Quantitatively evaluating graphical user interface (gui) applications for ergonomics and efficiency

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• executing, by a computer system, a first task on a first user interface of an application, wherein executing the first task comprises performing a first plurality of steps on the first user interface, wherein during executing the first task, pixel coordinates of a sequence of input locations on the first user interface are logged to obtain logged pixel coordinates of the sequence of input locations;
• converting, by the computer system, the logged pixel coordinates of the sequence of input locations to a plurality of vectors, each vector of the plurality of vectors representing a distance between a first location and a sequential input location, each vector of the plurality of vectors indicating a direction from the first location to the sequential input location;
• calculating, by the computer system, an average distance between input locations for the first task;
• calculating, by the computer system, an average direction change between input locations for the first task;
• calculating, by the computer system, a first ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator for the first task by multiplying the average distance between input locations for the first task and the average direction change between input locations for the first task;
• determining, by the computer system, whether the first ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator for the first task is greater than a second ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator for a second task, wherein the second task is performed by executing a second plurality of steps on a second user interface;
• generating a recommended user interface based on whether it is determined that the first ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator is greater than the second ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator, the recommended user interface comprising the first user interface or the second user interface;
• and
• visually displaying an indication of the recommended user interface on an output device.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing programming for execution by the one or more processors, the programming comprising instructions to:
• obtain logged pixel coordinates of a sequence of input locations on a user interface associated with performing a task on the user interface;
• convert the logged pixel coordinates of the sequence of input locations to a plurality of vectors, each vector of the plurality of vectors representing a distance between a first location and a sequential input location, each vector of the plurality of vectors indicating a direction from the first location to the sequential input location;
• calculate an average distance between input locations for the task by summing the distances of the plurality of vectors to generate a sum, and then dividing the sum by a total number of input locations;
• calculate an average direction change between input locations for the task;
• generate an ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator from the average distance between input locations and the average direction change between input locations;
• determine if the ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator is larger than a target figure of merit;
• generate a recommendation based on whether it is determined that the ergonomics-and-efficiency indicator is larger than the target figure of merit;
• perform a redesign of the user interface based on the generated recommendation;
• and
• visually display the redesigned user interface on an output device.