Optimizing the user-interface of a knowledge-based system

The knowledge-based system WIWENA was developed at the Technical University of Berlin for supporting design engineers during the selection and dimensioning of standard components. The system was then subjected to user tests in experiments during which design engineers had to solve a small design task in six hours. One set of designers could use WIWENA for selecting and dimensioning standard components, while a second group worked without it. The engineers were interviewed after the experiment. The study provided some recommendations for changing the user-interface of WIWENA and other knowledge-based systems to achieve higher user acceptance.