Articles by Barbara S. Chaparro, PhD
Dr. Chaparro is a Professor in the Department of Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She leads the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab, an academic research & consulting lab. Her research interests include the study of user experience (UX), usability assessment methods, future technologies, and mobile computing.
Validation of the GUESS-18: A Short Version of the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS)
Abstract The Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS) is a 55-item tool assessing nine constructs describing video game satisfaction. While the development of the GUESS followed best practices and resulted in a versatile, comprehensive tool for assessing video game user experience, responding to 55 items can be cumbersome in situations where repeated assessments are necessary. […] [Read More]
Texting While Walking: Is It Possible With a Smartwatch?
Abstract Smartwatches are quickly becoming a popular complement to smartphones for notifications and activity tracking, yet most lack an effective method for text input. Typing on a smartwatch with an onscreen keyboard was originally thought to be impractical due to the small screen size. As a result, alternative keyboards that use “zoom” features to enlarge […] [Read More]
Investigating the Usability of E-Textbooks Using the Technique for Human Error Assessment
Abstract Many schools and universities are starting to offer e‑textbooks as an alternative to traditional paper textbooks; however, limited research has been done in this area to examine their usability. This study aimed to investigate the usability of eight e‑textbook reading applications on a tablet computer using the Technique for Human Error Assessment (THEA). The […] [Read More]
User Performance and Satisfaction of Tablet Physical Keyboards
Abstract This study presents an evaluation of user performance and satisfaction of three physical keyboards that accompany two popular tablet computers. All keyboards were dual purpose in that they served as tablet covers in addition to typing input devices. The keyboards varied in weight, thickness, and key travel. The thinnest keyboard featured durability and pressure-sensitive […] [Read More]
Text Advertising Blindness: The New Banner Blindness?
Abstract Banner blindness, the phenomenon of website users actively ignoring web banners, was first reported in the late 1990s. This study expands the banner blindness concept to text advertising blindness and examines the effects of search type and advertisement location on the degree of blindness. Performance and eye-tracking analyses show that users tend to miss […] [Read More]
The Usability of Computerized Card Sorting: A Comparison of Three Applications by Researchers and End Users
Abstract This study reports on the usability of three commercially available electronic card sort applications (CardZort, WebSort, and OpenSort) by researchers (Study 1) and by end users (Study 2). Both groups of participants conducted a series of tasks representative of their user group with each program. Researchers focused on the set up and analysis of […] [Read More]
The Pervasiveness of Text Advertising Blindness
Abstract Users of websites tend to ignore text advertisements, especially when they are on the right side of a web page, even when the advertisements are useful for completing a task. This study explores the impact of web page layout conventions on text advertising blindness and how quickly users adapt to websites that violate layout […] [Read More]