BibTex
@inproceedings{Jeffries:1987:10.1145/29933.275640,
author = {Jeffries, Robin and Rosenberg, Jarrett},
title = {Comparing a form-based and a language-based user interface for instructing a mail program},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the SIGCHI/GI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems and Graphics Interface},
series = {GI + CHI 1987},
year = {1987},
issn = {0713-5425},
isbn = {0-89791-213-6},
location = {Toronto, Ontario, Canada},
pages = {261--266},
numpages = {6},
doi = {10.1145/29933.275640},
acmdoi = {10.1145/29933.275640},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {New York, NY, USA},
}
Abstract
In the domain of interaction languages, forms have been found to be of value in allowing users, especially non-programmers, to specify objects and operations with a minimum of training, time, and errors. Most of that research, however, has been on the use of data base query languages. The present research found that in a procedural task of specifying mail filtering instructions, non-programmers using a form were as fast as programmers using a procedural language, although programmers using the form were faster still.