Human Interaction Speeds

Human Interaction Speeds

The speed at which people can perform using various communication methods has been studied by a number of researchers. The following, are summarized as table below

Reading   

Prose text: 250–300 words per minute.

Proofreading text on paper:   200 words per minute.

Proofreading text on a monitor:       180 words per minute.

Listening:  150–160 words per minute.

Speaking to a computer:       105 words per minute.

After recognition corrections: 25 words per minute.

Keying     

Typewriter        

Fast typist:          150 words per minute and higher.

 Average typist:   60–70 words per minute.

Computer

Transcription:     33 words per minute.

Composition:      19 words per minute.

Two finger typists

Memorized text:  37 words per minute.

Copying text:      27 words per minute.

Hand printing

Memorized text:  31 words per minute.

Copying text:      22 words per minute.

Methods for Gaining an Understanding of Users

Gould (1988) suggests using the following kinds of techniques to gain an understanding of users, their tasks and needs, the organization where they work, and the environment where the system may be used.

Visit user locations, particularly if they are unfamiliar to you, to gain an understanding of the user’s work environment.

Talk with users about their problems, difficulties, wishes, and what works well now. Establish direct contact; avoid relying on intermediaries.

Observe users working or performing a task to see what they do, their difficulties, and their problems.

Videotape users working or performing a task to illustrate and study problems and difficulties.

Learn about the work organization where the system may be installed.

Have users think aloud as they do something to uncover details that may not otherwise be solicited.

Try the job yourself. It may expose difficulties that are not known, or expressed, by users.

Prepare surveys and questionnaires to obtain a larger sample of user opinions.

Establish testable behavioral target goals to give management a measure for what progress has been made and what is still required.