ARTÍCULO
TITULO

Forming a method for the integral estimation of interface quality in automated systems based on the quantitative and qualitative indicators

Alexander Trunov    
Vitalii Koshovyi    

Resumen

Informatization is considered an integral part of the functioning of the present-day society, which changes the nature of human-computer interaction and interface. It was substantiated that the interface quality determines the success of software marketing. It was shown that quality is estimated by both quantitative and qualitative indicators. Their calculation is complicated because of the lack of an analytical model of usability. Two Euclidean norms in the form of the root mean square value and the largest value of the modulus of the set of attribute values were proposed for continuous factor attributes. The problem was reduced to a geometric inequality by applying development into the Maclaurin series and a three-level comparator. Expressions of the upper and lower boundaries of the generalized index of interface quality represented through a set of attribute estimates were obtained. Expressions of the maximum possible absolute and relative errors represented by the method of recurrent approximation through the first and second derivative of the trend were substantiated. Representation of data in a plane with one common axis turned by a certain angle was applied which enabled fast viewing of all planes. It was shown that when all attributes have a quantitative dimension, it is sufficient to apply one norm to estimate the generalized index. However, in the case of quantitative and qualitative estimations, consecutive application of norms for the root mean square and the maximum possible value of the module solves the problem of comprehensive generalized estimation of interface quality. Experimental study of estimation of the generalized quality of the user interfaces for the MedInfoService medical information system which covers automation of curative treatment processes in outpatient clinics and hospitals was presented.