Computer-Aided GOMS: A Description and Evaluation of a Tool That Integrates Existing Research for Modeling Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

The purpose of this research effort was to develop a practical computer-assisted aid for creating detailed cognitive simulation models of human-computer interaction (HCI). The cognitive models generated as a result of these analyses can be used to predict human performance while interacting with computing systems. The computerized aid assembles and embodies existing research regarding execution times associated with HCI within the context of the goals, operators, methods, and selection rules (GOMS) analysis method. Numerous heuristics, which model primitive cognitive, perceptual, and motor responses, were developed and integrated into the system. A sample of participants, expert in interacting with a newly developed tactical display for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle, were individually asked to model their knowledge of four specific tasks employing the tool. Measures of the accuracy and the consistency of the models generated by the differing task domain experts were recorded and analyzed. The findings indicated a high degree of consistency and accuracy between the different domain experts in terms of the resultant models generated using the tool.