Adaptable versus adaptive menus on the desktop: Performance and user satisfaction

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of adaptable and adaptive menus in desktop applications. An adaptable menu and two different adaptive menus were developed and evaluated. The two adaptive menus consist of an adaptive split menu that moves frequently used menu items to the top, and an adaptive highlight menu that automatically boldfaces frequently used menu items. A controlled experiment was conducted to compare the usability of these menus. Target selection times and the number of errors were measured while the subjects were performing menu selection tasks. The effects of the variations of selection frequency were taken into account, and the subjects were asked to rate their satisfaction with each menu after the experiment. The results showed that the adaptable menu was the best in terms of both performance and satisfaction. The adaptive split menu was not as efficient as had been thought. On the other hand, the adaptive highlight menu seemed to be a potential alternative to the adaptive split, since it is much less sensitive to the variations of selection frequency. Advantages and disadvantages of the adaptive and adaptable menus and implications for menu design are discussed. Relevance to Industry The usability evaluation experiment conducted in this study may provide useful information to software application designers considering the use of adaptive or adaptable menus in their products. Adaptive highlight menu can be an attractive alternative to the traditional adaptive split menu for the customization/personalization of menu-based software applications and appliances, especially when the selection frequency of menu items varies much and the confusion of the user should be minimized.