Fit for Human Consumption

This Blog on Hold

Due to the large overlap in content between this blog, and other ones I author (not to mention to simplify my life), I am putting this blog on hold.  I will be posting content to two blogs:

IDSA Human Factors Section  - this will cover methods, emerging technologies, etc.

http://www.humanfactors.typepad.com/idsa/

Fresh Ink (Electronic Ink) - this will cover general commentary and observations

http://freshink.electronicink.com/

You can always reach me at robtannen@hotmail.com or RTannen@electronicink.com

Morae - Six Month Case Study

Our report of experiences using Morae for video and data capture at Electronic Ink's usability lab has been posted to the Morae site:

http://www.techsmith.com/casestudies/morae/electronicink.asp

Usability & Security Online Seminar

I'm going to be giving an online seminar on the basics of usability and security on May 10th.  It will cover general principles of software security, related usability issues and principles, and recommendations for selecting and evaluating software.  I'll also cover some emerging trends in usability and security.

See the link for more information on this and other Electronic Ink usability seminars, and registration:

http://www.electronicink.com/seminars.asp

Evaluation of 3D Auditory Systems

I recently located a copy of an evaluation report that I had collaborated on at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  We had compared an "off the shelf", system for creating listener specific HRTF functions (if such a thing can be called off the shelf) to a more rigorous approach.  The results were dissapointing to say the least -

"The SNAPSHOT MX is a system designed to collect individualized Head- Related Transfer Functions (HRTFS) quickly and efficiently in non-anechoic rooms.  This report outlines the SNAPSHOT system and presents the results of a study comparing auditory localization performance with individualized HRTFs measured with the SNAPSHOT to generic HRThs measured with the SNAPSHOT on the Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research (KEMAR) and to the genetic SDO transfer functions packaged with the Convolvotron. The results indicate that localization performance is significantly worse with the individualized SNAPSHOT HRTFs than with the genetic SDO HRTFs."

You can view an abstract and purchase here:

Evaluation of the SNAPSHOT 3D Head-Related Transfer Functions Measurement System

Or email me to receive it directly.

How to Use RSS

What is it?

RSS is a format for publishing online content.  Web page content is typically published in HTML format.  RSS is an alternate format that is used to deliver text content to RSS readers or aggregators.  RSS aggregators are web sites or tools that allow you to subscribe to RSS-compatible Web content.  Think of an RSS aggregator as an inbox, but instead of receiving emails, you receive messages from your selected sites and blogs about new content on those sites.  This allows you to receive new site content when it is published, in a single place - and you won't have to routinely check your favorite sites to see what has been added.

How do I do this?

You first need to download or subscribe to an RSS aggregator.  Recommended examples (that are also free) include You Subscribe: RSS and News Gator Online.   These tools allow you to receive subscribed content within Outlook or via a single, customized Web page.

You will then need to subscribe to sites of interest.  Many sites and blogs provide RSS-format versions of their content.  To subscribe to the IDSA Human Factors section site (this site), you'll need to subscribe using your RSS aggregator to the following URL:

http://www.humanfactors.typepad.com/robtannen/index.rdf

IDSA Human Factors Section

I've just completed some initial work to redesign the site for the  Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) - Human Factors Section.  I am vice chair of the Human Factors section and author/webmaster of the site.

The redesign was driven by member survey responses, and the site/blog's primay content will be to provide HF reference materials and guidelines for industrial and product designers. 

The site will also include content, and potentially a section on Emerging Technologies for Design Research that will share content with this blog.

Disseration Research

Finally getting around to posting my dissertation research - or at least a summary of it.  The research was done for the U.S. Air Force and focused on adaptive interfaces, combining auditory and visual displays for target localization.  The work was done at the SIRE Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Audio Anecdotes

My small contribution to this comprehensive, two volume set on all things computer and audio, cover the conceptual basics of sound perception and application:

Audio Anecdotes II: Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Digital Audio

Visualizing Requirements

An overview of how Electronic Ink's process of visually communicating requirements leads to increased understanding, collaboration and further requirements identification:

Visualizing Requirements, Electronic Ink

Healthcare Application for PDA and Desktop

Overview of how user-centered design proceses at Electronic Ink supported simultaneous development of a desktop and handheld user interface for physicians - also presented at a Human Factors & Ergonomics Society meeting:

Desiging a Healthcare Application for Desktop and Handheld Use, Electronic Ink/Human Factors and Ergonomics Society