User Frustration - Assignment Example

? User Frustration User Frustration Three Reasons Why Users are Still Frustrated with Modern Applications and Methods for Reducing the Frustrations for each of the Reasons a. Errors Frustrations experienced by users of modern application are associated with errors; in fact, there are no clear definitions of error. However, an error can be defined based on user’s perception towards something that seems wrong in a computer system. Apparently, these errors are hindrances to achievement of users’ task objectives. Errors results from failures in hardware and software such as crashes, which are not directly evoked by the users’ actions (Baecker, Booth, Jovicic, McGrenere & Moore, 2000). On the other hand, an error might result from actions undertaken by users when they choose wrong commands for a given task objective. The user can also make a decision of choosing commands that are incorrect such as spelling errors and mode error; in this case, errors are frustrating experiences particularly for novice users; in fact, these users are unable fully comprehend the cause of the error (Lazar & Norcio, 2002). Furthermore, they may lack the expertise of responding to these errors appropriately; hence, they are unable to undertake actions, which compound severity of errors. This problem can be solved by use of bug tracking tools, which manage and track computer program problem reports that are also refered to as bugs. Nevertheless, these tools take the function of solving software and keeping track of reports accounting. It also provides necessary resolutions, which are based on the knowledge of users. b. Emotional Reactions The other frustration is related to users’ emotional reaction to computing technology; in fact, studies have been conducted on analysis of the effects related to computer systems response time. On the other hand, the slow response time leads to increased frustration and impatient compared to fast response time. There are problem associated with mood disturbances and somatic discomfort, which raises linearity based on the amount of duration spent in the process of undertaking the procedure of data entry. Nevertheless, frustrations arising from the independence of system response duration can be solved through use of method involved in pay knowledge bases of fast web-based databases (Lazar, 2001). On the other hand, the users can consider using technical information for optimization of information collection, organization and retrieving of data. Besides, they can consider using alternative support mechanisms, which involve helpdesks service lines, which offer access to complete solutions. c. User Satisfaction and Frustration There are frustrations, which arise from use of lack user satisfaction; in fact, different studies have suggested that there are dependent variables that are applied for assessing the prosperity of technology. In this case, satisfaction is refers to accomplishment of an objective or a task, which is by directed behaviors that are aimed at achieving satisfaction associated with a form of need, desire or want (Jacko, Sears, & Borella, 2000). In this case, frustration emanates for interruptions, which hiders achievement of a given objective. Besides, this refers barriers that are in the path of achieving a given objective. There are both external and internal causes of frustrations through hindrances of achieving a given objective. Therefore, this can be expressed in terms of the frustration which arises when a user is prevented from achieving their anticipated result, which would have led to a satisfaction (Lazar & Norcio, 2002). Nevertheless, this is a problem that can be solved in focusing on ways to achieve satisfaction in the task involved despite presence of frustration. For instance, this is a problem that can be solved by seeking assistance from a help desk, which is a department that is established in a company or institution with an aim of responding to technical questions. In this case, they can handle problems, which are associated with installation and configuration. 2. Methods for Determining if User Frustration is Caused by Poor System Design or from the Natural Frustration Associated With Learning A New Software Product In order to determine the cause of the user frustration, which is either poor system design or the natural frustration relate to learning a new software product, there is to determine the task application that has caused the frustration experience (Lazar, 2001). Some of the task application includes web browsing, e-mail and word processing. Nevertheless, this method of assessment cannot be solely utilized for identifying the significant cause of frustrations. On the other hand, these applications cannot be considered offenders; instead, this serves as reflection of the common task application undertaken by users. Furthermore, tasks that are pre-assigned can be utilized for identification of the level of frustration; thus, they are considered irrelevant. Frustration associated with poor system design is such as cross task applications; in fact, they form a significant way of approaching the possible solution. For instance, some of the specific causes of frustration associated with poor system design are timed out or rejected connections, long download time, and missing features. On the other hand, there are challenging problems that are frustrating; for example, when connection has dropped (Jacko, Sears, & Borella, 2000). The problems that are frustrating should be documented and this forms a way of improving. Frustration associated with learning a new software product; there are cases of long downloading. Besides, there are situations where designers may provide a web page with smaller or fewer graphics. 3. Three Methods to Reduce the Frustrations among the Disabled Population and How this Population Can be Better Served Frustrations among disabled population can be solved through analysis of software defects such as bugs and crashes. On the other hand, these software can be designed to meet their needs; in fact, these software that are specially designed to solve these problems are solve reduce frustrations. Software for disabled population entails a client program, which is installed on their computer or the web site (Baecker, Booth, Jovicic, McGrenere & Moore, 2000). Other software entails which concert to capture, track, and present information involving crashes that affect disabled users. Therefore, disabled population can be served through development of system crash details, which are sent to software database. Summaries of these crashes are explored with collection of statistical data in order to provide a basis of solving these problems; besides, these problems can be solved by operating systems through vendor. References Baecker, R., Booth, K., Jovicic, S., McGrenere, J. & Moore, G. (2000). Reducing the Gap Between What Users Know and What They Need to Know. Proceedings of the ACM 2000 International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, 17-23. Jacko, J., Sears, A., & Borella, M. (2000). The effect of network delay and media on user perceptions of web resources. Behaviour and Information Technology, 19(6), 427-439. Lazar, J. (2001). User-Centered Web Development. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Lazar J. & Norcio, A. (2002). Novice User Perception of Error on the Web: Experimental Findings. Paper under review. Read More