Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

First Advisor

Thomas C. Eskridge

Second Advisor

Troy R. Weekes

Third Advisor

Youngju Sohn

Fourth Advisor

Brian Lail

Abstract

In order to investigate the intricate interaction between interface design, user technological proficiency, and other components of the user experience, this research study used a mixed-method approach. The beginner user group—those with little experience or expertise with technology - were the main target audience. The important discovery emphasizes the substantial influence that careful design can have on improving the effectiveness and usability of interfaces for non-tech-savvy individuals. When using the suggested Interface B instead of the current Interface A, beginner participants' task completion times significantly improved, according to the user study. This underlines the significance of creating with the needs of the target audience in mind and underscores the critical role that human-centered design plays in bridging the gap between beginner and expert users. The study's conclusions show that there is a more nuanced relationship between interface complexity and user performance than initially thought. The idea that the only way to optimize the user experience is by lowering complexity is called into question by the observed adaptability of users to new design components. Rather, it highlights how important it is to take users' familiarity and pre-existing mental models into account when creating interfaces. The examination of cognitive load yielded inconsistent findings, suggesting the need for a more detailed knowledge of the ways in which different interface design elements impact distinct components of cognitive burden. This further emphasizes how crucial it is to use multimodal assessment techniques in order to fully capture the subtleties of the user experience. Moreover, the results concerning task completion times and user satisfaction contradict common assumptions, indicating that a variety of factors other than interface complexity or simplicity affect these results. This emphasizes how crucial it is to use a comprehensive, human-centered design methodology. Future research can further contribute to a deeper knowledge of the intricate relationship among interface design, user experience, and technological aptitude by resolving the constraints of the current study and investigating new avenues for investigation.

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