Interface Dis/Similarities: Investigating Characteristics Influencing Perceived Differences Between GUIs

While HCI research acknowledges that prior knowledge can be transferred from familiar interfaces to unfamiliar ones, we lack an understanding of which interface characteristics support this process. To adress this issue, we conducted three experiments to identify the interface characteristics that influence the perception of dis/similarities between software interfaces. The first, which involves a card-sorting activity, identifies seven intrinsic characteristics of interface. The second, conducted via an online pairwise comparison survey, identifies three characteristics inherent to the interface’s display context. Finally, the third experiment contrasts the ten identified characteristics to determine their respective influence on perceived interface dis/similarities. Altogether, our results provide actionable guidance for understanding how users perceive differences between interfaces and how such perceptions may inform or facilitate analogical transfer of knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar interfaces.