This paper describes a human-in-the-loop evaluation of a power plant Human-Machine Interface (HMI), that was designed using a User-Centered Design approach. General Electric (GE) developed ActivePoint* HMI (AP HMI) to increase plant operator efficiency and awareness. UCD was applied as a design process along with existing industry design guidelines and other design approaches. The goal of the evaluation study was to provide GE Power quantitative data on proposed benefits from the new HMI based on systematic design approaches compared to the legacy HMI product, developed by engineers with an ad hoc process. Compared to this Legacy HMI, the new AP HMI provides enhanced information architecture, simplified graphics and navigation, as well as improved alarm management allowing operators and plant maintenance personnel to focus on what is important. Nine operations staff from a power plant in France performed simulated tasks using both Legacy HMI as a baseline and AP HMI. We measured their performance and satisfaction on the use of HMI to quantify the enhanced effectiveness of AP HMI. AP HMI resulted in 33% higher success rate, 79% lower navigation time, 42% lower total time on task compared to Legacy HMI. Also, the user satisfaction for AP HMI was rated significantly higher than Legacy HMI.

Voting is a glocalized event across countries, states and municipalities in which individuals of all abilities want to participate. To enable people with disabilities to participate accessible voting is typically implemented by adding assistive technologies to electronic voting machines to accommodate people with disabilities. To overcome the complexities and inequities in this practice, two interfaces, EZ Ballot, which uses a linear yes/no input system for all selections, and QUICK Ballot, which provides random access voting through direct selection, were designed to provide one system for all voters. This paper reports efficacy testing of both interfaces. The study demonstrated that voters with a range of visual abilities were able to use both ballots independently. While non-sighted voters made fewer errors on the linear ballot (EZ Ballot), partially-sighted and sighted voters completed the random access ballot (QUICK Ballot) in less time. In addition, a higher percentage of non-sighted participants preferred the linear ballot, and a higher percentage of sighted participants preferred the random ballot.

This study compared different types of magnification and navigation methods on low-vision handheld magnifiers to determine the feasibility of a touch screen gesture interface. The results show that despite the fact that participants had no experience using gestures for magnification or navigation, participants were more satisfied with them. Gestures were faster and more preferred than the indirect input methods for pushing a button or rotating a knob, which had previously been familiar to participants from other electronic device interfaces. The study suggests that the use of gestures may afford an alternative and more natural magnification and navigation method for a new user-centric low vision magnifier.

Current accessible voting machines require many voters with visual, cognitive and dexterity limitations to vote with assistance, if they can vote at all. To address accessibility problems, we developed the EZ Ballot. The linear layout of the EZ ballot structure fundamentally re-conceptualizes ballot design to provide the same simple and intuitive voting experience for all voters, regardless of ability or input/output (I/O) device used. Further, multimodal I/O interfaces were seamlessly integrated with the ballot structure to provide flexibility in accommodating voters with different abilities.

Computer mediated group collaboration, particularly in the design and engineering disciplines, is in need of better applications that suit the needs of effective exchange of information. Multi-touch surfaces offer the capabilities to augment and better enable face-to-face interaction with digital content and applications. This paper presents the design, development and testing of SketchTop, a multi-touch sketching application for collocated design collaboration.

We present two empirical studies of two pairs of students collaborating on two small product design sessions in both face-to-face and distributed settings while using computer-mediated communication technologies and a collaborative virtual environment. The study shows that teams spent more time working together when using programs that support shared sketching capabilities or shared viewing of 3D objects.

This paper presents an empirical study of two student pairs collaborating on two small products design session in both face-to-face and distributed settings while using computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies and a collaborative virtual environment (CVE). To gain insight about the way designers communicate and collaborate, the observation focused on how much time the students worked together and individually in the design process. The study shows that teams worked together more in the distributed setting than in the face-to-face setting. In the post-test questionnaires, participants reported that they found the distributed setting a more engaging environment to work with teammates. Findings of the study suggest plausible design criteria for a communication system for distributed collaboration that supports interaction and sharing design information.