Human-information interactions with complex software

Abstract

This article extends the analysis of a usability test of C2PC, a US Marine Corps command and control software product. The study revealed the C2 operators were able to perform simple tasks, but had difficulty combining those simple tasks into realistic tasks. These differences highlight the need to both consider the complex interactions during HCI design and for using complex scenarios when testing complex systems. Poor human-information interaction (HII) is reflected in designs which fail to support effectively rolling up the individual tasks into the complex interactions that people must perform. Usability tests show basic tasks can be accomplished but these systems fail to support people solving open-ended, unstructured, complex problems which require extensive and recursive decision-making or problem solving This paper discusses how the issue appears in many software products, causing problems in effectively communicating information. It considers the broader design issues for complex information spaces. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.