Design of computer interfaces for the Chinese population
Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop and test models of human-computer interface design which would minimize performance time and error rate for the Chinese population. Past research has documented the cognitive and cultural differences between the American and the Chinese populations. Based on this, a three-dimensional conceptual model was proposed which represents the underpinning cognitive and cultural attributes which should be embedded in software interface. The model consists of knowledge representation, interface structure and presentation mode. Two experiments, in which 40 American and 70 Chinese subjects participated, were conducted to test the model in the USA and Mainland China. There were three trials in each experiment. The independent variables of Experiment I were knowledge representation and interface structure. The dependent variables were performance time, errors, memory recalls and satisfaction. The independent variable of Experiment II was the presentation mode of icon displays, and the dependent variables were performance time, errors and satisfaction. The main results of the two experiments indicated the following: (1) For the Chinese users, error rates with a thematic structure were significantly lower than with a functional structure throughout all three trials. (2) For the Chinese users, performance time with a concrete representation was faster than with an abstract representation at the third trial. Performance times with a thematic structure were faster than with a functional structure at the first and second trials. Performance times with a pictorial presentation mode of icon displays were faster than with an alphanumeric mode at the first and third trials. (3) For the American users, error rate with a functional structure was lower than with a thematic structure, and the error rate with an alphanumeric presentation mode of icon displays was lower than with a pictorial mode at the first trial. (4) For the American users, performance time with an alphanumeric presentation mode of icon displays was faster than with a pictorial mode at the first trial. This research demonstrates the importance of embedding cultural awareness within the design of user interfaces and the need of adjusting computer interfaces for the Chinese users to enhance computer performance.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Salvendy, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Industrial engineering
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