Software ergonomics (Abk. SE, v. griech.: ergon = trouble, work, work + nomos = teachings, law, rule/English: Usability engineering) is the science of the usability and adequacy of computer programs. It is a subsection of the people computer interaction.

Article the subject of the software ergonomics in the actual sense is working humans (software use on jobs). Becomes general today the use of and/or the interaction with computers (work software, WWW, Spiele,"…) regarded. This means the consideration of psychological aspects with the software design, in order to make an optimal man-machine interface available.

Within the range formal guidelines for the organization of workstations, for the representation of information at the screen as well as their manipulation exist to the software ergonomics by input devices. These guidelines are in the screen handling regulation (BildscharbV) as well as held in the standard ISO 9241 the International Organization for Standardization and should be considered thereby with the production by application software.

Meaning

Into the 1980er years stood, under neglect of ergonomic aspects, the functional requirements with the development of a software system in the foreground. This can be explained with the small spreading of software as well as the lack of secured realizations. With the strong spreading of graphic control surfaces (GUI) the user with its needs moved into the foreground. The EEC guideline 90/270/EWG (regulation over security and health protection with the work on television sets) prescribes the use of software, which was developed according to ergonomic principles for again furnished workstations. This commitment let the meaning of the ergonomics for the software development grow in the past years further.

Into Germany since 1 January 2000 the screen handling regulation from December 1996 for all stepped, even for older workstations into force. If an enterprise offends against it, a penalty to 25,000 euro threatens.

Ranges of application

The most important article the subject of the software ergonomics strictly speaking is the software use on jobs, which can be optimized. Generally it is concerned with basic rules and methods to the draft and evaluation of interactive software (work software, WWW, Spiele,"…), which is to be adapted as optimally as possible to the needs of the users (user orientation) and the requirements of the task of work (task orientation). The load reduction and action support by the system are the center of attention.

Ergonomically arranged programs cannot to psychological loads (e.g. Stress, frustration) with users lead. While hardware ergonomics errors, for example flickering screens or to small keyboards, can be recognized with physical methods, then the software ergonomics with methods sets as cross section science from ergonomics, computer science, engineering sciences and psychology.

In detail for example the following disciplines are involved:

• Cognitive psychology (modelling and simulation of human thinking and perception processes),
• Industrial physiology: Occupation with fundamental human abilities to the information admission and data processing
• Industrial psychology: Investigation of the interrelations between work, of them interfaces and psychological factors (among other things work satisfaction and - unlust)

Criteria

When basis for the definition of ergonomic principles is suitable the ABC model, which describes the use context of the ergonomics as relations between task, user and computer. A system is appropriate, if it makes the functions available necessary for the solution of the task of work. A system is manageable, if it makes an easy ability to learn, operability and a comprehensibility for the user possible. A system is personality favorable, if it is adapted to the abilities and knowledge of the user (user model) and corresponds the principles of the work organization. The standards part 10 requirements for office activities with television sets, ergonomic to part of 17 of the standard series ISO 9241 "„, form a yardstick for the software-ergonomic organization "“, which in the years 1996 to 1999 discharged and afterwards both when European ones and and DIN standards were transferred. In part 10 principles of the design of dialogue are defined the following quality criteria, which arise as a result of refinement of the criteria of the ABC model:

1. Suitability of task - suitable functionality, minimization of unnecessary interactions
2. Self description ability - comprehensibility by assistance/feedbacks
3. Controllability - controlling of the dialogue by the user
4. Expectation conformity - consistency, adjustment to the user model
5. Error tolerance - recognized errors do not prevent the user goal, unidentified errors: easy correction
6. Individualizing barness - adaptability at users and work context
7. Learning favorableness - guidance of the user, acquisition time minimum, metaphors

The 7 principles of the design of dialogue were supplemented by the Multimedianorm from May 2000 DIN EN ISO 14915 software ergonomics for Multimedia Benutzungsschnittstellen part of 1: Organization principles and basic conditions around four further basic principles:

1. Suitability for a kommunikatives goal - which correspond from the offerer mediating information from the user expected.
2. Suitability for perception and understanding - which become information easily understandably and correctly mediated.
3. Suitability for information identification - information can be found easy despite unawareness over topic areas
4. Suitability for user participation - the program is to motivate for use and to excite the attention of the user.

Software ergonomics by the example of a text processing

• Consistency of prompting: The search function and "„the searches and replacing "“- function are directly developed. The user recognizes the input again and can be knowledge from that different function again to use in each case.
• Constant availability: The spell verification of the program runs off in the background. When tapping the user does not notice delay. Its work is not interrupted.
• of prompting: "„Replacing "“- function becomes in the same menu as "„the searches "“- function accommodated. Intuitively the user knows about the similarity of the functions and looks for these in the same menu.
• Automation itself repeating tasks: With "„the searches and replacing "“- function can confirm the user each replacing individually or it can automates all at once to replace.
• Immediate feedback to the user: The user stores and storage failed. The user is immediately informed by an error message about it. Likewise it is informed by a short text in the status line about a successful storage.
• Self explanation ability: During the spell verification the wrong words with a red wave line and at the right edge of the document with a line are marked. These markings are still well-known from the school.
• Adaptable to individual needs: The files opened last are indicated arranged in the menu, so that the user can access fast his files worked on last. The number of indicated files is adjustable.
• Internationalization bar: According to the writing direction (Arab - German) the user is to determine to be able, how he would like to write.
• Error tolerance: The user unfortunately replaced a wrong word. It can cancel the whole replacement procedure by a UNDO function.
• Friendliness: The user would like to replace a word. This word does not occur however in the entire text. The user friendly on the situation attentively made through "„the word which can be replaced is missing in the text. "“and not unfriendly through "„word wrongly. "“.
• Expectation conformity: The user presses with "„the searches and replacing "“- function on "„all replace "“. It expects that only its search word is replaced and not all words.

Literature

• Ben Shneiderman: Designing the user interface: Strategies for Effective computercomputer computers Interaction, Allyn & Bacon, ISBN 0321197860
• Edmund Eberleh/refuge upper source among other things: Introduction to the software ergonomics, Gruyter, ISBN 311013814X
• Jens Wandmacher: Software ergonomics, Gruyter, ISBN 3-11-012971-X
• Michael Herczeg: Software ergonomics: Bases of people computer communication, Oldenbourg, ISBN 3-486-25052-3
• Wolfgang cutter: Ergonomic requirements for office activities with television sets, principles of the design of dialogue, Beuth, ISBN 3-410-13832-3
• Andreas Holzinger: Basic knowledge Multimedia volume 3 technology: Development-technical bases of multimedia information systems, bird publishing house, 2001, ISBN 3-8023-1858-7
• Joachim English: Ergonomics of program products - methodical development of program products, ISBN 3411160616
• Thomas Kahlisch: Software-ergonomic aspects of the studying environment of blind humans, publishing house Dr. Kovac, ISBN 3860647970
• farmer: Software management - analysis and draft, chapter 4 - specification of the man-machine interface
• Markus Dahm: Bases of the people computer interaction, publishing house Pearson study, ISBN 3-8273-7175-9,

See also

• People computer interaction
• User friendliness
• Graphical user interface
• ISO 9241
• Look and Feel
• Interface Design
• User interface
• RSI syndrome

Articles in category "Software ergonomics"

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