Chapter 13: The Timely User Experience
Discussion Topics with Answers
For questions 1-4, refer to the following scenario:
A group decision system is being built over a network, which has inherent delays
due to network lag. Suggest the longest acceptable amount of time the delay
could last without affecting the user negatively. Provide an argument for the time
you selected.
1. System confirming the user’s password when logging on.
2. Synchronous group editing of a document.
Some caution is wise when group editing of anything done
3. Asynchronous critiquing of other participants’ work.
These critiques can be batched and sent to the person who controls the
4. Voting on serious issues.
The system can gather votes asynchronously, as they arrive. A short
5. Discuss three human values that are necessary to be understood by interface
designers in order to ensure a timely user experience.
6. Provide an argument explaining why delays should be kept short for everyday
tasks of a user, using short-term and working memory as the basis for your
argument.
7. State a few system response time (SRT) guidelines.
• Users prefer shorter response times
• Longer response times (> 15 seconds) are disruptive
• Users’ usage profiles change as a function of response time