Influence User Experience Research Articles

Optimization model for web based multimodal interactive simulations

This paper presents a technique for optimizing the performance of web based multimodal interactive simulations. For such applications where visual quality and the performance of simulations directly influence user experience, overloading of hardware resources may result in unsatisfactory reduction in the quality of the simulation and user satisfaction. However, optimization of simulation performance on individual hardware platforms is not practical. Hence, we present a mixed integer programming model to optimize the performance of graphical rendering and simulation performance while satisfying application specific constraints. Our approach includes three distinct phases: identification, optimization and update. In the identification phase, the computing and rendering capabilities of the client device are evaluated using an exploratory proxy code. This data is utilized in conjunction with user specified design requirements in the optimization phase to ensure best possible computational resource allocation. The optimum solution is used for rendering (e.g. texture size, canvas resolution) and simulation parameters (e.g. simulation domain) in the update phase. Test results are presented on multiple hardware platforms with diverse computing and graphics capabilities to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.

IT Progress Indicators

Users of information technology (IT) often encounter “progress indicators” during their interactions. These graphics (e.g., progress bars) appear on computing screens as users wait for a task to complete. The purpose of progress indicators is to inform users of the progress being made to complete a task. This study employs two theoretical models from psychological research on human waiting to develop specific hypotheses related to the design of progress indicators: the sense-of-progress and the subjective-sense-of-time frameworks. The results of three experiments indicate that progress indicators exhibiting key characteristics from these frameworks influence user experiences. Experiment 1 revealed that participants preferred a linear progress bar to a cycling progress bar. Experiment 2 revealed that participants preferred a video progress indicator to a cycling progress bar, and judged the process duration to be shorter with the video progress indicator. Experiment 3 revealed that the video progress indicator yielded the best user experience.

User Experience of On-Screen Interaction Techniques: An Experimental Investigation of Clicking, Sliding, Zooming, Hovering, Dragging, and Flipping

From scrolling and clicking to dragging, flipping, sliding, hovering, and zooming, the wide array of interaction techniques has vastly expanded the range of user actions on an interface. Each of these interaction techniques affords a distinct action. But do these techniques differ in their ability to engage users and contribute to their user experience? Furthermore, do they affect how users view the content and how much they learn from it? We address these questions via two between-subjects laboratory experiments. Study 1 (N = 128) investigated the relative effects of six on-screen interaction techniques (click-to-download, drag, mouseover, slide, zoom, and 3D carousel) on users' assessment of—as well as their engagement with—an informational website. The site for each condition was identical in content and design, except for the interaction technique used, so that we could isolate the effects of each technique on various cognitive, attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. Study 2 (N = 127) examined the relative effects of four combinations of interaction techniques (slide+click, slide+mouseover, drag+mouseover, and drag+zoom) on the same dependent variables. Data from Study 1 suggest that although the 3D carousel generates more user action, the slide is better at aiding memory. The zoom-in/out tool was the least favored, whereas the mouseover feature fostered greater engagement among power users. Findings from Study 2, which was conducted with a different content domain, replicated the positive effects of slide and negative effects of drag in influencing user experience. Path analyses, using structural equation modeling, revealed the importance of users' assessment of the interface (perceived levels of natural mapping, intuitiveness, and ease of use), which can have significant consequences for user engagement as well as resulting attitudes and behavioral outcomes. Design insights, theories, and techniques to test and capture user experience are discussed.

Granary: A sharing oriented distributed storage system

Up to now, more and more people use Internet storage services as a new way of sharing. File sharing by a distributed storage system is quite different from a specific sharing application like BitTorrent. And as large file sharing becomes popular, the data transmission rate takes the place of the response delay to be the major factor influencing user experience. We present the design and implementation of a distributed storage system named as Granary in this paper, which provides reliable data storage and sharing service to cyber users. Granary uses a specific DHT(Distributed Hash Table) layer to store file meta-data and employs a raw data storage scheme to scatter large data. We introduce its adaptive DHT recovery algorithm in this paper which assures the availability and consistency of meta-data with small bandwidth consumption and improved throughout. The replication strategies which are used to accelerate file sharing with low bandwidth consumptions are further discussed. Experimental results show that these methods offer a reliable and efficient data storage and sharing speed with network bandwidth costs less than conventional policies.

Recreational Use of Developed Norwegian Shorelines: How Ambiguous Regulations Influence User Experiences

In principle, public rights of access to “outfield” along the Norwegian shoreline are protected by law. A case study from the village of Saltnes indicates that it is difficult for people to stay or walk along a populated shoreline area without feeling that they are violating privacy norms. Such “mental” barriers and subjective perceptions are not formally addressed in Norwegian regulations concerning legal rights of public access, but appear to affect the extent of recreational use. Interviews with property owners and visitors in Saltnes indicated that two key elements help to improve the situation. First, physical markers demarcating public land (“outfield”) and private land (“infield”) such as vegetation, small fences, signs, boulder walls, paths, and so on seem to reduce discomfort both for visitors and residents. Second, property owners and visitors value polite behavior highly, and communication between different groups of interests seems to clarify the challenging public/private divide. A main impression was that people find present rules and regulations unclear and diffuse and difficult to practice. It is relevant to ask whether the public accessible parts of developed and populated coastal zones are identifiable through the infield–outfield divide; more specific and adapted regulation of public traffic is needed on private shoreline properties.

Optimizing feature-access time through dynamic updates to application menu layout

As soon as a product or application is installed, users want to start using it with zero usability roadblocks. However, there is always a time quantity associated with a user's series of actions that must be performed while traversing application menu items to reach a specific (desired) menu option. This time factor plays a critical role in influencing user experience and engagement; the more the number of clicks, the greater the time taken in reaching the desired menu item. This time lag may leave the user frustrated. The time and distance traversed increases further if the menu structure comprises multiple nested menus within the parent menu. This paper proposes an improvised dynamic menu layout based on usage statistics. This work also demonstrates results of a statistical experiment that compares the time taken in reaching specific menu items with the proposed new layout vs. the traditional menu layout. Experimental data (under defined assumptions) is found to be significantly in favor of the proposed approach. The work also presents data samples, assumptions, limitations, and benefits of the proposed approach.

Building Trust in E-Commerce through Web Interface

The emergence of Internet has revolutionalized the way businesses are conducted. The impact of e-commerce is pervasive, both on companies and society as a whole. It has the potential to impact the pace of economic development and in turn influence the process of human development at the global level. However, the growth in e-commerce is being impaired by the issue of trust in the buyer-seller relationship which is arising due to the virtual nature of e-commerce environment. The online trading environment is constrained by a number of factors including web interface that in turn influences user experience. This article identifies various dimensions of web interface that have the potential to influence trust in e-commerce. The empirical evidence presented in the article is based on a survey of the web interfaces of 65 Indian e-Marketplaces.

Will mobile video become the killer application for 3G mobile Internet? a model of media convergence acceptance

We propose and empirically test a model of user acceptance of digital media convergence. Integrating information system research, particularly the paradigm of task---technology fit and the platform---application dichotomy, and theories from media psychology and human---computer interaction, we theorize the fit between the content applications and the media platform as the key determinant of user evaluation and acceptance of digital media convergence. We empirically tested our theory in the context of mobile video entertainment services. Specifically, we hypothesize that both the duration of the video content (i.e., the characteristic of the content) and the attentional constraint of the mobile media platform (i.e., the characteristic of the media platform) jointly determine users' attentional involvement (i.e., reflecting the fit) in the video content. Such involvement in turn influences users' emotional enjoyment and satisfaction with the mobile video entertainment service. The empirical results support most of our hypotheses. Two key findings are: (1) in the case of media convergence, the attentional constraint of the target media platform significantly influences user experience during content delivery that may lead to the rejection of media convergence; and (2) the duration of the content interacts with both the attentional constraint of the media platform and the type of interruptions from the environment in determining attentional involvement and emotional enjoyment. We discuss the theoretical contributions and practical implications from our empirical findings.

Virtual reality induced symptoms and effects (VRISE): Comparison of head mounted display (HMD), desktop and projection display systems

Virtual reality (VR) systems are used in a variety of applications within industry, education, public and domestic settings. Research assessing reported symptoms and side effects of using VR systems indicates that these factors combine to influence user experiences of virtual reality induced symptoms and effects (VRISE). Three experiments were conducted to assess prevalence and severity of sickness symptoms experienced in each of four VR display conditions; head mounted display (HMD), desktop, projection screen and reality theatre, with controlled examination of two additional aspects of viewing (active vs. passive viewing and light vs. dark conditions). Results indicate 60–70% participants experience an increase in symptoms pre–post exposure for HMD, projection screen and reality theatre viewing and found higher reported symptoms in HMD compared with desktop viewing (nausea symptoms) and in HMD compared with reality theatre viewing (nausea, oculomotor and disorientation symptoms). No effect of lighting condition was found. Higher levels of symptoms were reported in passive viewing compared to active control over movement in the VE. However, the most notable finding was that of high inter- and intra-participant variability. As this supports other findings of individual susceptibility to VRISE, recommendations are offered concerning design and use of VR systems in order to minimise VRISE.