Human&Computer&Interac/on&

Task&Analysis & &&&&&&&&&&&&Dr.&Umar&Shoaib&

 Task Analysis
A task analysis is an intensive examination of
• how people perform work activities.
An#intensive#examina,on#of#how#people#perform#work#
ac,vi,es.##

2#
Overview

3#
 Task – Decomposition CHECK PICs

Goal - state of the system that a human

wants to accomplish.

Task - activities required, used, or

deemed necessary to achieve a goal.

Actions - steps required to complete the

task.

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7
• What&are&Tasks&
– What#the#user#has#to#do#(or#thinks#what#he/she#has#to#do)#
in#order#to#accomplish#a#goal##
• Each#task#should#be#
– #Meaningful##
– Associated#with#a#goal#
– Iden,fiable#by#the#user##
• What&is&Task&Analysis&&
– A#process#of#analyzing#the#way#people#perform#their#tasks#
– #The#things#they#do#
– The#things#they#act#on#
– The#things#they#need#to#know##
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 Differences from other techniques

&Systems analysis vs. Task analysis

system design- focus -the user
Cognitive models vs. Task analysis
internal mental state- focus - external actions
#

5#
 Task Analysis types

• Behavioral task analysis

• Cognitive task analysis
• Interaction tables

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#
#
#
Behavioral Task Analysis

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 An#Example#
• In#order#to#clean#the#house#
• get#the#vacuum#cleaner#out##
• fix#the#appropriate#aLachments#
• clean#the#rooms#
• when#the#dust#bag#gets#full,#empty#it#
• put#the#vacuum#cleaner#and#tools#away#

• Assump,on:#cleaner#must#know#about:#
• vacuum#cleaners,#their#aLachments,#dust#bags,##
cupboards,#rooms#etc.#
 Behavioral#Task#Analysis#
• An#intensive#examina,on#of#people’s#behavior#about#
how#they#perform#their#tasks.#

• We#need#to#understand#the#task#to#be#able#to#design#for#
good#interac,on#

• “knowing(something(about(how(users(approach(and(
carry(out(tasks(will(aid(so7ware(designers(when(making(
design(decisions(which(will(ul8mately(affect(computer(
system(usefulness(and(usability”(
((Johnson(&(Johnson,(1991)#
9#
 Why#Behavioral#Task#Analysis?#
• Manuals,#Training#Materials#and#Documenta,on#

• Requirements#elicita,on#and#systems#design#
– suggests#candidates#for#automa,on#
– uncovers#user's#conceptual#model#
• Detailed#interface#design#
– suggest#menu#layout#
– taxonomies#suggest#menu#layout##
– object/ac,on#lists#suggest#interface#objects##
– task#frequency#guides#default#choices#
– exis,ng#task#sequences#guide#dialogue#design#

• #Develop#evalua,on#plans#
10#
 Hierarchical#Task#Analysis#

• Aims:#
– describe#the#ac,ons#people#do#
– structure#them#within#task#subtask#hierarchy#
– describe#order#of#subtasks#

• Hierarchical#Task#Analysis#(HTA)#
– text#and#diagrams#to#show#hierarchy#
– plans#to#describe#order#
 Textual HTA description
Hierarchy description ...
0. in order to clean the house
1. get the vacuum cleaner out
2. get the appropriate attachment
3. clean the rooms
3.1. clean the hall
3.2. clean the living rooms
3.3. clean the bedrooms
4. empty the dust bag
5. put vacuum cleaner and attachments away

... and plans

Plan 0: do 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 in that order. when the dust bag gets full do 4
Plan 3: do any of 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 in any order depending
on which rooms need cleaning
14#
 Hierarchical Task Analysis
• Identify the Major Task to be Analyzed
– e.g. clean house, purchase a flight ticket online, copy a ten-
page paper, etc.
• Break Down the Major Task into Subtasks
– What subtasks must be accomplished in order to perform the
main task
– Try to be specific in terms of the objectives of subtasks
• Decide Upon the Level of Details into Which to Further Decompose
the Subtasks
– Some stopping rule
• e.g. when subtask is simple enough (Is “empty the dust bag”
simple enough?)
• Continue the Decomposition Process
– Keep decompositions and numbering consistent
• Group Some Subtasks (If Too Detailed) into Higher-Level Subtasks
• Present the Hierarchy to a Domain Expert to Check for Errors or 15#
Omissions
 Hierarchical Task Analysis

• Task: Invert a portion of an image

16#
 Hierarchical Task Analysis

0 Invert a portion of an image

1 Zoom display to area of interest
2 Select the Lasso Tool
3 Select the sub-region of the image
4 Select Inverse from the Image menu

17#
 Hierarchical Task Analysis
0 Invert a portion of an image
1. Zoom display to area of interest
1.1 Select the zoom tool from the toolbox
1.2 Specify the zoom region using the tool
2. Select the Lasso Tool
3. Select the sub-region of the image
4. Select Inverse from the Image menu

18#
 Stages of a HTA
• #Starting the analysis
– Specify the main task.
– Break down main task into 4-8 subtask,
and specify in terms of objectives.
Cover the whole area of interest
– Draw out as layered plans, logically &
technically correct. None should be
missing.

19#
 2. Progressing the analysis

• Decide on level of detail and stop

decomposition. Should be consistent
between tasks. Can range from detailed to
high level description.
• Decide if a depth first or breadth first
decomposition should be done. Can
alternate between the two.
• Label and number the HTA.
20#
 3 Finalizing the analysis.

• Check that decomposition and numbering

is consistent. May produce a written
account of the processes.
• Have a second person look it over. They
should know the tasks but not be involved
in the analysis.

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 Task Analysis...5 Steps
• 1. Identify Jobs or tasks to be analyzed
• 2. Clarify the desired results
• 3. Prepare a Plan to do the Analysis
– Implement the Plan
– Analyze the results
• 4. Break down the Task into component parts
if required
• 5. Restructure the parts if necessary to
achieve (learning / skills) outcomes
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Zoom in on Face

23#
 Hierarchical Task Analysis

0###Invert a portion of an image

1 Zoom display to area of interest
1.1 Select the zoom tool from the toolbox
1.2 Specify the zoom region using the tool
2 Select the Lasso Tool
3 Select the subregion of the image
4 Select Inverse from the Image menu

24#
Select the Lasso Tool

25#
 Hierarchical#Task#Analysis#

0###Invert#a#por,on#of#an#image#
1&&&&Zoom&display&to&area&of&interest&
1.1###Select#the#zoom#tool#from#the#toolbox#
1.2###Specify#the#zoom#region#using#the#tool#
2&&&&&Select&the&Lasso&Tool&
3&&&&Select&the&subregion&of&the&image&
3.1####Point#and#click#around#the#area#of#interest#(“produces#a#rubber#
band”)#
3.2####Adjust#the#“rubber#band”#to#accurately#select#the#region#
4#####Select#Invert#from#the#Image#menu#

26#
Select#the#specific#sub`region#

27#
 Hierarchical#Task#Analysis#

0###Invert#a#por,on#of#an#image#
1&&&&Zoom&display&to&area&of&interest&
1.1###Select#the#zoom#tool#from#the#toolbox#
1.2###Specify#the#zoom#region#using#the#tool#
2&&&&&Select&the&Lasso&Tool&
3&&&&&Select&the&subFregion&of&the&image&
3.1####Point#and#click#around#the#area#of#interest#(“produces#a#rubber#
band”)#
3.2####Adjust#the#“rubber#band”#to#accurately#select#the#region#
4&&&&Select&Invert&from&the&Image&menu&

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Image Menu

29#
Apply invert operation

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 Default tool

• “zoom” has been the default tool in Adobe

Photoshop

How/Why would they have decided to

choose “zoom” as the default tool?
#

31#
 Approaches to task analysis
• Task decomposition
– splitting task into (ordered) subtasks
• Knowledge based techniques
– what the user knows about the task and how it is
organized
• Entity-relation based analysis
– relationships between objects, actions and the people
who perform them
• General method: observe
– collect unstructured lists of words and actions
organize using notation or diagrams
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33#
34#
35#
36#
 Plan 0:
0. do 1
make a cup of tea At the same time, if the pot is full, do 2
Then do 3 – 4
Making a Cup of Tea After four or five minutes do 5

1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
Boil Empty Make pot Wait for 4 or 5
Pour tea
water pot of tea minutes
Can we expand 5?

3.2. 3.2. Plan 3:

3.1.
Put tea leaves Pour in do 3.1 – 3.2 – 3.3
Warm pot
in pot boiling water

1.1. 1.2 1.3. 1.4. 1.5. Plan 1:

Fill Put kettle Turn Wait for Turn do 1.1 – 1.2 – 1.3 – 1.4
kettle on stove on gas kettle to boil off gas when kettle boils, do 1.5
29 37#
 Suppose  subtask  5  “Pour  tea”  can  be  further  decomposed

5. Pour tea
5.1. put milk in cup
5.2. fill cup with tea
5.3. add sugar to taste

Plan 5.
Do 5.1 – 5.2 – 5.3

What if we want to make more than one cup?

5.1 5.2 5.3 More cup(s)?

Yes
30 38#
 Plan 0:
0.
do 1
make cups of tea
At the same time, if the pot is full, do 2
Then do 3 – 4
Plan 3: After 4 or 5 minutes do 6
do 3.1 – 3.2 – 3.3

1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
Boil Empty Make Wait for 4 or
Pour tea
water pot pot 5 minutes

Plan 5:
3.2. 3.2.
Pour in 5.1 5.2 5.3 More cup(s)?
3.1. Put tea
Yes
Warm pot leaves in boiling 5.1. 5.2. 5.3.
Plan 1: pot water Put milk Fill up Add
do 1.1 – 1.2 – 1.3 – 1.4 in cup with tea sugar
when kettle boils, do 1.5
1.1. 1.2 1.3. 1.4. 1.5.
Fill Put kettle Turn Wait for Turn
kettle on stove on gas kettle to boil off gas
31 39#
 Types of plan
• fixed sequence optional tasks waiting for events cycles
time-sharing discretionary mixtures
• - 1.1 then 1.2 then 1.3
- if the pot is full 2
- when kettle boils 1.4
- do 5.1 5.2 while there are still empty cups - do 1; at
the same time ...
• - do any of 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 in any order
- most plans involve several of the above

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 Types of Plan
• Fixed Sequence
– The same sequence of subtasks is always followed
e.g. Plan 3 in the HTA of tea making
• Optional Subtasks
– Subtasks that may or may not be performed depending on
circumstances
e.g. Subtask 2 in plan 0 in the HTA of tea making
• Waiting-For Events
– Wait for a certain time
e.g. Wait for 4 or 5 minutes in plan 0 in the HTA of tea
making
– Wait for the occurrence of some event
e.g. Wait for kettle to boil in plan 1 in the HTA of tea
making

41#
 Types of Plan
• Cycles
– Repeat some subtasks until a condition is reached
e.g. Repeatedly perform subtasks 5.1 – 5.3 until no more cup is left
in the HTA of tea making
• Time Sharing
– Some subtasks can be done at the same time
e.g. Subtasks 1 and 2 can be done at the same time in the HTA
of tea making
• Discretionary Subtasks
– Whether to perform some subtasks is at the people’s
discretion
e.g. In plan 3 in the HTA of room cleaning, the person is allowed to
clean any room that he/she thinks needs cleaning and in any order
• Mixtures
– Most plans are a mixture of different types
e.g. Plan 1 in the HTA of tea making is largely a fixed sequence but
split by a wait 42#
#
#
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Cognitive Task Analysis

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 The GOMS family of models
• GOMS#=#Goals,#Operators,#Methods,#Selec,on#rules#
– #Goals:#what#the#user#wants#to#do#
– Operators:#ac,ons#supported#by#the#sodware#applica,on#
– Methods:#learned#sequences#of#sub`goals#and#operators#to#
reach#a#goal#
– Selec,on#rules:#users’#personal#rules#to#choose#one#of#several#
methods#
• The#Goals,#Operators,#Methods#and#Selec,on#rules#
(GOMS)#model#aims#at#predic,ng#how#long#an#
experienced#user#will#take#to#perform#a#given#task#on#a#
given#interface#design.#
– Card#et#al.#(1983),#The(Psychology(of(Human(Computer(
Interac8on#

44#
 Example : move a sentence in a text
• Initial goal: edit text
• Sub-goal: select text to move
• Operators:
a. move the mouse
b. click mouse button
c. enter key on keyboard
• Methods:
– For editing:
1. Delete sentence and type again
2. Cut/Copy-paste using keyboard shortcuts
3. Cut/Copy-paste using menu items
– For selection :
4. Click and drag text
5. Double-click first word, shift-click last word
• Selection rules:
– For editing:
• method 1 if the text is short, method 2 if the user knows the shortcuts,
method 3 otherwise.
– For selection: method 4 if the text to be moved is not a set of complete
words, method 5 otherwise.
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 KLM : Keystroke-Level Model
• Six operators in the original version (four are listed
below):
– K – hit key or button (0.08s - 1.20s, mean 0.40s)
– P – pointing a target with the mouse (1.10s)
– H – Homing = moving hand between mouse and keyboard
(1.00s)
– M – Mental activity to prepare for next action (1.35s)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke-level_model
• Example : Using Method 5 and 3 (Previous slide)
– Selection: M PK PK
– Copy command: M PK PK
– Select destination: M PK
– Paste command: M PK PK total = 14.9s
46#
 KLM : Keystroke-Level Model

• Helps in comparing various methods for

performing a single task

• Problem: tendency to overestimate/underestimate

execution times

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#
#
#
Interaction Tables

48#
 Interac,on#Tables#
• Helps#in#organizing#the#conceptual#model#

• Iden,fy#the#objects:#
– What#the#user#wants#to#manipulate#
• Iden,fy#the#opera,ons:#
– What#the#user#wants#to#do#with#the#objects#
• Iden,fy#the#commands:#
– How#the#user#can#ac,vate#the#opera,ons#

49#
 Interac,on#Table#

• Task: Delete a File

• Organize the conceptual model into two tables:

50#
 Interaction Table

• Edi,ng#bitmaps#

51#
 Some#rules#

• Verify#completeness#
– Each#property#should#be#visible#and#editable#

• Verify#consistency#
– Similar#interac,ons#have#similar#effects#

52#