Evaluation of Graphical User Interfaces by the Search Time for Information Objects

Abstract

Abstract The paper discusses the problem of poor quality of graphical user interfaces used for various software products. The provided analysis shows that modern software has poor-quality interfaces, and there are no flexible programs for evaluating such interfaces. The paper highlights and describes the characteristics that are used to assess the quality of interfaces, such as operator speed, error rates, skill retention, and subjective satisfaction. A formalized approach to assess the speed of searching for information and functional objects is proposed. It is based on such characteristics as the time of fixation of the gaze, movement of the eye, the volume of a person’s operative memory, the zone of clear vision, the path of the user’s gaze information search. An algorithm for estimating the speed of searching for information and functional elements is proposed. This algorithm can be implemented and used for further design of a software application based on it. The algorithm makes it possible to automatically evaluate both a particular interface and to compare the interfaces of different programs.