A description of the Systems Dynamics paradigm is given and the reduced Qualitative System Dynamics (QSD) form explained. A simple example is given to illustrate the diagram construction. The principles of states (levels), rates and feedback loops are outlined. The QSD method is used to address the problem of accessibility by using human control of automation as an example, and applying the QSD method to evaluate the effects of the researcher and user in the de- sign of an accessible artefact. This simple automation model illustrates what can be found out from such a picture, in this indicating how the feedback from users has an influence on the time to deliver such designs.
KeywordsQualitative System DynamicsComputer InteractionAccessibilityUser FeedbackSoftware Design
J. Mingers and L. White, “A Review of the Recent Contribution of Systems Thinking to Operational Research and Management,” 2009. http://www.kar.kent.ac.uk/2231 2/1/EJOR_system_Apr_6_sent.doc
R. L. Flood and M. C. Jackson, “Creative Problem Solving,” Wiley, Chichester, 1991.
J. W. Creswell, “Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches,” Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2003.
M. Crotty, “Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process,” Sage, Thousand Oaks, 1998.
R. Clarke, “Appropriate Research Methods for Electronic Commerce,” 2007. http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger. Clarke/EC/ResMeth.html
W. J. Orlikowski and J. J. Baroudi, “Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions,” Information Systems Research, Vol. 2, 1991, pp. 1-28.
K. Popper, “The Logic of Scientific Discovery,” Taylor and Francis, United Kingdom, 2008.
R. Adams, “Decision and Stress: Cognition and E-Accessibility in the Information Workplace,” Universal Access in the Information Society (UAIS), Vol. 5, 2007, pp. 363-379. doi:10.1007/s10209-006-0061-9
A. Newell and S. K. Card, “The Prospects for Psychological Science in Human-Computer Interaction,” Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 1985, pp. 209-242. doi:10.1207/s15327051hci0103_1
S. Card, T. P. Moran and A. Newell, “The Psychology of Human Computer Interaction,” Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, 1983.
B. Parsons, A. White, P. Warner and R. Gill, “Validation Methods for an Accessible User Interface for a Rehabilitation Robot,” Universal Access in the Information Society (UAIS), Vol. 5, No. 3, October 2006, pp. 306-324. doi: 10.1007/s10209-006-0051-y
J. M. Carroll and R. L. Campbell, “Artifacts as Psychological Theories: The Case of Human Computer Interaction,” Behaviour and Information Technology, Vol. 8, 1989, pp. 247-256.
F. Popescu, Y. Badower, S. Fazli, G. Dornhege and K. Müller, “EEG-Based Control of Reaching to Visual Targets,” Dynamical Principles for Neuroscience and Intelligent Biomimetic Devices—Abstracts of the EPFL-LATSIS Symposium, 2006, pp. 123-124.
T. Carlson and Y. Demeris, “Using Visual Attention to evaluate Collaborative Control Architectures for Human Robot Interaction,” Proceedings of New Frontiers in Human Robot Interaction, ASIB Edinburgh, 2009, pp. 38-43.
P. C. Wright and A. F. Monk, “A Cost-Effective Evaluation Method for Use by Designers,” International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, Vol. 35, No. 6, December 1991, pp. 891-912. doi:10.1016/S0020-7373(05)80167-1
M. A. Sasse, “Eliciting and Describing Users’ Models of Computer Systems,” Ph.D. Thesis, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, 1997.
W. B. Rouse, “Human-Computer Interaction in the Control of Dynamic Systems,” Computing Surveys, Vol. 13, No.1, 1981, pp. 71-99. doi:10.1145/356835.356839
J. Long and J. Dowell, “Conceptions of the Discipline of HCI: Craft, Applied Science, and Engineering,” Proceedings of the fifth Conference of the British Computer Society, Human-Computer Interaction Specialist Group on People and Computers V, February 1990, Nottingham, pp. 9-32.
R. Adams, “User Modelling & Monitoring,” In: C. Stephanidis, Ed., The Universal Access Handbook, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, New York, June 2009.
K. Craik, “Theory of the Human Operator in Control Systems1: The Operator as a Human System,” British Journal of Psychology, Vol. 38, 1947, pp. 56-61.
P. N. Johnson-Laird, “Mental Models,” Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1983.
J. R. Anderson and C. Lebiere, “Atomic Components of Thought,” Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, 1998.
Y. Liu, R. Feyen and O. Tsimhoni, “Queuing Network-Model Human Processor (QN_MHP): A Computational Architecture for Multitasking Performance in Human-Machine Systems,” ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2006, pp. 37-70.
J. Preece, “Human-Computer Interaction,” Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1999.
B. Shneiderman, “Universal Usability,” Communications of the ACM, Vol. 43, No. 5, May 2000, pp. 85-91. doi:10.1145/332833.332843
A. Newell and P. Gregor, “User Sensitive Inclusive Design—In Search of a New Design,” Proceedings on the 2000 Conference on Universal Usability (CUU’00), 2000, pp. 39-44. doi:10.1145/355460.355470
S. Stephanidis, “User Interfaces for All: New Perspectives into Human-Computer Interaction,” In: C. Stephanidis, Ed., User Interfaces for All—Concepts, Methods, and Tools, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, 2001, pp. 3-17.
P. Gregor and P. A. Newell, “Designing for Dynamic Diversity-Making Accessible Interfaces for Older People,” WUAUC’01, Portugal, 2001, pp.90-92.
S. Stephanidis and A. Savidis, “Universal Access in the Information Society,” Universal Access in the Information Society (UAIS), Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001, pp. 40-55.
A. Savidis and C. Stephanidis, “Unified User Interface Design: Designing Universally Accessible Interactions,” Interacting with Computers, Vol. 16, No. 2, April 2004, pp. 243-270. doi:10.1016/j.intcom.2003.12.003
A. Newell, A. Dickinson, M. J. Smith and P. Gregor, “Designing a Portal for Older Users: A Case Study of an Industrial/Academic Collaboration,” ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, Vol. 13, No. 3, September 2006, pp. 347-375. doi:10.1145/1183456.1183459
M. Vigo, A. Kobsa, M. Arrue and J. Abascal, “User-Tailored Web Accessibility Evaluations,” Proceedings of the eighteenth conference on Hypertext and hypermedia (HT’07), Manchester, 10-12 September 2007, pp. 95-104. doi:10.1145/1286240.1286267
D. J. Ward and D. J. C. Mackay, “Fast Hands-Free Writing by Gaze Direction,” Nature, Vol. 418, 2002, pp. 838-840. doi:10.1038/418838a
T. Lang, “Comparing Website Accessibility Evaluation Methods and Learning’s from Usability Evaluation Methods,” 2003. http://www.peakusability.com.au/pdf/ website-accessibility.pdf
J. Forrester, “Industrial Dynamics,” MIT Press, Boston, 1961.
O. Hilmola, P. Helo and L. Ojala, “The Value of Product Development Lead Time in Software Startup,” System Dynamics Review, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2003, pp. 75-82. doi:10.1002/sdr.255
O. Pavlov and K. Saeed, “A Resource-Based Analysis of Peer-to-Peer Technology,” System Dynamics Review, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2004, pp. 237-262. doi:10.1002/sdr.297
M. Elf, M. Putilova, L. von Koch and K. ?hrn, “Using System Dynamics for Collaborative Design: A Case Study,” BMC Health Service Research, Vol. 7, 2007, pp. 123. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-7-123
N. Hurtado, M. Ruiz and J. Torres, “Using a Dynamic Model to Simulate the Heuristic Evaluation of Usability,” Human Computer Interaction—Interact 2009, Vol. 5727, 2009, pp. 912-915. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-03658-3_109
E. F. Wolstenholme, “A Current Overview of System Dynamics,” Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Vol. 114, No. 4, 1989, pp. 171-179. doi:10.1177/014233128901100402
M. Pidd, “Computer Simulation,” Wiley, Chichester, 1998.
T. Cooper, “Critical Management, Critical Systems Theory and System Dynamics,” Systemic Practice & Action Research, Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2003, pp. 237-249.
E. F. Wolstenholme, “System Enquiry,” Wiley, Chichester, 1990.
R. G. Coyle, “Qualitative and Quantitative Modelling in System Dynamics: Some Research Questions,” System Dynamics Review, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2000, pp. 225-244. doi:10.1002/1099-1727(200023)16:3 3.0.CO;2-D
J. H. Powell and J. Bradford, “The Security-Strategy Interface: Using Qualitative Process Models to Relate the Security Function to 0 Business Dynamics,” Security Journal, Vol. 10, 2003, pp. 151-160. doi:10.1016/S0955-1662(98)00020-4
W. G. Liddell and J. H. Powell, “Agreeing Access Policy in a General Medical Practice: A Case Study,” System Dynamics Review, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2004, pp.49-75. doi:10.1002/sdr.283
J. Morecroft, “Strategic Microworlds and System Dynamics Modelling,” Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Vol. 114, No. 4, 1989, pp. 180-186. doi:10.1177/014233128901100403
J. Forrester, “Policies, Decisions and Information Sources for Modelling,” European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 59, 1992, pp. 42-63. doi:10.1016/0377-2217 (92)900 06-U
A. S. White, “A Qualitative Systems Dynamic Model of Human Monitoring of Automated Systems,” Proceedings of the System Dynamics Conference, 2003.
R. Parasuraman, “Vigilance, Monitoring and Search,” In: Boff, Kaufman, Thomas, Eds, Handbook of Perception and Human Performance, Wiley, New York, 1986.
J. D. Lee and T. F. Sanquist, “Maritime Automation,” In: R. Parasuraman, M. Mouloua, Eds., Automation and Human Performance, Erlbaum, 1996.
E. B. Roberts, “The Dynamics of Research and Development,” Harper & Row, New York, 1964.
V. Anderson and L. Johnson, “Systems Thinking Basics,” Pegasus, Cambridge, 1997.
D. H. Kim, “Systems Thinking Tools,” Pegasus, Cambridge, 2000.
E. F. Wolstenholme, “Qualitative v. Quantitative Modelling: The Evolvolving Balance,” International Systems Dynamics Conference, 1998. http://www.Systemdynamics. org/conferences/1998/PROCEED/00071.PDF
G. P. Richardson and D. F. Andersen, “Teamwork in Group Model Building,” 1995. http:// www.albany.edu/~ gpr/Teamwork.pdf