Folk Labeling: After-Market Graffiti to Fix Broken Usability

Transcription

1 Folk Labeling: After-Market Graffiti to Fix Broken Usability Jessica Granderson 1 Alan Meier 1, 4, Margarita Kloss 1, Cecilia Aragon 2, Therese Peffer 3, Marco Pritoni 4, Daniel Perry 2 1 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2 University of Washington, 3 UC Berkeley, 4 UC Davis December 1,

2 What Does This Thing Control? And what does the PLEASE refer to? What are the energy implications? 2

3 Definition of Folk Labels Signs, labels, or other user-applied information to facilitate operation of a device 3

4 How We Discovered Folk Labeling Surveys of thermostat usage revealed Few people understood how to use modern programmable thermostats Some people added labels to remind themselves how to perform key tasks Folk energy concepts explored earlier by Willett Kempton, Rick Diamond, others Kempton, Willett Folk Quantification of Energy. Energy - The International Journal 7 (10): Plan 1. Examples 2. Classifications 3. Why folk labels are more than just amusing 4

5 Instructions for Operation: Actuation & Directionality (on/off, high/low)

6 Instructions for Operation: Actuation & Directionality (on/off, high/low)

7 Instructions for Operation: Multifunction Controls 7

8 Instructions for Operation: Multifunction Controls QUIET HOUR SWITCH Ignore this switch. It has no purpose and is not connected 8

9 Instructions for Multifunction Controls Uh oh 9

10 Assignment or Grouping

11 Useful Settings Note to manufacturer: different defaults could avoid this problem

12 Suggestions and Reminders Note to manufacturer: Unclear power management controls

13 Commentary: Frustration Opinion, humor

14 Characteristics of Folk Labels A. Location Wherever culturally acceptable Community facilities and shared spaces: On complex and non-complex devices B. Message Advice, guidance: assignment; useful settings; suggestions, reminders Innovative uses Instructions for operation: actuation and directionality; multi-function Commentary: frustration; opinion; humor C. Format Symbols, icons Diagrams Text Color coding A x B x C characterizes a given label

15 Examples Showing Categorization Where: Traffic or transit areas - doorways Where: Non-complex devices handles What: Operating instructions no power Form: Symbol Where: Shared spaces conference room Where: Complex devices A/V remote control What: Guidance not to remove from the room Form: Text

16 Observations Commentary is least common Artifact of overlap with Advice: suggestions Form Text dominates - easiest for the folk to generate? Diagrams generally associated with assignment labels Color is rarely used

17 Observations Presence of folk labels often signal poor interface design Manufacturers should be on the alert! On/off understood in simpler devices, but may be obscured in complex multi-function operations Folk Labels don t always clarify Explanations obscure What works for x1 may not work for x10

18 Energy Implications Many folk labels involve energy-using controls Lighting controls are the chief target for folk labels Some labels give advice or instructions on how to use less energy Some labels give advice that result in an assured level of service that increases energy use 18

19 Send Us Folk Labels! Please send photos of folk labels to (include categorization information if possible) 19

20 Labels and Usability Heuristics Of Nielsen s 10, at least 5 usability heuristics are in play in energy and environmental folk labels Visibility of system status Match between system and real world User control, undo/redo Consistency and standards Recognition over recall Flexibility, efficiency of use, expert short cuts Aesthetic and minimalist design Error recognition, diagnosis and recovery Help and documentation

21 Hypotheses for Future Work UI heuristics can be paired with label types for insight to improve frequently labeled products Instructions for operation Label Type On/off, directionality of actuation Applicable UI heuristic System real-world match Advice or guidance Assignment Visibility of system status Advice or guidance Suggestions presence of sensors/automation Advice or guidance Useful settings Consistency and standards Instructions for operation Multifunction operations Consistency and standards Recognition over recall

22 Labels and Usability Heuristics, Examples Visibility of system status Advice: suggestions Instructions: multi-function operations Consistency and standards Instructions: multi-function operations Recognition over recall Instructions: multi-function operations Help and documentation: all System real world match Advice: suggestions, Instructions: multi-function operations