Research Seminar - October 09, 1998

Abstract

There has been much research into the problems of novice computer users and also the performance of experts. However longitudinal research into the transition between the two is uncommon.

The seminar will start with a review of skill acquisition within the context of human-computer interaction. There will then be a discussion of the Sydney Study, where over 4000 users of an editor were monitored for a period of seven years. It will be argued that some of the major features can be described by three Process Dynamics:

• The level of vocabulary is broadly stationary as measured by the type-token ratio (TTR) from linguistics. Some expert users undergo important transitions of the TTR value.
• There is continuous growth through exploration, which appears to be linked to the TTR value.
• The stationary TTR is partly maintained through crossovers between different methods of working.

The implications for training and education, user interface design and future research will be discussed.