Puma Footprints: Linking Theory And Craft Skill In Usability Evaluation

'Footprints' are marks or features of a design that alert the analyst to the possible existence of usability difficulties caused by violations of design principles. PUMA Footprints make an explicit link between the theory underlying a Programmable User Model and the design principles that can be derived from that theory. While principles are widely presented as being intuitively obvious, it is desirable that they should have a theoretical basis. However, working directly with theory tends to be time-consuming, and demands a high level of skill. PUMA footprints offer a theory-based-justification for various usability principles, with guidelines on detecting violations of those principles.