System for Statistical Measurement of Atomic Efficiency for Graphical Interface Elements

Relevance. Currently, the interfaces quality often plays a decisive role in solving problems by a person using information services. To evaluate interfaces, the efficiency concept was previously introduced, consisting of the following indicators: effectiveness ‒ a conditional errors number measure when working with an information system; efficiency ‒ the speed of the user's work with the information system to obtain the desired result; 3) resource efficiency ‒ the degree of user psycho-emotional stress when entering and processing data. Nevertheless, the previously obtained model requires not only the mathematical apparatus usage to determine such indicators, but also knowledge of the graphic elements atomic (i.e. individual or isolated) efficiencies associated with the features of the user's interaction with them.

The article purpose is to improve the efficiency of information service interfaces, which requires calculating the individual graphic elements atomic efficiencies.

The proposed solution essence is the visual system for statistical measurement of the atomic efficiency for 6 graphic elements (text field, drop-down list, classic and checkbox button, bidirectional counter and "slider") based on the performing various tasks results by users with their help. For example, the text field efficiency compared to a drop-down list will be higher for short words ‒ since their input from the keyboard is faster than selecting from the list, but lower for long sentences ‒ since in this case it is faster for a person to select the desired one than to provide correct input. The measuring principle the efficiency by the proposed system is based on the sequential output of graphic forms with different types (and in some cases, quantities) of elements, indicating the task to the user and measuring the correctness and data entry duration. To reduce subjectivity in actions, various techniques are used, such as different duration timers. A special survey at the end of the element test groups is used to assess the psycho-emotional load. The system has an implementation as a Web site in PHP, individual Web pages of which and their interpretation are given in the article. Experiments with the use of this system for 50 users allowed us to obtain the desired all elements atomic efficiencies.

The scientific novelty of the solution lies in the obtaining possibility estimates of the interface elements efficiency in a completely formal way, taking into account only the features of user interaction with them, as well as the data specifics (size, type).

The theoretical significance lies in expanding the class of methods for assessing the graphical interfaces efficiency obtained through assessing the elements that make it up.

The practical significance lies in the possibility of directly using the obtained atomic efficiencies graphs to compare interfaces and optimize them.

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