From: hfi@humanfactors.com
To: newsletter@humanfactors.com
Subject: UI Design Update Newsletter - February, 2000
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 12:12:24 -0600

USER INTERFACE DESIGN UPDATE - February, 2000

Insights from Human Factors International, Inc. (HFI)
Providing consulting and training in software ergonomics.
(http://www.humanfactors.com/home/)

Every month HFI reviews the most useful developments in
UI research from major conferences and publications.
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In this issue Dr. Bob Bailey reviews:

SCREEN SIZE -- LARGER CAN BE MUCH BETTER!

1. Does the size of the screen relate to the speed with which
    work can be done?

2. Is there any value in buying larger monitors or having larger
    Web pages?
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1. The Effects of Monitor Size on User Performance and Preference,
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society,
Simmons, T. and Manahan, M. (1999).

Simmons and Manahan at the Compaq Computer Corporation
conducted two studies to determine user performance and
preference differences among people using different sized monitors.
They had people perform tasks using monitors that were 15 inches,
17 inches, 19 inches and 21 inches (measured diagonally). Users
that performed search activities using Microsoft’s Word and Excel,
and also browsed the Web, took less time to complete the tasks
when using the 21 inch monitor. The test subjects preferred using
the 19 inch monitor.

In a follow-on study, users required reliably less time to perform
using both the 19 inch and 21 inch monitors. Again, they preferred
the 19 inch monitor. These studies demonstrate that monitor size
can have a positive effect on the performance time of certain tasks,
particularly those that involve the searching of large amounts of data.
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2. Screen Size and Web Browsing, DiPierro, C., Nachman, G. and
Raderman (2000). http://www.otal.umd.edu/SHORE/bs03/

In another study, DiPierro, Nachman and Raderman at the
University of Maryland, attempted to determine the effect of
screen size on the speed of navigating the web. They compared
performance using small, medium and large screens. There was
no difference between the small and medium screens, but the
large screen elicited performance that was about 26% faster
than the medium screen. Again, with these tasks the larger the
window, the shorter the time required to perform the tasks.

Finally, some of the most popular exhibits at Comdex this past
November were those showing systems that had two, three and
even four monitors. It seems that many users are requiring larger
monitors, larger screens and, in some cases, more screens to
adequately do their work.
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3-day 1999 Annual User Interface Update Seminar presented by
Dr. Robert Bailey.
http://www.humanfactors.com/training/annualupdate.asp.
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REGISTER for UI Update Seminar:

Washington, DC - March 8-10, 2000.
https://www.humanfactors.com/training/registration/AUregister1.asp

Boston, MA - May 3-5, 2000.
https://www.humanfactors.com/training/registration/AUregister4.asp

Atlanta, GA - May 16-18, 2000.
https://www.humanfactors.com/training/registration/AUregister3.asp
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Suggestions, comments, questions?
HFI editors at mailto:hfi@humanfactors.com.

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