Examining users preferences towards vertical graphical toolbars in simple search and point tasks

TL;DR

This study investigates user preferences and performance in simple search and pointing tasks involving vertical graphical toolbars, examining how layout and size influence efficiency and subjective preferences, with insights into user adaptability.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how user preferences evolve after task experience and reveals user groupings based on preference structures in toolbar design.

Findings

Preferences change after task experience

Users form distinct preference groups

Panel location and size affect efficiency

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of preferences and their relation to the objective measures in simple direct manipulation tasks involving both the cognitive process as well as the visually guided pointing activities. The conducted experiment was concerned with the graphical structures resembling toolbars widely used in graphical interfaces. The influence of the graphical panel location, panel configuration as well as the target size on the user task efficiency and subjects' preferences were examined. The participants were requested to express their attitudes towards the tested panels before and after the efficiency examination. This subjective evaluation was carried out within the framework of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP; Saaty, 1977; 1980). The subjective results that were obtained showed significant differences in the subjects' preferences towards examined panels before and after completing the tasks. It seems that the users are able to comparatively quickly change their minds after gaining some experience with the investigated stimuli. Additionally, the applied cluster analysis revealed that the subjects were not homogenous in their opinions, and they formed groups having similar preference structures.