TESTING THE BOUNDARIES OF 2 USER-CENTERED DESIGN PRINCIPLES - METAPHORS AND MEMORY LOAD

This experiment examined how varying implementations of two user-cente red design principles affected the usability of a computer program. Dr awing from human-computer interaction, as well as cognitive psychology , the following principles were implemented and tested: maximizing use of the user's expectations and stereotypes and minimizing the user's memory load. Nine interfaces were created using Hypercard's datebook p rogram. On each interface, the graphics and text were manipulated acco rding to the design principle and the related cognitive psychology res earch. A total of 108 people participated. Of the five hypotheses, onl y one was supported by the data. The data suggest that for less compli cated programs and tasks, strict adherence to design principles may no t be required.