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Perceiving the System State
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Today we're diving into the first step of the Evaluation Phase: perceiving the system state. Can anyone tell me why observing changes is crucial after an action?
It's important so that users know their action had an effect.
Exactly! Feedback helps users understand that the system is responding. For example, when we click a button and see it change color or hear a sound, that's visual and auditory feedback. Let's remember the acronym VAF for Visual, Auditory, and Feedback. Can anyone think of an example?
A loading spinner when a file is uploading!
Great example! That's visual feedback. Now, how does this feedback affect the user's next steps?
If the feedback is clear, users know what to do next, but unclear feedback can lead to confusion.
Right! To summarize, feedback is vital for users to perceive changes, and clear feedback is essential for guiding their next actions.
Interpreting the System State
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Now letβs move into interpreting the system state. Why is interpreting feedback important once it's perceived?
Users need to understand what those changes actually mean for their task.
Exactly! This step involves deciphering the feedback's significance. Can you give an example of how interpretation might cause confusion?
If someone gets a 'file not found' message after trying to save a document, they might panic and think they lost their work.
Correct! Misinterpreted feedback can lead to stress. To help remember this, think of the phrase 'Clarity is Key.' What must designers focus on to improve interpretation?
They should provide clear, understandable messages instead of jargon or complex terms.
Absolutely! Clear communication in feedback helps bridge the gap in understanding.
Comparing the System State to the Original Goal
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Letβs discuss comparing system state to the original goal. Why do you think itβs important for users to compare these two?
They need to ensure they are getting the results they wanted to achieve.
Exactly! This comparison helps users determine whether they need to take further action. What happens if there's a mismatch between their goal and the systemβs feedback?
Users might get frustrated and not know what to do next.
Right! This is where the 'Gulf of Evaluation' can become a problem. How can designers help users with this?
Providing immediate and relevant feedback helps users feel confident about their interactions.
Exactly! To sum up, the comparison step is vital for guiding users toward their goals, and designers must minimize the gulf for a positive user experience.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
This section details Norman's model of interaction, particularly the Evaluation Phase, which includes the user's process of perceiving and interpreting the system's state after actions. Key concepts include perceiving feedback, understanding system state, comparing outcomes to goals, and the implications of the Gulfs of Evaluation.
Detailed
The Evaluation Phase (Interpreting System Feedback and State)
The Evaluation Phase is a critical component of Norman's Model of Interaction that focuses on how users interpret the feedback from a system following their actions. This phase involves three core steps: perceiving the system state, interpreting that state, and comparing it to the original goal.
- Perceiving the System State: Users must first observe changes in the system after performing an action. This encompasses visual, auditory, and haptic feedback that informs users of the outcome of their action (e.g., a screen update, a sound indicating a completed task).
- Interpreting the System State: After perceiving feedback, users interpret what that information means in the context of their goals. They evaluate if the feedback indicates successful task completion or if further actions are required.
- Comparing the System State to the Original Goal: In this evaluative step, users assess whether the current state aligns with their initial intentions. If their expectations are met, they progress; otherwise, they may experience confusion and require additional actions to achieve their objectives.
The concept of the "Gulf of Evaluation" embodies the gap between the system's representation of its state and the user's understanding of that state concerning their goals. A large gulf indicates poor feedback mechanisms and can lead to user frustration. Designers must strive to minimize this gulf by ensuring feedback is clear, immediate, and contextually relevant. By comprehensively addressing the gaps in user feedback and comprehension, designers can create more intuitive and efficient interfaces.
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Perceiving the System State
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The user observes the changes in the system after their action. This involves attending to visual, auditory, or haptic feedback provided by the interface (e.g., "The screen changed; there's a list of train options now," "I heard a confirmation sound"). This is about sensing what the system is presenting.
Detailed Explanation
In this step, the user learns about the interface's response to their input. After performing an action, the user looks for signals from the system, such as visual changes (like colors or text changes), sounds (like notifications), or tactile reactions (like vibrations). It's like when you press your car's horn: you hear the sound, and that confirms the action worked. The user needs to be attentive to these signals to understand how the system has responded.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're sending a text message on your phone. Once you hit send, the message usually shows up in your chat with a different color or a 'Delivered' status. This feedback lets you know that your action was successful, assuring you that the message has been sent.
Interpreting the System State
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The user processes the perceived information and assigns meaning to it. They try to understand what the system's feedback signifies in the context of their task (e.g., "This list of trains means my search was successful and these are the available options"). This step involves connecting the feedback to their previous actions and the system's conceptual model.
Detailed Explanation
After perceiving feedback, the user needs to make sense of what it means. This means figuring out how the information they just received relates to their original intention or goal. For instance, if a user searches for flights and gets a list of options, they have to interpret that the search succeeded and those are the results they can choose from. It's important for users to connect new information with what they already know about the system. If they understand the feedback clearly, they can confidently proceed with further actions.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it as a customer at a restaurant who orders a dish. When the waiter brings out a plate, the customer recognizes it based on their prior knowledge of the menu. They interpret the dish before them as exactly what they ordered, helping them decide whether to eat it or ask for something different.
Comparing the System State to the Original Goal
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The user evaluates whether the current state of the system aligns with their initial goal. They assess if their objective is being met or if further actions are needed (e.g., "Yes, this is a list of trains to Delhi, so I'm on track to book my ticket"). This involves comparing the outcome to their mental model and expectations.
Detailed Explanation
In this chunk, the user reflects on whether the outcome matches what they wanted to achieve. After interpreting the systemβs feedback, theyβll ask themselves if the information presented fulfills their initial goal. For instance, if they aimed to find a train to a specific destination and they see that result, they recognize they are on the right path. This evaluation process is crucial as it influences their next steps and decisions.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're on a road trip using GPS navigation. If you expect to arrive at a predetermined location but instead, the GPS shows you're miles away from the destination, you would evaluate this result against your expectation and rethink your route.
The Gulf of Evaluation
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This is the significant gap between the system's physical representation of its state and the user's ability to interpret that state in terms of their goals and intentions. If the system's feedback is unclear, ambiguous, inconsistent, or if the resulting state is difficult to understand in relation to their initial objective, the user will struggle to determine what has happened or what to do next. The user asks: "What happened?" or "Is this what I wanted?" A large gulf here indicates poor feedback mechanisms, a confusing conceptual model, or inadequate signifiers.
Detailed Explanation
The Gulf of Evaluation highlights potential disconnects that can occur between what the system shows and the user's comprehension of that information. For effective human-computer interaction, the system must provide feedback that is clear and directly relevant to the user's actions. If thereβs too much confusion, the user wonβt know how to proceed or if theyβve reached their goal, leading to frustration and possibly abandoning the task.
Examples & Analogies
Consider an online shopping website. If a user places an order and receives a generic message like 'Order processing', with no other details, they may not understand if their order was successful or when it will arrive. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion and dissatisfaction, much like when you're at a grocery store and you can't find your way because the signs are ambiguous.
Designing to Bridge the Gulfs
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Norman's model provides a powerful analytical lens for design: Bridging the Gulf of Execution requires designing an interface that makes it easy for users to transform their intentions into actions. This means ensuring high discoverability of functions, clear affordances, explicit signifiers, and intuitive mapping between controls and their effects. The user should effortlessly know what they can do and how to do it. Bridging the Gulf of Evaluation requires designing an interface that makes it easy for users to perceive and interpret the system's state in relation to their goals. This necessitates providing clear, immediate, and unambiguous feedback, supporting a consistent conceptual model, and using effective signifiers to communicate system changes. The user should easily understand what happened and where they stand relative to their objective.
Detailed Explanation
Designing interfaces involves actively solving the issues related to the Gulfs of Execution and Evaluation. To reduce the Gulf of Execution, designers need to focus on making it intuitive for users to translate their thoughts into actions. This includes ensuring that buttons are easy to find, labeled correctly, and that users know the actions they can take. To reduce the Gulf of Evaluation, feedback must be implemented so that users can quickly see the impact of their actions. Effective design will help facilitate a smooth experience where users feel in control and might continue using the system.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a well-designed recipe app. When a user selects a recipe, it should clearly show step-by-step instructions (bridging the Gulf of Execution) and give immediate feedback when they step through each instruction (e.g., checkboxes for completed steps) so they can easily see what has been done and whatβs left (bridging the Gulf of Evaluation). This assures the user that they are on the right track with their cooking.
Definitions & Key Concepts
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Key Concepts
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Perception of Feedback: Users need to clearly observe and understand the system's feedback after their interactions.
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Interpretation of Feedback: Users must make sense of the feedback they receive to understand its relevance.
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Comparison to Goals: Users assess if the feedback aligns with their initial goals to decide on next steps.
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Gulf of Evaluation: The distance between the userβs understanding of system feedback and what they intended to achieve.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
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Examples
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After clicking 'Submit' on a form, seeing a loading spinner is perception of feedback indicating that the system is processing.
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Receiving a message like 'Your order has been confirmed' helps users interpret that their action was successful.
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
π΅ Rhymes Time
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To evaluate right, feedback must be bright, clear to see, guiding users with glee.
π Fascinating Stories
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Imagine a user named Alex who clicked a button but saw no response. Alex became frustrated until the system showed a spinner, indicating action, making Alex relieved and ready to proceed!
π§ Other Memory Gems
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Remember 'PIC' for the phases: Perceiving, Interpreting, Comparing.
π― Super Acronyms
G.E.R. - Gulf of Evaluation Reduction.
Flash Cards
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Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
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Term: Evaluative Phase
Definition:
The phase in interaction where the user interprets feedback and assesses if their actions met their goals.
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Term: Perceiving the System State
Definition:
The process of observing feedback presented by the system to understand the outcome of their actions.
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Term: Interpreting System State
Definition:
The step where the user assigns meaning to the perceived feedback based on their context and goals.
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Term: Comparing System State to Original Goal
Definition:
Assessing whether the current system state aligns with the userβs initial intentions and needs.
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Term: Gulf of Evaluation
Definition:
The gap between the user's understanding of the system state and what they expected based on their goals.