CAKE: Knowledge elicitation in user-centred HCI via mobile linear card sorting

Abstract

We describe a requirements and design orientated software tool for PDAs which simulates a variant of the popular Card Sorting paradigm as used in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) user studies. Our variant of the existing cognitive model applies to user scenarios whereby categorising datasets include temporal and action constraints necessary for linear clustering, with the added benefits provided by potential mobility e.g. on-site locations and in geographically dispersed groups. Two case studies present the development of our tool, outlining the method firstly with internet browser based technology to proof our paradigm in remote and local use, and secondly by extending our methodology to visually constraint mobile environments as found with PDAs. We hypothesise that the use of various wireless networks, real-time web services and platform neutral mobile technologies will be an added advantage to HCI practitioners by improving the functional variety of electronic HCI Knowledge Elicitation methods beyond non-electronic models