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M. A. R. Kirby

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Publications by M. A. R. Kirby (bibliography)

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1995
 
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Kirby, M. A. R., Dix, Alan J. and Finlay, Janet E. (eds.) Proceedings of the Tenth Conference of the British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Specialist Group - People and Computers X August, 1995, Huddersfield, UK.

1990
 
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Fowler, C. J. H., Kirby, M. A. R. and Macaulay, L. A. (1990): Historical Analysis: A Method for Evaluating Requirement Capture Methodologies. In Interacting with Computers, 2 (2) pp. 190-204.

Historical analysis is a new method for evaluating requirement capture methodologies. The method consists of three components. First there is the application of a specification analysis technique. This technique is applied to the requirement specification of an existing software product, and is used to predict performance of a product built to that specification. The second component involves surveying actual use of the product. The third component allows a comparison to be made between the predicted and actual product performance. A valid requirements capture methodology should successfully anticipate a significant number of the actual performance problems. The method was used to evaluate the user skills and task match (USTM) methodology. Two case studies were undertaken. The results from the case-work confirm the value of USTM, and demonstrate the power of the historical analysis method as an evaluation tool.

© All rights reserved Fowler et al. and/or Elsevier Science

1988
 
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Kirby, M. A. R., Fowler, C. J. H. and Macaulay, L. A. (1988): Overcoming Obstacles to the Validation of User Requirements Specifications. In: Jones, Dylan M. and Winder, R. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fourth Conference of the British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Specialist Group - People and Computers IV August 5-9, 1988, University of Manchester, UK. pp. 111-122.

Poor specification of user requirements is a major reason why computer systems fail or dysfunction. One way of addressing this problem is to validate User Requirements Specifications before proceeding with system development. To date, it has only been possible to validate specifications against checklists of what they should contain. This type of validation indicates gaps but does not check the reliability of a specification; nor does it explain the implications of specification deficiencies for performance of the finished product. This paper identifies obstacles to the development of validation techniques that do check reliability and do explain the implications of specification deficiencies. An approach to overcoming these obstacles is discussed, particularly a method for ensuring that a specification is verified with the right set of users, and a method of manipulating and analysing the information in a specification to predict dysfunction. This approach has been used to develop the Specified User Requirements Validation and Explication (SURVE) technique.

© All rights reserved Kirby et al. and/or Cambridge University Press

 
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16 Feb 2010: Modified
12 Jun 2009: Modified
28 Apr 2003: Added

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May 24

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three.

-- Alice Kahn

 
 

Featured chapter

Read the fascinating history of Wearable Computing, told by its father, Steve Mann

Read Steve's chapter !

 
 

Help us help you!