Lecture about the Use of Physiological Data in Usability Testing

Title:  Application of Physiological Data in the Study of Information Seeking

Speakers: Dr. Karoly Hercegfi, Department of Ergonomics and Psychology,
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Dr. Anita Komlodi, Department of Information Systems, UMBC

Abstract:

The "INTERFACE" testing methodology was developed by researchers of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics to integrate physiological data into usability testing. This methodology allows the recording of continuous on-line data characterizing the user's current mental effort derived from Heart Period Variability (HPV) and the user's emotional state indicated by Skin Conductance (SC) parameters simultaneously and synchronized with other characteristics of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This data can provide a very detailed picture which serves as a reliable basis for the deeper understanding and interpretation of psychological mechanisms underlying HCI. The main strength of our method over the previously existing HPV-based methods is that the Middle Frequency component of HPV shows changes in mental effort in the time range of several seconds (as opposed to the earlier methods with a resolution of tens of seconds at the best). The speakers will describe the methodology and its application in several domains, including a planned study of information seeking behavior.

About the Speakers

Dr. Hercegfi is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Ergonomics and Psychology at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE). After completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering and studying at the Engineering Pedagogy Ph.D. school, he earned his doctoral degree in Engineering Management Ph.D at BUTE. The title of his Ph.D. Thesis
was "Quality Assurance Issues of Developing and Introducing a Multimedia Teaching Material", finished in 2005. His current research involves the validation and further development of the "INTERFACE" empirical usability
evaluation methodology.

Anita Komlodi is Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for Human-Centered Computing at the Department of Information Systems, UMBC. Dr. Komlodi's research interests fall in the area of Human-Centered Computing. The first area of concentration is at the intersection of Human-Centered Computing and Information Retrieval/Information Behavior and focuses on the study of human-computer interaction in Information Behavior and the design of user interfaces for information systems. Dr. Komlodi is also interested in the needs and behaviors of diverse user groups when interacting with technology: age, gender, and cultural differences in technology interactions.