Automated Usability Improvement of Two-Dimensional Graphical Interfaces through the Simulation of User’s Operations

Abstract

To deal with the problems caused by human intervention associated with the traditional methods across evaluation and redesign phases, this study aims to propose an automated method for usability improvement to ensure better operational performance of an interface. With two experiments being conducted, a performance prediction model and an optimization algorithm were proposed to integrate the evaluation and redesign phases during the interface development process. In Experiment 1, the user behavior while interacting with an interface was collected to build the performance prediction model. The predicted performance and some guidelines for interface design were then used as the objectives in the optimization algorithm to generate an improved interface layout. Subsequently, Experiment 2 was carried out to compare the performance between the original and improved interfaces. The proposed automated improvement method was proved to successfully enhance the operational efficiency and subjective preference without significantly increasing the user’s mental workload.

Acknowledgments

This study was carried out thanks to the financial support of National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan. (Project number: 111-2221-E-007-048-MY3).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ting-Chen Chou

Ting-Chen Chou is a PhD student at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. His research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Kansei Engineering, and Human Factors.

Jun-Ming Lu

Jun-Ming Lu received the PhD degree in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from the National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan in 2009. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. His research interests include Ergonomics and Human-Machine Interaction.