Date: Tue, 11 Feb 92 15:14:49 EST From: Tkelley@HEL4.BRL.MIL Subject: Mac interface experiments Over the past few weeks I have received numerous requests for information regarding human factors experiments which were conducted in order to develop the Macintosh computer. This was in response to the question I had posted several weeks before. I am sending all of the e-mail I received related to this issue. I did find on my own some fairly good information, but it seems as though much of the Mac development was first of all based on the Xerox Star, and secondly not very emperically, but rather based on common sense. One good information source containing some early Star experiments is "Readings in Human-Computer Interaction A Multidisciplinary Approach" by Ronald M. Baecker and William A.S. Buxton. This book contains, "Human Factors Testing in the Design of Xerox's 8010 Star Office Workstation" by William L. Bewley, Teresa L Roberts, David Schroit and William L. Verplank also "Designing the Star User Interface" by David Canfield Smith, Charles Irby, Ralph Kimball, Bill Verplank and Eric Harslem which was actually reprinted from Byte Magazine,v.7,n.4,April 1982. Sorry I did not respond directly to all of you asking for this information. But since there was quite a few of you, I decided posting it was the best way. Received: from [130.43.2.6] by hel4.HEL4.BRL.MIL id aa12162; 22 Jan 92 19:44 EST Received: from [90.20.0.222] by colossus.apple.com with SMTP (5.65/11-Dec-1991-eef) id AA06026; Wed, 22 Jan 92 17:39:05 -0800 for Received: by alink-gw.apple.com (5.65/27-Sep-1991-eef) id AA26179; Wed, 22 Jan 92 17:31:32 -0800 for Message-Id: <696130303.0301622@AppleLink.Apple.COM> Subject: Studies To: TKELLEY@HEL4.BRL.MIL From: MACDTS@AppleLink.Apple.COM (Macintosh Developer Tech Supt) Date: 23 Jan 92 01:01 GMT TO: OF: Gateway to Internet/BITNET/UUCP, TKELLEY@HEL4.BRL.MIL@INTERNET# SUBJECT: Studies Dear Troy, If you have access to AppleLink, the best place to start would be the Developer Talk Bulletin Board, Apple Human Interface folder. Beyond that, check out the Macintosh programming newsgroup and the cognitive science newsgroups on USENET. The reference, "The Art of Human-Computer Interface Design" is available through APDA, product # T0400LL/A. If you don't have direct access to AppleLink, you might want to contact a local Mac User Group and they should be able to help you find information posted on AppleLink. To find a User Group near you, call 800-538-9696. The address, MACINTERFACE is no longer an active address and should not be used. If you are a part of the Developer Program, please send your questions to the AppleLink address: DEVHOTLINE or MACDTS. Please understand, that support through these addresses is limited to registered Developers in our program. I hope this is of some help to you, and thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation of our direct support policy. Christopher Callahan Developer Support ================================================================== Developer Support would appreciate any constructive feedback you'd like to give us. A special AppleLink account called DTS.FEEDBACK has been set up for you to send in your feedback. Keep in mind that DTS.FEEDBACK is a place for feedback about our service only; technical questions should come through MACDTS and AIIDTS as usual. Thanks for helping us to help you. ### The content of your link dated:1/22/92 follows: ****************************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Tkelley@hel4.brl.mil To: MacInterface <@BRL.MIL:MacInterface@applelink.apple.com> I am interested in doing some research on human-computer interface issues. I was wondering if you could direct me to any research Apple has done relating to it's Macintosh interface. I am aware of the Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines, but I am interested in the actual studies conducted to establish those guidelines. Any references would be helpful. Troy Kelley Human Engineering Lab ******************************************************************************   Received: from cunyvm.cuny.edu by hel4.HEL4.BRL.MIL id aa25848; 27 Jan 92 8:00 EST Received: from DKAUNI2.BITNET by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 0409; Mon, 27 Jan 92 08:57:46 EST Message-ID: <"92-01-27-14:01:35.25*UK61"@DKAUNI2.BITNET> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 92 14:01 From: "Bernd Feist" To: tkelley@HEL4.BRL.MIL Subject: Copy of answers: Mac Interface Studies Hi, the reference part of the Macintosh Human Interface Guide lists some books and articles that deal with the problem. I think parts of the research have been done by Xerox in the seventies. As I'm inteested in the Topic, too, could you please send me a copy of the answers you receive ?? mfg (Mit freundlichen Gruessen) Bernd Feist (Karlsruhe, Germany)   Received: from po5.andrew.cmu.edu by hel4.HEL4.BRL.MIL id aa27579; 27 Jan 92 14:01 EST Received: by po5.andrew.cmu.edu (5.54/3.15) id for tkelley@hel4.brl.mil; Mon, 27 Jan 92 15:01:04 EST Received: via switchmail; Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:01:04 -0500 (EST) Received: from pcs9.andrew.cmu.edu via qmail ID ; Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:00:39 -0500 (EST) Received: from pcs9.andrew.cmu.edu via qmail ID ; Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:00:33 -0500 (EST) Received: from mms.0.1.873.MacMail.0.9.CUILIB.3.45.SNAP.NOT.LINKED.pcs9.andrew.cmu.edu.pmax.ul4 via MS.5.6.pcs9.andrew.cmu.edu.pmax_ul4; Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:00:33 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:00:33 -0500 (EST) From: Steven Teal To: tkelley@hel4.brl.mil Subject: mac interface guidelines Cc: Troy: Being a human-computer interaction researchers I must warn you to be aware that the guidelines put out by Apple are purely "this seems like a good way to do it" guidelines. Their material has numerous references in the back but the majority of work is backed up by any empiricial research. If you have a specific problem you might want to ask it on either the netnews.comp.cog-eng or netnews.comp-human-factors bboards. If you need further info you can get me at steal@galaxy.afit.af.mil (Wright Patterson AFB) or my account here at Carneige Mellon. steve   Received: from [131.204.10.13] by hel4.HEL4.BRL.MIL id aa28015; 27 Jan 92 15:55 EST Received: from lab22.eng.auburn.edu by eng.auburn.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0 edison 1.21) id AA28874; Mon, 27 Jan 92 12:21:07 CST Date: Mon, 27 Jan 92 12:21:07 CST From: Kenneth B. Kirksey Full-Name: Kenneth B. Kirksey Message-Id: <9201271821.AA28874@eng.auburn.edu> To: Tkelley@HEL4.BRL.MIL Subject: Mac Interface Studies I'd be interested to hear the responses you get to this request. thanx, Ken   Received: from uicvm.uic.edu by hel4.HEL4.BRL.MIL id aa08379; 1 Feb 92 20:44 EST Received: from EARLHAM.BITNET by UICVM.UIC.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R1) with BSMTP id 7207; Sat, 01 Feb 92 20:44:22 CST Date: Sat, 1 Feb 1992 21:44 EST From: IRVS%EARLHAM.BITNET@UICVM.UIC.EDU Subject: Mac Interface studies. To: tkelley@hel4.brl.mil Message-id: <67D8163EA000041E@YANG.EARLHAM.EDU> X-Envelope-to: tkelley@hel4.brl.mil X-VMS-To: NETMAIL::"tkelley@hel4.brl.mil" Troy, While I know that this is a bit unorthodox for the net, I was also interested in the Mac-Human interface and when I read that there might actually be some research which has already been done, I wanted to search it out. I was wondering if you would be willing to send me the information which you have already obtained on this subject. If you feel that you cannot for any reason at all, I will understand but please reply in any case, as I would not want to bother you more than necessary. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Dave Irv Smith Bitnet: IRVS@EARLHAM Internet: IN%"IRVS@YANG.EARLHAM.EDU"