Method and system for quantitative determination of software ease of use

Abstract

The present invention uses biometrics for the quantitative determination of software ease of use by collecting biometric data from a software user, identifying changes in the biometric data as the user uses the software, determining if the changes are indicative of software ease of use issues, and generating a signal as output if the changes are determined to be indicative of software ease of use issues. The sensors may be integrated into a computer mouse or other peripheral device with which the user comes in regular contact during use.

1 . A computer implemented method which employs biometric measurements, comprising the steps of: 
 using sensors to collect biometric data from at least one user engaged in using software operating on a computer or computer network;    monitoring changes in the biometric data which occur while the software is being used; and    providing an output based on changes in the biometric data.    
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein said output is a quantitative measurement of software ease of use.  
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2  wherein said quantitative measurement is electronically stored or transmitted to another computer or computer network.  
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2  wherein said at least one user includes a plurality of users, and said quantitative measurement is user-independent and is based on biometric data for each of said plurality of users.  
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein said output is a context sensitive help message.  
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 5  wherein said output is provided based on a user-specific ease-of-use measure.  
   
   
       7 . A computer system which employs biometric measurements, comprising: 
 one or more sensors for collecting biometric data from at least one user engaged in using software operating on a computer or computer network; and    software operating on said computer or computer network which 
 a) monitors changes in the biometric data which occur while the software is being used; and  
 b) provides an output based on changes in the biometric data.  
   
   
   
       8 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein at least one of said one or more sensors is associated with a peripheral device which is connected to or communicates with said computer or computer network.  
   
   
       9 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein said peripheral device is a mouse, tablet, track ball, or tablet.  
   
   
       10 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein said output is a quantitative measurement of software ease of use.  
   
   
       11 . The computer system of  claim 10  further comprising a storage medium for storing said output.  
   
   
       12 . The computer system of  claim 10  wherein said at least one user includes a plurality of users, and said quantitative measurement is user-independent and is based on biometric data for each of said plurality of users.  
   
   
       13 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein said output is a context sensitive help message displayed on a display.  
   
   
       14 . The computer system of  claim 13  wherein said output is provided based on a user-specific ease-of-use measure.  
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium providing instructions for implementing a method which employs biometric measurements, comprising the steps of: 
 using sensors to collect biometric data from at least one user engaged in using software operating on a computer or computer network;    monitoring changes in the biometric data which occur while the software is being used; and    providing an output based on changes in the biometric data.    
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15  wherein said output is a quantitative measurement of software ease of use.  
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16  further comprising instructions to electronically store or transmit said quantitative measurement to another computer or computer network.  
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15  wherein said at least one user includes a plurality of users, and said quantitative measurement is user-independent and is based on biometric data for each of said plurality of users.  
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15  wherein said output is a context sensitive help message.  
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19  wherein said output is provided based on a user-specific ease-of-use measure.