Validating a New Method for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human Computer Interfaces

Abstract

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is the basic component of using all kinds of information technological systems. This is why examination methods capable of assessing factors influencing users´ performance, current mental effort and well-being during HCI in a well established and scientifically sound way have got great importance. The `current´ attribute for mental effort means here that in addition to overall measures concerning a relatively longer period - several hours or a whole working day - such methods should also provide informative and valid data about users´ mental investments at the temporal resolution corresponding to users´ elementary actions as keystrokes, mouse clicks, etc. It has already been shown that under certain circumstances Heart Period Variability (HPV) could be a measure of momentary mental effort. This paper gives a short overview of applications of HPV in ergonomics in general, and based on empirical evidence intends to prove that this methodology, after a careful adaptation, could be an especially adequate and powerful technique for monitoring mental effort in HCI. The paper outlines the main principles of a new method and the related components of the integrated system (INTERFACE) developed by us for investigating HCI from several aspects with emphasis on assessing mental effort. A detailed application example is also provided.