Study of Human factors in Study of Human factors in Software EngineeringSoftware Engineering

CSC 532CSC 532

Sree Harsha PothireddySree Harsha Pothireddy

Why do software products Why do software products fail?fail?

Poor managementPoor management Inadequate planningInadequate planning Ineffective testingIneffective testing Improper design and architectureImproper design and architecture Improper use/availability of resourcesImproper use/availability of resourcesTime constraintsTime constraints

and…and…

What are Human factors?What are Human factors?

Human factors is the discipline that Human factors is the discipline that tries to establish a relationship tries to establish a relationship between technology and the human.between technology and the human.

Human factors deal with the human Human factors deal with the human behavior, abilities, limitations to the behavior, abilities, limitations to the use of software, tools and other jobs use of software, tools and other jobs to make their use easier.(Human to make their use easier.(Human Computer Interaction –Computer Interaction – HCI) HCI)

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Identifying end-users and Identifying end-users and requirementsrequirements

Understanding end-user psychologyUnderstanding end-user psychology

Quality and performanceQuality and performance

AdvantagesAdvantages

++ Higher user satisfactionHigher user satisfaction++ Lower user fatigueLower user fatigue++ Lower training time and costsLower training time and costs++ Lower product liabilityLower product liability++ Lower operator stressLower operator stress++ Lower operating costsLower operating costs++ Lesser operational errorsLesser operational errors++ Greater system performanceGreater system performance

Who implements Human Who implements Human factors?factors?

Interface designersInterface designersEngineering psychologistsEngineering psychologists

UsabilityUsability

An external attribute of software An external attribute of software quality.quality.

Addresses the relationship between Addresses the relationship between tools and their users.tools and their users.

Ensures appropriate flow and Ensures appropriate flow and functionality of the software.functionality of the software.

Components of UsabilityComponents of Usability

User interface design.User interface design.Website designWebsite designRapid prototyping techniquesRapid prototyping techniquesGroupwareGroupwareUsability evaluationUsability evaluationDigital design Digital design Digital typographyDigital typography

ErgonomicsErgonomics

““Application of scientific information Application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment objects, systems and environment for human use.”for human use.”

Application of ErgonomicsApplication of Ergonomics

Design of computers and peripheralsDesign of computers and peripherals

Planning and implementation of jobsPlanning and implementation of jobs

Design of equipment and work areasDesign of equipment and work areas

Software ergonomicsSoftware ergonomics

Design of computer supported work.Design of computer supported work.Solves problems of subject matter Solves problems of subject matter

and interaction.and interaction. Improves system functionality.Improves system functionality.Design of dialog boxes, menus, Design of dialog boxes, menus,

input/output displays.input/output displays.

ConclusionConclusion

Every software engineer should Every software engineer should realize the importance of a user in realize the importance of a user in the software life cycle.the software life cycle.

Understand the importance of user-Understand the importance of user-friendliness and easy -to -learn friendliness and easy -to -learn property of a software product to property of a software product to make it popular.make it popular.

Thank You!!Thank You!!

Questions?Questions?