurocontrol.fr/]. pp. 167-174
Developing visualisations to support spatial-temporal reasoning in ATC.
Rozzi, S., Wong, B., Woodward, P., Amaldi, P., Fields, B. and Panizzi, E. 2006. Developing visualisations to support spatial-temporal reasoning in ATC. in: Pejcic-Tarle, S. (ed.) Second international conference on research in air transportation. Belgrade, Serbia University of Belgrade: Faculty of Traffic and Transport Engineering.
Operational potential for 3D displays in air traffic control
Rozzi, S., Amaldi, P., Wong, B. and Fields, B. 2007. Operational potential for 3D displays in air traffic control. in: Brinkman, W., Ham, D. and Wong, B. (ed.) ECCE 2007: European conference on cognitive ergonomics, 2007. New York Association for computing machinery.
Next generation 4D HMI concepts. Deliverable 14. Report prepared for AD4: 4D virtual airspace management system, sixth framework programme, priority 1.4 aeronautics and space.
Wong, B., Panifici, E., Lot, D., Amaldi, P., Fields, B. and Rozzi, S. 2005. Next generation 4D HMI concepts. Deliverable 14. Report prepared for AD4: 4D virtual airspace management system, sixth framework programme, priority 1.4 aeronautics and space. Rome NEXT Sistems Ingegeria o..
Operational concepts report Vol.2: tower control deliverable 12.
Amaldi, P., Fields, B., Rozzi, S., Woodward, P. and Wong, B. 2005. Operational concepts report Vol.2: tower control deliverable 12. Middlesex University Press.
Operational Concepts Report Vol.1: Approach Control.
Amaldi, P., Fields, B., Rozzi, S. and Wong, B. 2005. Operational Concepts Report Vol.1: Approach Control. London Middlesex University Press.
Cultural representation for multi-culture interaction design
Sheikh, J., Fields, B. and Duncker-Gassen, E. 2009. Cultural representation for multi-culture interaction design. Aykin, N. (ed.) 3rd International Conference on Internationalization, Design and Global Development. San Diego, CA, USA 19 - 24 Jul 2009 Berlin, Heidelberg Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02767-3_11
Representing collaborative work: the airport as common information space
Fields, B., Tassi, A. and Amaldi-Trillo, P. 2005. Representing collaborative work: the airport as common information space. Cognition Technoogy and Work. 7 (2), pp. 119-133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0177-3
Editorial: In use, in situ: extending field research methods
Fields, B., Amaldi, P., Wong, B. and Gill, S. 2007. Editorial: In use, in situ: extending field research methods. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. 22 (1-2), pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447310709336952
Disrupting digital library development with scenario informed design
Fields, B., Blandford, A., Furniss, D. and Keith, S. 2007. Disrupting digital library development with scenario informed design. Interacting with Computers. 19 (1), pp. 70-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2006.07.003
Design sketching for space and time
Rozzi, S., Wong, B., Amaldi, P., Woodward, P. and Fields, B. 2006. Design sketching for space and time. Clemmensen, T., Orngreen, R., Pejtersen, A. and Wong, B. (ed.) 1st IFIP Working Conference on Human Work Interaction Design. Madeira, Portugal 13 - 15 Feb 2006 New York, NY Springer. pp. 161-183 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36792-7_10
Claims analysis "in the wild": a case study on digital library development
Fields, B., Blandford, A. and Keith, S. 2006. Claims analysis "in the wild": a case study on digital library development. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. 21 (2), pp. 197-218. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327590ijhc2102_5
A study into the effect of digitisation projects on the management and stability of historic photograph collections
Davis-Perkins, V., Butterworth, R., Curzon, P. and Fields, B. 2005. A study into the effect of digitisation projects on the management and stability of historic photograph collections. Rauber, A., Christodoulakis, S. and Tjoa, A. (ed.) 9th European Conference on Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries. Vienna, Austria 18 - 23 Sep 2005 Berlin, Heidelberg Springer. pp. 278-289 https://doi.org/10.1007/11551362_25
Dynamic digital libraries for children
Fields, B., Buchanan, G., Mohd-Nasir, N. and Theng, Y. 2001. Dynamic digital libraries for children. in: JCDL '01: Proceedings of the 1st ACM/IEEE-CS joint conference on Digital libraries New York, NY, United States. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). pp. 406-415