Requirements for hypertext applications: the why, what and how approach

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Information Science
• Technical Communication

Background:

• Effective design of hypertext and electronic documents requires robust human factors input during the specification phase.
• Existing methods may not adequately capture user task requirements for complex digital information systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, effective procedure for describing user tasks.
• To support the integration of human factors considerations early in the design process for hypertext and electronic documents.

Main Methods:

• Development of a structured task description procedure.
• Application of the procedure in the context of designing hypertext versions of software manuals.
• Discussion of the procedure's practical applications and inherent limitations.

Main Results:

• A straightforward methodology for documenting user tasks in digital environments.
• Demonstrated utility in the design of hypertextual software documentation.
• Identification of specific use cases and constraints for the proposed procedure.

Conclusions:

• The presented task description procedure offers a valuable tool for enhancing human factors in electronic document design.
• This technique can lead to more intuitive and user-centered hypertextual systems, particularly for software manuals.
• Further refinement and application across diverse digital design contexts are warranted.