Walter Kintsch / Peter G. Polson / Stephanie M. Doane
Abstract: This paper discusses important usability issues that impact the future development of graphical user interfaces for UNIX. UNIX provides a user with the capability to combine basic commands using input/output redirection to create new commands to perform more complex tasks. The new graphical interfaces do not directly aid composing commands. However, it takes more than five years of experience to begin to be able to fluently compose new, complex commands. This paper describes a methodology which focuses attention on the problems that must be solved in order for these core features of UNIX to be accessible to individuals with one to five years of experience.
Keywords: Screen output, Models and theories, Empirical studies, Psychology of computer programming, Programming, Analysis, Complex systems, Design, UNIX
Note: Originally published in Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 34th Annual Meeting, 1990, pp. 272-276, (online access).
Republished: G. Perlman, G. K. Green & M. S. Wogalter (Eds) Human Factors Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction: Selections from Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meetings, 1983-1994, Santa Monica, California: HFES, 1995, pp. 196-200.