Ecological interface design: progress and challenges.

Full Abstract

Ecological interface design (EID) is a theoretical framework for designing human-computer interfaces for complex sociotechnical systems. Its primary aim is to support knowledge workers in adapting to change and novelty. This literature review shows that in situations requiring problem solving, EID improves performance when compared with current design approaches in industry. EID has been applied to industry-scale problems in a broad variety of application domains (e.g., process control, aviation, computer network management, software engineering, medicine, command and control, and information retrieval) and has consistently led to the identification of new information requirements. An experimental evaluation of EID using a full-fidelity simulator with professional workers has yet to be conducted, although some are planned. Several significant challenges remain as obstacles to the confident use of EID in industry. Promising paths for addressing these outstanding issues are identified. Actual or potential applications of this research include improving the safety and productivity of complex sociotechnical systems.

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Author information

Author/s: Vicente, Kim J (KJ);

Affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. vicente(-atsign-)mie.utoronto.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Human factors (Hum Factors), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-; vol 44 (issue 1) : pp 62-78

Dates: Created 2002/07/16; Completed 2002/08/13; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12118874, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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