本研究欲探索的的主題為電子產品螢幕圖形化使用者介面(GUIs)當中的圖示(Icon)元素之設計風格表現與使用性(Usability)的關係。但是近年因為軟硬體顯示品質與尺寸的增加，以及搭載各類智慧產品的應用程式市場蓬勃發展，現今圖示的設計現況與過去已有風格迴異的的表現，為了能夠有意義地重新開啟這個過去曾被頻繁研究過的問題，本計畫在方法學(methodology)方面將有系統地結合量化以及質化取向的研究策略，另外搭配實驗性質的設計或重新設計(redesign) 程序。本研究計畫將包含六個部分的研究工作，包括1. 圖示資料庫建立、2. 以分類法對圖示進行相似性及MDS 分析、3. 以語意量表測量觀者對種種風格的圖示的態度與評價、4.依循認知向度與設計手法設計模擬圖示介面、5. 以視覺搜尋作業、眼球追蹤法測試不同風格圖示介面之使用效率、6.以階梯研究法 (laddering) 深入解析使用者對於模擬圖示介面之核心評價。預期這一系列的研究將可有意義地提供關於介面圖示設計之重要見解。
This research project proposes a series of research works to explore the cognitive dimensions of visual style of icons in current GUIs design. The issues of legibility or the ease of interpretation of icons in GUIs research history were intensively discussed. However, investigating the principles of modern icon design and its underlying psychological foundations becomes intriguing due to the development of display technology and the explosion of apps market. In this project, there are six research parts addressing different aspects of icon designing practice: 1. collecting sufficient amount of sample icons. 2. Using sorting experiment and MDS to analysis sample icons. 3. Evaluating users’ attitude to sample icons by using semantic questionnaire. 4. Design experimental icon-based GUI for following experiment. 5. Using icon-based GUI to carry out an visual searching experiment. The experiment procedure will be observed by eye-tracking techniques. 6. Adopting method of laddering to explore profound evaluation and values driven by sample icon-based interfaces. These research works are expected to produce meaningful results for related research and practice areas.
