Flying Lessons: what aviation investigations tell other disciplines about user interfaces
at UX Brighton 2013
Type
talk
Whitby argues that aviation's six-decade focus on preventing pilot error offers lessons for HCI and UX. After a shift in attitude toward error — long overdue in IT — evidence-based investigation, multi-cause analysis, and continuous incident data collection can reduce interface failures the way they made airline travel safer. Drawing on aviation categorisation and investigation techniques (including work from his Sussex paper on flying lessons for the human-computer interface), he shows how HCI still uses investigative frames aviation has outgrown.
People
Blay Whitby
Methods
Usability TestingUsability testing reveals where people struggle while attempting realistic tasks with a prototype or service. In a moderated session, a researcher observes the participant and may ask them to explain their thinking. Use it to investigate confusing language, layouts or interactions and identify improvements. Agree research questions, recruit likely users and prepare believable tasks that do not reveal the solution. Explain that the service is being tested, then mostly watch and listen rather than guiding participants. Record observations and follow up on unclear behaviour. Plan accessible sessions, including participants’ own assistive technology when appropriate.
Interaction DesignDesigning how people act with a product over time: controls, states, feedback, flows and micro-interactions. Turns goals and constraints into concrete behaviours that feel clear and forgiving, informed by perception, cognition and the physical or digital context of use.