A why-what-how tool for development and documentation of operating procedures

∗ DSTOP, the Design Support Tool for Operating Procedures, is a relatively simple software tool for support of designers of new interfaces and their procedures for use. DSTOP is based on two complementary models: the documentation coherence maxims and the situated-act model, which distinguishes domain actions from interface actions. Use of the tool involves the writing of operating procedures using a kind of grid, where the operating procedure runs from top to bottom and is divided horizontally into why, what and how elements. The why element represents the operating procedure's goal; the what represents the operating procedure's situated act; and the how represents the interface action(s) required to effectuate the act. The tool has been used to develop prototype operating procedures for computer-based aircraft cockpit interfaces. DSTOP adds new functionality associated with the coherence maxims, including explicit representation of variants of terms, and explicit tracking...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: SIGDOC
• Authors: David G. Novick
• Keywords: Coherence Maxims, Document Analysis, Documentation Coherence Maxims, Operating Procedures, SIGDOC 2000