ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION UTILIZATION (AIU)

Analysis of information utilization (AIU) is a method for describing a nd analyzing how information entities identified in information analys is are being used in the work situation. AIU aims at complementing exi sting methods for user interface design by identifying additional requ irements for human-computer interaction. The method focuses on aspects of computer-supported work, related to cognitive load, aspects of whi ch end users often not are explicitly aware. For skilled workers, in a professional work environment, the efficiency of the user interface i s extremely important. We earlier stressed that important criteria for design of user interfaces deals with making the interface ''obvious'' to the users, by minimizing the cognitive load associated with the ha ndling of it. AIU is performed through observation interviews in which human-computer experts interview representative users about their wor k situation and observe physical information-handling routines. The an alysis identifies work tasks in terms of judgments and decision-making situations, requirements concerning the tasks that may have to be per formed simultaneously, important features and priorities of the inform ation, actions the user can initiate, and so on. The method supports t he interface designer with human-computer interaction requirements str uctured for a workspace-oriented design. It is integrated in a user-ce ntered development model and supports the simultaneous development of competence, organization, work activity, and information technology. T his article describes the background and contents of the method and ho w the results of the analysis are documented and used in the design pr ocess. A number of application projects have shown that AIU makes it p ossible to capture aspects of human work and information processing th at are important to the design of better interfaces. AIU is not a new method for system development but complements today's methods for task and information analysis with more design-relevant information. For i llustration, an example is presented, describing interface design base d on AIU in a system development project in the Swedish National Tax B oard.