Ontological Sketch Modelling (OSM): Concept-based Usability Analysis

OSM is a novel approach to usability analysis and design that focuses on the quality of fit between the concepts the user is working with and those represented within supporting systems. It focuses not on tasks and procedures but on ontology-that is, the conceptual objects (entities and their attributes) that are embodied in a system, and the mismatches between those concepts and the ones brought to the system by its intended users. This full-day introductory tutorial will lead attendees through the essential concepts and procedures necessary to perform an OSM analysis, using familiar and readily available examples. Exercises will take the form of individual and small-group working. Participants may be HCI practitioners or researchers with an interest in semi-formal analytical approaches. At the end of the tutorial participants will have learned what OSM is and how to apply it to the analysis and design of real-world systems. 1 Aims This full-day tutorial is an introduction to Ontological Sketch Modelling (OSM), a novel approach to usability analysis and design that focuses on the quality of fit between the concepts the user is working with and those represented within supporting systems. The tutorial will combine introduction to the theoretical background and the practice of application with practical exercises. The exercises will lead attendees through the essential concepts and procedures necessary to perform an OSM, using familiar and readily available examples. The exercises will be primarily paper-based; however, we will also introduce a dedicated tool for representing OSM descriptions in XML. At the end of the tutorial participants will have learned what OSM is and how to apply it to the analysis and design of real-world systems. The objectives of the tutorial are as follows: 1. To introduce participants to the theoretical background to OSM and how it differs from other analytical approaches to usability evaluation. 2. To familiarise participants with the practice of performing an OSM analysis, and how to apply OSM to real-world systems. 3. To introduce participants to a dedicated OSM representation tool, dubbed OSMosis. Participants may be HCI practitioners or researchers with an interest in semi-formal analytical approaches. Experience of usability inspection methods or more formal evaluation techniques will be useful but not essential. Exercises will take the form of individual and small-group working.