The DOI matches its Crossref record; 2 of the 2 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Training wheels in a user interface
Open accessAbstract
New users of high-function application systems can become frustrated and confused by the errors they make in the early stages of learning. A training interface for a commercial word processor was designed to make typical and troublesome error states “unreachable,” thus eliminating the sources of some new-user learning problems. Creating a training environment from the basic function of the system itself afforded substantially faster learning coupled with better learning achievement and better performance on a comprehension post-test. A control group spent almost a quarter of their time recovering from the error states that the training interface blocked off. We speculate on how this training strategy might be refined, and more generally, on how function should be organized in a user interface.
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“Carroll and Carrithers [1984] exploited this effect with their Training Wheels interfaces, which intentionally reduced the number of commands displayed.”
From Supporting Novice to Expert Transitions in User Interfaces (2015) · cites this paper as Carroll and Carrithers [1984]
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“The original concept involved hiding advanced interface controls; allowing users to make fewer initial errors and learn the system more effectively [15].”
From Progressive Disclosure: When, Why, and How Do Users Want Algorithmic Transparency Information? (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“The original concept involved hiding advanced interface controls; allowing users to make fewer initial errors and learn the system more effectively [14].”
From Progressive disclosure (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“Progressive disclosure has a long history in UI research, dating back to the Xerox Star and early word processing systems [14,61,74].”
From Progressive disclosure (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
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In the citing paper
“This enhanced understanding of core concepts gives them a framework that later helps them integrate the complexities of the advanced features [6,15].”
From Progressive Disclosure: When, Why, and How Do Users Want Algorithmic Transparency Information? (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
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“Progressive disclosure has a long history in UI research, dating back to the Xerox Star and early word processing systems [15,62,76].”
From Progressive Disclosure: When, Why, and How Do Users Want Algorithmic Transparency Information? (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
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“However, empirical studies examining progressive disclosure show that people learn better when they are initially limited to a smaller set of core features.”
From Progressive Disclosure: When, Why, and How Do Users Want Algorithmic Transparency Information? (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
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Citations
Cites
Learning to use word processors
Mack, R. L., Lewis, C., & Carroll, J. M. (1983) · ACM Transactions on Information Systems · doi:10.1145/357436.357440 · Cited by 204
Self-citationThe adventure of getting to know a computer
Carroll (1982) · Computer · doi:10.1109/mc.1982.1653888 · Cited by 113
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Carroll . J.M. Presentation and form in user-interface architecture. BYTE 8 , 12 ( Dec. 1983 ). 113-122. Carroll. J.M. Presentation and form in user-interface architecture. BYTE 8, 12 (Dec. 1983). 113-122.
- Carroll . J.M. and Mack . R.L. Actively learning to use a word processor. In Cognitive Aspects of Skilled Typewriting, W.E. Cooper, ed . Springer-Verlag , New York , 1983 . Carroll. J.M. and Mack. R.L. Actively learning to use a word processor. In Cognitive Aspects of Skilled Typewriting, W.E. Cooper, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1983.
- Carroll , J.M. and Mack , R.L. Learning to use a word processor: By doing, by thinking, and by knowing. In Human Factors in Computing Systems, J.C. Thomas and M. Schneider , eds. ABLEX, Norwood, N.J. , 1984 . Carroll, J.M. and Mack, R.L. Learning to use a word processor: By doing, by thinking, and by knowing. In Human Factors in Computing Systems, J.C. Thomas and M. Schneider, eds. ABLEX, Norwood, N.J., 1984.
- Ferguson . G.A. Statistical Analysis in Psychology and Education. Mc- Graw-Hill , New York . 1971 . Ferguson. G.A. Statistical Analysis in Psychology and Education. Mc- Graw-Hill, New York. 1971.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology
Davis, F. D. (1989) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/249008 · Cited by 68,483
(1993) · Cited by 9,879
Simulation-Based Learning in Higher Education: A Meta-Analysis
Chernikova, O., Heitzmann, N., Stadler, M., Holzberger, D., Seidel, T., & Fischer, F. (2020) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.3102/0034654320933544 · Cited by 1,072
A Scaffolding Design Framework for Software to Support Science Inquiry
Quintana, C., Reiser, B. J., Davis, E. A., Krajcik, J. S., Fretz, E. B., Duncan, R. G., Kyza, E. Α., Edelson, D. C., & Soloway, E. M. (2004) · Journal of the Learning Sciences · doi:10.1207/s15327809jls1303_4 · Cited by 1,056
Task Characteristics and the Experience of Optimal Flow in Human—Computer Interaction
Ghani, J. A., & Deshpande, S. P. (1994) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.1994.9712742 · Cited by 1,048
Metadata
- Authors
- Carroll, J. M., & Carrithers, C.
- Affiliations
- IBM (United States) (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- ORCID
- Carroll, John M.
- Venue
- Communications of the ACM
- Published
- 1984-08
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 800-806
- ISSN
- 0001-0782 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7317
- OpenAlex
- W114843461
- Cited by
- 345
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 12.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Communications of the ACM (publishedVersion)
- Ablex Publishing Corp. eBooks
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Human Resource Development and Performance Evaluation
- Keywords
- user interface design, novice users, user learning, error states, word processing software, user understanding
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