What is Human Efficiency?


Nederlandse tekst.
Human Efficiency is the applied cognitive psychology consultancy company of dr. Leonard Verhoef
.
Thirty years of experience in designing very easy to use interfaces for complex public information, travel, transport, consumer and industrial systems.
     What is the company 'Human Efficiency'?
What is 'human'?
What is 'efficient'?
When is an interface not 'efficient'?
You want to design in a human efficient way?
Contact



What is 'human'?

A user operates a device by:
  • movements, in most cases a keyboard and a mouse
  • perception of objects, in most cases on a screen
  • reading words;
  • learning how to operate the device
  • thinking: 'How can I operate this?' and: 'How can I operate this more efficient, next time?'


  • To top.
         This should not be too complicated. Nevertheless, processes like 'movement', 'perception', 'language', 'learning' and 'thinking' are not frequent in interface design. Using biology and physiology, psychology knows these processes exactly.     Concepts frequently used in design are: intuitive, KISS, look and feel, usability, user centred design, user experience and userfriendly. These vague product concepts give are not used by Human Efficiency because they provide no insight and allow for too much personal interpretation and discussion.



    What is efficient?

    Marathon running shoes should fit perfectly. Only when the interface perfectly fits human movement, perception, language, learning and thinking top achievement is possible. For some this is an unusual approach and so are the positive results.

    To top.
         Examples of benefits in public (transport) information systems.
    Examples of benefits in computer and web interfaces.



    Why not 'efficient'?

    Technicians, designers and marketing often are blamed for userunfriendlyness. Why designers can't understand their users: developing a systematic approach using cognitive psychology points to another suspect for userunfriendlyness.

    To top.
         It shows how to use psychology, the effects of using psychology and most of all it shows that you are right from the beginning. One of the conclusions of this scientific study is: “No more research is needed.”



    You want to design in a human efficient way?

    There are several options

  • Knowledge in online articles, see top of this page.


    To top.
  •     
  • Knowledge in books  GUI, webontwerp, psychologie en human efficiency I en II . You can order them online.

  • Another option is a training. GUI, webdesign, psychology and human efficiency

  • Deliver requirement specification and detailed design specifications. In most cases in cooperation with graphical information designer Rens Holslag. In that case psychological requirements and graphical requirements are combined.
  • Why designers can“t understand their users, developing a systematic approach using cognitive psychology, usability
    Boek:GUI, webdesign, psychologie en human efficiency, invoer scherm en tekst.



    Human Efficiency IT interface design projects

    Characteristics of a tool for a securities trader
    Development of a strategy for the ergonomic design
    Making selecting a colour complex
    SAP for users or users for SAP
    Afleveringsbon
    Computertelefoondialoog voor het bestellen van formulieren
    De bediening van het Wenzel Omroepsysteem
    De brieven van Transconto
    De funktie van funktie-toetsen op kassa's
    Een ergonoom in Maurik
    Ergonomisch ontwerp C6 bedieningssysteem
    Ergonomische aantekeningen bij ABN/AMRO informatie voor beleggers
    Ergonomische evaluatie Concerto
    Poolen met lijnen
    Specificatie Burenbel interface
    Teksten kredietklanten Nederland
    Van vaste prijzen oplezen naar variabele prijzen beheersen
    Van vaste velden naar vrije vensters
    Vragenlijst gebruikers apparatuur
    Zeker met C-Zam of langzamer met de 'snelle' CCV
    Zoeken en lezen bij pikken en pakken
    Zoeken, vinden en ook verwerken van juridische informatie
    060013, Telefoon- of hulpdienst?


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    Human Efficiency public transport projects

    ETCS-DMI, European Train Control high speed train driver machine interface
    The ultimate drink vending machine
    Travel Center
    Usability test of MobiDisk
    Using a ticket vending machine
    Proposal for the development of the ultimate travelplanner

    150 Ergonomische tips voor Mobi Disk reisplannermakers
    Aanvullingen PvE Regionet, cognitief psychologisch detaillering
    Aanwijzingen plaatsing Looprouteschermen Amersfoort CS
    Adviezen bewegwijzering Deltaziekenhuis
    Amber Alert op DRIPS boven snelwegen
    Bedieningsonderzoek AVP op de B8060-NS
    Beter Er-op-uit met de NS-Reisplanner
    Bewegwijzering Nederlands Filmmuseum
    Concept Pictogrammentaal voor asielzoekers
    De effektiviteit van een elektronisch mededelingenbord voor reizigers
    De leesbaarheid van informatie op treinaanwijzers zoals uitgevoerd in Amersfoort en Arnhem
    De MiniAutomaat
    De plaatsing van aanwijzers in Utrecht CS
    Detailontwerp MiniAutomaat
    Dialoogtesten MiniAutomaat maart 2000
    Een albatros in de ET2000 of een kortere reistijd
    Een kort ergonomisch onderzoek in het kader van de Veldtest Amsterdam CS van de Kaartjesautomaat
    Een psychologisch verlanglijstje voor machinisten en treindienstleiders van morgen
    Een reisplanner die de treinreis met 30 minuten verkort
    Ergonomische aanbevelingen Informatieterminal
    Ergonomische aantekeningen bij ABN/AMRO informatie voor beleggers
    Ergonomische evaluatie van de nieuwe kaartjes-automaat; de Autelca type B100
    Felua, een ster als een lijst
    Gebruiksvriendelijkheid en complexiteit van de ET2000
    Halaanwijzers
    Het centrum uit het museum en het museum in het centrum
    Het perspectief van de Duitse Reisplanner (Hafas)
    Het sorteren van reizigers
    Hoe? 'Zo invoeren.'
    Hoe 'Geen electronische tickets'?
    Ideaal betalen
    Informatie voor buspassagiers op het stationsplein Eindhoven
    Interfaces voor complexe systemen
    Knelpunten van knooppuntbewegwijzering
    Landkaartjes in informatie voor reizigers
    Met de trein naar de hypotheek van de toekomst
    Met één knop naar de bushalte van de volgende eeuw
    Met Marco Polo gebruikersvriendelijk door Nederland
    Met Marco Polo gebruikersvriendelijk van A naar B
    Minder alarmen door betere bediening
    MRI-reisplanner
    Psychologie, reisinformatie en toekomst
    Psychologische evaluatie van de Vipas parkeerautomaat
    Skimmen
    Specificatie Burenbel interface
    Stap 1, Wie, wat, waar
    Stap 2, Wat de busreizigers moeten weten
    Stap 3, Welke media zijn nodig
    Station Maastricht als case voor de bewegwijzering van stations
    Twee ergonomische problemen van de groenteweegschaal
    Zeker met C-ZAM of langzamer met de ‘snelle’ CCV


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    Future systems: how to organize our lifes in a technical future.

    In Dutch.
    Bank wordt overbodig
    Betalen, lenen, sparen, nu en morgen
    Fiscus rekent meteen af
    Help voor whizzkids
    Het RSI-gevaar
    Homepage van morgen
    Ideaal betalen
    Leren rekenen en therapie in de supermarkt
    Moderne mens: meester of slaaf?
    Pinnen is te moeilijk voor banken
    Redeneer-wijzer.
    Waarom kijkt bank naar zon bij rentebetalen?
    Waarom mocht oma niet E-stemmen toen zij jong was?

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    Clients

    ABN/Amro
    Acto
    AMG\ergonomics
    Apeldoorn-it
    Automatiseringsgids
    BankGiroCentrale
    BPM
    BSO
    Centric
    Computable
    Data Sciences
    De Drie Mollen
    De Twee Snoeken
    Elsevier
    Euroforum
    European Integrated Railway Radio Enhanced Network
    European Rail Research Institute
    Flexa
    Forbo Krommenie
    Gemeente Den Haag
    Heineken
    Hoge School Enschede
    Hoge School Groningen
    Hoge School Rotterdam
    Interpay
    Nederlandse Spoorwegen
    Netpresenter
    Oce van der Grinten
    Oce technologies
    PC+magazine
    Philips Apeldoorn
    Philips Eindhoven
    POA TU Delft
    ProRail
    Shell
    SE Arbo bv
    Software Research
    Software Sciences
    Stichting Informatica Congressen
    Stork Food Systems
    Sum-It
    Transfair
    UIC
    Universiteit van Amsterdam
    Universiteit van Delft
    Universiteit van Leiden
    Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer
    VNU Business Publications
    Wehkamp
    Wolters Kluwer Juridische Uitgeverij
    Wolters Noordhoff
    Zwitserleven


    To top.

    Contact



    cognitive psychology, interface design, mmi, userfriendlyness, usability, web page design
    Leonard Verhoef.
    +31 (30) - 231 44 97
    Parkstraat 19
    3581 PB Utrecht
    Nederland

    humanefficiency.nl
    verhoef@humanefficiency.nl

    Chamber of commerce, trade register, subscription number: 39057871.     
    Some non-confidential
    cognitive psychology
    based Human Efficiency
    designs.

    Complex data

    complex process presentation
    Upper right red,
    Disaster occured!

    complex process presentation

    All ok.

    complex process presentation
    Upper right yellow low,
    take care!

    complex process presentation
    Upper right yellow high,
    take care!
    Source: Verhoef Holslag,
    2010.

    leerroute beheers systeem
    Source: LBS/Holslag Verhoef.


    Sourrce: Holslag Verhoef

    How much information
    can be in one of these
    smiley?

    Source: Verhoef Holslag,
    2010.


    Design of tables


    Graphics for aesthetics,
    OECD house style.
    Source: OECD quarterly
    growth table.
    http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx


    No graphics, data only.
    Same data as previous table.


    Same data as previous
    table.
    Graphics for content.
    OECD, adapted by Verhoef for demo.


    Design of scales







    One variable,
    six parameters,
    233 milliseconds
    perception time.


    An effective problem solving
    tool.
    Source: Holslag & Verhoef.


    Portrait or landscape?

    train traffic control information portrait orientation
    What is better for a train traffic
    controler?
  • portrait ...
  • train traffic control information landscape orientation

  • ...landscape?
  • Source: Holslag & Verhoef.

    What is better for car driving?
    tom tom autonavigatie scherm
  • ... realistic landscape?
    Source: Tom Tom, 2010.


  • auto route reisplanner reizen
  • alphanumerical portrait ...?

  • Source: Verhoef, 2010.
    etcs ermts mmi dmi planning
  • abstract portrait ...?
  • Source: ETCS/Verhoef.

    Train traffic control


    How to present
    tracks and platforms?
    Presentation of tracks and platforms for train traffic controlers
  • This way?

  • Presentation of tracks and platforms for train traffic controlers
  • Or this way?
  • Source: NS/Verhoef.



    Screen design
    public transport


    Design ticket vending

    NS touch screen train ticket vending machine
    NS touch screen train
    ticket vending machine
    Routing problems
    solved using ...




    Ticket vending machine.
    Language option first step?
    Source: Belgium Railways.


    Ticket vending machine.
    Change language any time.
    Source: NS/ Verhoef.

    Netherlands Railways touch screen train ticket vending machine.It looks like a menu.
    However,
    no hierarchical steps.
    What is the structure?"

    Which button is
    to help whizzkids
    and it-specialists?
    Source: NS/Verhoef.


    coffee drink vending machine, use of gray out.
    Grey out, should not
    mean not available,
    of course.
    Source: Verhoef.


    Design of train indicators


    Source: Netherlands Raiways,
    Amersfoort, 2008.


    Grey half circle:‘Go shoping.’
    Departure in 30 min.


    Yellow triangle: ‘Go to train.’
    Departure in 2 min.


    Orange half circle: ‘Hurry up!’
    Departure in 30 sec.
    Source: Experimental designs,
    Verhoef 2010.


    Experimental trains indicator,
    train departing in 5 min,
    at top and in large format.
    don't hurry.


    Experimental trains indicator,
    train deparring shortly.
    colour: yellow, don’t dawdle.


    Experimental trains indicator,
    train departing almost now.
    colour orange, hurry!


    Experimental trains indicator,
    first departing train at top,
    has left 1 min. ago,
    colour red.

    Source: Experimental designs,
    Verhoef 2009.



    High speed train driving
    ETCS, (European Train Control
    System)

    Experimental
    speedometers


    Analog classical
    experimental clock design
    Train speed: 192.
    Maximum permitted speed
    200. Next target permitted
    speed 40. Good for general
    maintain speed task,
    bad for planning and when
    close to intervention.

    Analog design, screen
    version


    Diagrammatic design,
    vertical version.
    Braking curve should
    not touch maximum
    permitted speed curve.
    The tongue below should fit
    in the pipe above. Good
    for planning and insight,
    bad when close to
    intervention.


    Diagrammatic design,
    horizontal version.
    Comparable with
    vertical version.


    Animated design
    Braking curve should not
    touch max permitted speed
    curve. The “vehicle”
    in front should not be too
    close. Good when close to
    intervention, bad for
    planning and insight.

    etcs mmi, ermts, high speed driving speedometer
    Speed and
    safety information
    for high speed train
    drivers.
    The one that is now standard.
    Source: ETCS/Verhoef.

    To top of this list of pictures.


    Consistency


    Cab with inconsistent
    interfaces. Visible, even
    at low resolution.
    Inconsistent presentation
    and input of:
    date, time, numbers, colours,
    enter procedures, control of
    attention.


    Cab with consistent interfaces.
    No differences in
    presentation and input of:
    date, time, numbers, colours,
    enter procedures, control of
    attention.


    Consistent icon design.
    The graphic elements can be
    combined for current
    functions and for functions
    to be developped. The
    graphic elements are like
    words. Designers can create
    new sentences. Drivers
    knowing the elements can
    understand new combinations
    of words/icons.

    To top of this list of pictdures.



    Use of colours


    Same use of colours for all
    information. Colour is used
    for control of attention.


    Use of colour, white: no
    braking curve.


    Use of colour, yellow: brake
    shortly.


    Use of colour, orange: brake
    now!!


    Use of colour, red: brake
    too late, intervention.

    This use of colour for
    control of user's attention
    can be used for any systems,
    for instance for passengers
    and teachers.


    To top of mmi concepts list.




    Planning

    At the right maximum train
    speed profile ahead. Lower
    maximum speed at 1000 m.

    The planning design was
    based on the experimental
    diagrammatic design
    (see above).


    Time to intervention

    The small square at the top
    left shows that there is
    sufficient time to safety
    system brake intervention.


    Train braking curve is
    close to safety braking
    curve. The square top
    left shows time to
    intervention of the
    safety system. Time
    to intervention depends
    on maximum permitted
    speed minus current
    speed and the traction/
    brake application. When
    looking outside the
    square is in the visal
    periphery but will be
    noticed when it comes
    up because: the
    periphery is sensitive
    for changes, for high
    contrast changes and
    the square is at the
    top of the screen.
    This design was based
    on the experimental
    animated design
    (see above).


    To top of this list of pictures.
    with pictures.