...Task analysis and human-computer interaction: approaches, techniques, and levels of analysis Abe Crystal School of Information and Library Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill acrystal@email.unc.edu Beth Ellington School of Information and Library Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill elliv@email.unc.edu ABSTRACT In this paper we critically review task analysis models and techniques. These approaches to task analysis are discussed in order to develop a richer picture of human activity, while analyzing their limitations, general weaknesses, and possibilities for improvement. We consider their ability to determine the appropriate set of atomic actions in a task, their effect on workers’ motivational needs, their support of users’ cognitive and sociocultural processes, and their effectiveness in supporting interface design. We note that the major approaches have focused on very different levels of analysis, and call for greater integration of these different levels in task analysis theory. Keywords Task analysis, cognitive modeling, activity theory. INTRODUCTION Practitioners and researchers routinely advocate building user-centered systems which enable people to reach their goals, take account of natural human limitations, and generally are intuitive, efficient and pleasurable to use (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Central to the design of such systems is a clear understanding of what users actually want to do: What...
Words: 5335 - Pages: 22