machinespace glossary

The following definitions for standard terms in human factors engineering will be used in future posts to this Blog. I have included the links to the sources as well, although I may have made slight modifications to the definitions listed here. Please comment on any inaccuracies that may have slipped in inadvertently.

Complexity
A characteristic of engineering work which requires consideration of the interaction of a number of factors rather than focussing on one factor at a time; applied to a system, process or activity has a large number of entities or influences with high level of interaction where cause and effect are not simply related. Additionally the system cannot be described adequately by considering a part or aspect; it has state, i.e, it's current behaviour is influenced by past trajectory; it has a large number of operational responses; or is sensitive to disturbance or parameter variation.
www.ee.wits.ac.za/~ecsa/gen/g-04.html
thus, Complex systems are systems that display properties that are not predictable from a complete description of their components, and that are generally considered to be qualitatively different from the sum of their parts.
http://www.genomicglossaries.com/

Task Analysis
A systematic breakdown of a task into its elements, specifically including a detailed task description of both manual and mental activities, task and element durations, task frequency, task allocation, task complexity, environmental conditions, necessary clothing and equipment, and any other unique factors involved in or required for one or more humans to perform a given task.
www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/hfg/glossary.html

System
An integrated aggregation of end items, interfaces, and support functions designed to fulfill a specific mission requirement. A system may include equipment, trained personnel, facilities, data and procedures, and software. For project purposes, a system is typically defined as the highest level of hardware organization composed of multiple subsystems. The term is also used to describe a disciplined and consistent approach to accomplish a task, e.g., a failure reporting system.
www.northropgrummanit.com/set/glossary.html

Usability
Usability is a multidimensional attribute that relates to the impact a product has on its end-users. In general it refers to the efficiency with which a customer can do their tasks with the product, and their overall satisfaction with that process. Usability should be considered from a systems perspective including the hardware and software interfaces, the documentation, packaging, and any other component of the system and processes surrounding it that affects the user. Usability is a key design and marketing concept meaning the extent to which a product is safe, comfortable, effective, and efficient. Usability can be measured objectively via performance errors (low error = high usability) and productivity (high speed and quantity output = high usability). Usability can also be measured subjectively via user preferences (likes and dislikes) and interface characteristics (adherence to layout standards).
www.thf-inc.com/glossary.htm

Users
In most cases, the term users refers to the general population of individuals who are expected to make daily use of the product after final product release. Users are different than customers in that customers define the scope and functionality of the product, whereas users apply the functionality to their work. After the product has been released, the customer may become a primary user.
www.thf-inc.com/glossary.htm

End-Users
Consumers are often referred to as "end-users". This term defines the person who will ultimately be using a website, product or application on a daily basis.
www.davidbass.com/technical_resources/terms.shtml

Interface
1. A linkage, usually between a computer and a user, or among computer programs. An interface between a computer and user refers to the elements of the computer and software that the user interacts with--the screens, icons, menus, and dialogues.
www.vnulearning.com/kmwp/glossary.html
2.In relation to human communication with a computer, the appearance of the screen via which the interaction occurs.
www.eupen.com/glossary/glossarycable.html


User Interface
1. A user interface is the system of controls with which the user controls a device.
www.tagnet.org/digitalhymnal/en/glossary_a-l.html
2.The graphic design and appearance of a website, its function as seen and used by the person on the user end, at the website in a browser. The UI of a website is ultimately how it lets users know what it has to offer them. If it lacks an easy navigation scheme users get lost, and never find the information on a site. The full potential of any website is unleashed through the UI.
http://bplans.com/g/index.cfm?a=s1&sterm=UI

World Wide Web
The WWW (or Web) refers to the whole constellation of resources that can be accessed using gopher, FTP, HTTP, Telnet, Usenet, WAIS, and some other tools. The WWW is a hypertext-based, distributed information system originally created by researchers at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, to facilitate sharing research information. The Web presents the user with documents, called web pages, full of links to other documents or information systems. Selecting one of these links, the user can access more information about a particular topic. Web pages include text as well as multimedia (images, video, animation, sound). Servers are connected to the Internet to allow users to traverse ("surf") the Web using a Web browser.
www.oln.org/student_services/definitions.php

Interactive
The property of a system that allows two-way communications on a timely if not real-time basis, as opposed to a system in which information flows only one way on a batch or scheduled basis.
www.bridgefieldgroup.com/glos4.htm

Use Case
1.A description of system behaviour, in terms of sequences of actions. A use case should yield an observable result of value to an actor. A use case contains all alternate flows of events related to producing the "observable result of value". More formally, a use case defines a set of use-case instances or scenarios.
www.processwave.net/Glossary/glossary.htm
2.A scenario that begins with some user of the system initiating some transaction or sequence of interrelated events (as defined by Ivar Jacobson).
www.cs.odu.edu/~wild/cs250/Fall97/boochStudy.htm

Scenario
A set of one-or-more typical interaction dialogs between the users of a system (people or other systems) and a proposed system that is about to be developed. Scenarios are developed during the analysis phase of system development to assist in understanding business events, objects and interactions. Scenarios document specific transaction sequences, transformations, interfaces and information exchange. They represent cases that should be included in the Software Quality Assurance Test Plan, and may be used for end user training after the system is completed. Use case scenarios facilitate communication between the people who request a system, analysts, developers and testers. They are used to validate understanding, and to identify normal and special use situations. Scenarios clarify an evolving agreement between requesters and development teams.
http://info.louisiana.edu/dept/gloss.html

Widget
1. A manipulable or decorative element of a graphical user interface. Much of the programming for GUI elements is associated with defining the reaction of widgets to user-mouse and keyboard events.
www.cineca.it/manuali/Performer/ProgGuide24/html/Perf_PG-25.html
2.A standardized on-screen representation of a control that may be manipulated by the user. Scroll bars, buttons, and text boxes are all examples of widgets.
www.redhat.com/docs/glossary/

Requirements
1.The parameters placed on the development of a product or system. The requirements include the safety needs, the physical laws that will limit the development of an idea, the available resources, the cultural norms, and the use of criteria and constraints.
www.iteawww.org/TAA/Glossary.htm
2. A set of characteristics or distinguishing features that is obligatory or a necessity. In engineering, requirements are established to meet operational needs and comply with applicable policy and practices.
www.northropgrummanit.com/set/glossary.html

Observation
The act of noting and recording a phenomenon, often with instruments (cameras, recorders) or note taking.
observer-as-participant: An observational role revealed to others and offering a very limited time for data collection.
open-ended question: A question that does not provide a list of alternative answers, but allows the respondent to express his or her position on a topic. operational definition: An explicit procedure for defining a variable by the means used to measure it. The personal meaning of leisure can be operationally defined as the responses to a set of involvement profile questions.
ordinal scale: A measurement of a variable that results in the classification of phenomena into a set of ranked or ordered attributes. The ordinal scale has the characteristic of the nominal scale (different numbers mean different things)
www.prm.nau.edu/prm447/definitions.htm
A person who participates silently, does not interact, merely watches the proceedings.
www.carolla.com/glossary.html

Human Factors
1.That field involving research into human psychological, social, physical, and biological characteristics, maintaining the information obtained from that research, and working to apply that information with respect to the design, operation or use of products or systems for optimizing human performance, health, safety, and or habitability. syn. ergonomics.
www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/hfg/glossary.html
2. The study of psychophysical, psychological, and physiological variables which affect man's performance in an operational system.
http://roland.lerc.nasa.gov/~dglover/dictionary/h.html
3. A body of information about human abilities, human limitations, and other human characteristics from a physical and psychological perspective that are relevant to the design, operations, and maintenance of complex systems.
www.northropgrummanit.com/set/glossary.html
4. The field of effort and body of knowledge devoted to the adaptation and design of equipment for efficient and advantageous use by people considering physiological, psychological and training factors.
5. A multi-disciplinary effort to compile and generate acknowledge about people at work and apply that knowledge to the functional relationships between people, tasks, technologies and environment in order to produce safe and efficient human performance.
www.eurocontrol.int/eatmp/glossary/terms/terms-08.htm

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copyright 2004 ajoy muralidhar. all names, websites and brands referenced are the copyright/trademark of their respective owners.