ABSTRACT
EID is one of many approaches available to designers for human-computer interaction in complex work environments. Other popular approaches include Cognitive Work Analysis, Task Analysis, Situation Awareness Analysis, Contextual Inquiry, Use Case Scenario Design, GOMS (Goal, Operators, Methods, and Selection Rules), Participatory Design, User Interface Principles, and Usability Evaluation. Some of the outputs of these analyses are alternatives to that of EID for informing interface design. For example, Contextual Inquiry provides some alternatives to EID; both methods have work models based on the constraints of the work environment. Other approaches provide complementary perspectives that are useful in filling gaps to interface design. For example, EID identifies how component resources map functionally to purposes, while Task Analysis identifies activities that enable a user to achieve particular goals.
