Thomas Stokes explores how task analysis is used in user experience (UX) design. Task analysis breaks down user tasks to understand their goals and the steps they take to complete them. This approach helps assess how well an interface supports task completion and identifies potential challenges in user interactions. For example, studying the process of buying a soda from a vending machine can highlight unexpected obstacles users might encounter.
The article highlights the importance of incorporating task analysis early in the design process to shape and refine ideas. It introduces Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) as a structured method, outlining key steps like gathering task information, defining user goals, breaking them into sub-goals, mapping out the sequence of actions, and identifying areas for improvement.
