Times and Frequencies for Computer Conferencing Commands

Abstract: Statistics of which actions a user of a non-simultaneous computer conference system performs most frequently, can be used in designing conference system user interfaces by understanding user needs.

By Jacob Palme, e-mail: jpalme@dsv.su.se, at the research group for CMC (Computer Mediated Communication) in the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences at Stockholm University and KTH.

Last revision: 27 April 1999.

Table of contents

Times and frequencies for KOM commands

The statistics below are based on a random sample of all commands given in the KOM conferencing system during a five-day period in september 1980. The value of these statistics is as a basis for optimization of groupware, you can see which commands users need most, and which are thus most important to optimize.

Warning added in 1999: These statistics were taken from a system which did not, at that time, have any e-mail connectivity. Personal messages could only be sent to other users of the system. Graphics and attachments were unknown concepts. Thus, users of today may have more need for sending e-mail, graphics and attachments than is indicated by the statistics below.

Commands which took more than 30 minutes to complete are not included in the statistics.

Since people may do other things while sitting logged in to COM, the statistics may exaggerate the time to perform some commands.

Note that because of the way COM works, users are guided into using those commands which come first in a menu. Those commands are marked with an * below.

All times in the table are given in seconds.

Total number of characters to the computer: 414873
Total number of characters from the computer: 15107171
Total number of commands: 26982

Summary of frequency of various main task groups

70.76Finding and reading news
7.28Writing messages
7.00Finding and rereading previously seen messages
5.23Finding. looking at. going to activities and users
5.15Login. logout. etc.
1.75All other commands
0.47Handling subscriptions to activities
0.23Managing activities
(The statistics above is not 100 % exact because some commands have dual usage, for example the review command was used both to find old messages, to read the current message again from the beginning, and to move around in the text of a message you are writing, in the statistics above review has wrongly been counted as "Finding and rereading previously seen messages", so the figure for this class is probably too high. Also, the statistics is the percentage of given commands, not the percentage of time, and people give less commands when they are writing messages, thus, the real time for writing messages is about 30 % and not 7.28 % as indicated above.)

The statistics above are taken from the report at URL:
http://dsv.su.se/jpalme/reports/c10166.rtf or
http://dsv.su.se/jpalme/reports/c10166.pdf

Note: Commands in italics in the table are commands which may have too high frequency, because these commands were sometimes default commands, i.e. commands which were performed when the user just pushed the RETURN key. KOM was designed so that pushing the RETURN key always performed one single default command, which was usually what the user wanted to do most at that time. For example, the default command in a series of interactions could be: Read next entry - Read next entry - Join next meeting - Read next entry, etc.

New logical grouping of commands made in 1998

Reading news (includes skipping news):

PercentCommandDescription
30.63(Read) next commentShow the next message in the current thread
21.03(Read) next entryShow the next message in the current meeting
12.66(Join) next meetingGo to the next meeting with news
2.35(Read) next letterShow the next personal message addressed directly to you
0.79List (all) newsList all subscribed meetings with unseen messages
0.64Only (read last)Bypass some messages without reading them in large meetings where you do not have time to read everything
0.59(Re-)type (the entry)Show me the last seen message once more
0.39Mark (the notice)Mark this message so that I remember to reread it at a later time
0.24Skip (all comments)Skip reading the rest of this thread
0.24Save (entry)Save entry text in a file
0.09(Read all) newsShow all unseen messages in sequence without any break (often made while saving them to a file)
1.11Wait (for news)You have seen all unseen messages, and want to be reminded when a new message arrives
70.76total

Rereading previously seen messages:

PercentCommandDescription
5.49Review (entry)Reread an (usually) already seen message once more
1.28(Read) next marked (notice)Read next message which you have marked for rereading at a later time
0.23Unmark (the notice)Remove the rereading mark from a message
7.00total

Finding. looking at and going to activities and users:

PercentCommandDescription
2.14Join (meeting)Move from one activity to another while reading news
1.76(Get) status (of)
  1. Find list of members in a meeting, or
  2. Find list of meetings which a user subscribes to

 

0.09List (public) meetingsList all meetings open for anyone
0.30List active (meetings)List those meetings which most recently got new contributions
0.94PresentList those just now connected to the server
5.23total

Writing messages (includes forwarding and deleting messages):

PercentCommandDescription
1.73Comment (on entry)Write reply to be sent to all who saw the replied-to message
1.16(Send a) letter (to)Write a personal e-mail to a specified user
0.85Answer (privately)Write reply to be sent only to the author of the replied-to message
0.79Enter (it)Submit a message after writing it
0.45(Remove last) lineText editing commad
0.41Cancel (it)Skip submitting a message you are writing
0.36(Type new) entryWrite a contribution to a meeting
0.35(Remove last) wordText editing command
0.33(Re-) type (the letter)Text editing command
0.22Information (copy to)Add CC recipient to current message
0.16Submit (file)Include file into text of a message
0.13Continue (writing)Text editing command
0.12Add receiversAdd primary (To:) recipient to current message
0.08Move entriesMove entry from one activity to another
0.07Subtract receiverRemove a recipient from a message
0.07Delete (entry)Delete a message from the data base
7.28total

Activity subscription handling:

PercentCommandDescription
0.30(Become) member (of)Start subscribing to a meeting
0.17Withdraw (permanently from)Unsubscribe from a meeting
0.00Exclude participantRemove member from a meeting
0.04Add participantAdd a new member to a meeting
0.53total

Miscellanous (login. log out. etc.)

PercentCommandDescription
4.65QuitExit from the KOM system
0.50Begin (with new) nameLogout and login under another name
5.15total

Managing activities:

PercentCommandDescription
0.19Erase (activity)Delete a meeting
0.01Organize meetingsShow submenu
0.03Create (new meeting)Start a new meeting
0.23total

Commands not included in statistics because of low frequency:

PercentCommandDescription
0.29(Something) elseShow submenu
0.27(Read) fileShow file on screen
0.14Change page sizeChange window size
0.10(Get) daytimeShow the current date and time
0.09Change expert (level to)Change to advanced mode (where more commands are availabe)
0.08(Set) terminal (type) displaySet terminal type
0.07Call English COMMove to another KOM server
0.07Something elseShow submenu
0.07Reassign output (to file)Print the output of the next command on a file instead of showing it on the screen
0.06Archive (entry)Mark an entry so that it will never be purged
0.05Read messagesShow submenu
0.05Leave COMLeave the conference system
0.03Scan (news)
0.03Change subjectText editing command
0.03(Submit) fileInclude text file in message being written
0.03Call mini COMMove to another KOM server
0.02Internal mail (FOA)Move to another mail system
0.02List private (meetings)List closed meetings (not open to anyone)
0.02(Get) system informationGet some statistics about the KOM system and its usage
0.02(Get) helpGo to help system
0.02Call new COMMove to another KOM server
0.01Finish (entry)Text editing command
0.01Change presentation (of)Change description of yourself or of a meeting
0.01ContinueText editing command
0.01Message (to letter writers)Write a "vacation" message
0.01List commandsList all KOM commands
0.01List informationGive some information about the KOM system
0.01Change name (of)Change name of a meeting or of yourself
0.01Change password (of)Change your own or someone elses password
0.01Change parametersChange personal preferences
0.01Call travel compensationMove to a subsystem
0.00Write messagesShow submenu
0.00(Set) expiration (time)Change expiration time of a message
0.00(Make) inquiryStart a vote
0.00Insert (entry)Text editing command
0.00List (all) personsList all registered users
0.00Inactive activities???
0.00Active activities???
0.00Change membershipShow submenu
0.00Change organizer (of)Change moderator/organizer of a meeting
0.00ComputeBuilt in calculator function
0.00Begin (from new) numberDesignate some messages in a meeting as seen or unseen by setting a new limit between seen and unseen messages
0.00Call type writing coursePerform special subfunction
0.00Call 3ripPerform special subfunction
0.00Change type (of meeting)Change the type of a meeting, for example from open to closed
0.00(Set) terminal (type) no displayIndicate terminal type which you are using
0.00Set terminal (type)Indicate terminal type which you are using
0.00(Define) groupStart very closed meeting
0.00Call old COMGo to another KOM server
0.00Call programSwitch program
1.75total

Logical grouping of commands made in 1982:

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
1.541480035.716.0(Administration of reading)
0.64651737.915.5Only (read last)
0.27347547.625.0(Read) file
0.24109116.59.0Skip (all comments)
0.24222534.217.0Save (entry)
0.0653731.623.0Archive (entry)
0.0582163.253.0Read messages
0.0313414.911.0Scan (news)

Reading news

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
66.7441526223.113.0(Reading new entries)
30.6315678719.012.0(Read) next comment
21.0313100623.113.0(Read) next entry
12.669340627.415.0(Join) next meeting
2.352408738.122.0(Read) next letter
0.099976433.7235.0(Read all) news

Rereading already seen messages

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
6.775070227.812.0(Reviewing)
5.494453630.114.0Review (entry)
1.28616617.88.0(Read) next marked (notice)

Administration of writing

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
0.59292918.47.0(Administration of writing)
0.2276912.85.0Information (copy to)
0.1272421.98.0Add receivers
0.0825911.85.0Move entries
0.0777640.87.0Subtract receiver
0.071769.88.5Delete (entry)
0.0218731.220.5Internal mail (FOA)
0.003838.038.0Write messages
0.0000.00.0(Set) expiration (time)

Writing messages

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
7.42209370104.638.0(Writing entries and letters)
1.7364849138.971.0Comment (on entry)
1.1638389122.656.0(Send a) letter (to)
0.8535148152.889.0Answer (privately)
0.591147971.730.0(Re-)type (the entry)
0.45797165.96.0(Remove last) line
0.418427.73.0Cancel (it)
0.79499224.05.0Enter (it)
0.3624577250.8141.5(Type new) entry
0.35801084.327.0(Remove last) word
0.33831094.444.0(Re-) type (the letter)
0.16181543.27.0Submit (file)
0.1381123.25.0Continue (writing)
0.031612179.167.0Change subject
0.0321924.313.0(Submit) file
0.01205.05.0Finish (entry)
0.011105368.3137.0Change presentation (of)
0.0118060.018.0Continue
0.01157.57.5Message (to letter writers)
0.002626.026.0(Make) inquiry
0.0000.00.0Insert (entry)

Getting various tables of information

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
3.953567733.415.0(Table printouts)
1.761706435.819.0(Get) status (of)
0.94503319.911.0Present
0.79457721.59.0List (all) news
0.30356344.028.0List active (meetings)
0.093644158.480.0List (public) meetings
0.02680113.3125.0List private (meetings)
0.0235659.357.0(Get) system information
0.0129573.879.5List commands
0.0127067.562.0List information
0.00195195.0195.0List (all) persons
0.0000.00.0Inactive activities
0.0000.00.0Active activities

Other commands

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian time(Group)command
12.996227317.82.0(Miscellaneous)
4.659380.70.0Quit
2.14858914.96.0Join (meeting)
1.1132435108.56.0Wait (for news)
0.50300.20.0Begin (with new) name
0.39106510.22.0Mark (the notice)
0.30167220.916.0(Become) member (of)
0.29103813.111.0(Something) else
0.23176728.03.0Unmark (the notice)
0.1985016.311.0Erase (activity)
0.1782517.612.0Withdraw (permanently from)
0.14581.51.0Change page size
0.1053920.76.5(Get) daytime
0.092048.21.0Change expert (level to)
0.08622.81.5(Set) terminal (type) display
0.0730.20.0Call English COM
0.0774441.327.5Something else
0.071558.67.0Reassign output (to file)
0.0534426.513.0Leave COM
0.0447447.433.0Add participant
0.0369486.853.5Create (new meeting)
0.0320.30.0Call mini COM
0.0223338.835.0(Get) help
0.0220.40.0Call new COM
0.0122073.344.0Change name (of)
0.019230.727.0Change password (of)
0.01463231.5231.5Organize meetings
0.0111055.055.0Change parameters
0.012110.510.5Organize meetings
0.0100.00.0Call travel compensation
0.003939.039.0Change membership
0.001212.012.0Change organizer (of)
0.0044.04.0Compute
0.0000.00.0Begin (from new) number
0.0000.00.0Call type writing course
0.0000.00.0Call 3rip
0.0000.00.0Change type (of meeting)
0.0000.00.0(Set) terminal (type) no display
0.0000.00.0Set terminal (type)
0.0000.00.0(Define) group
0.0000.00.0Exclude participant
0.0000.00.0Call old COM
0.0000.00.0Call program

All commands sorted by frequency:

PercentTotal timeMean timeMedian timeCommand
30.6315678719.012.0(Read) next comment
21.0313100623.113.0(Read) next entry
12.669340627.415.0(Join) next meeting
5.494453630.114.0Review (entry)
4.659380.70.0Quit
2.352408738.122.0(Read) next letter
2.14858914.96.0Join (meeting)
1.761706435.819.0(Get) status (of)
1.7364849138.971.0Comment (on entry)
1.28616617.88.0(Read) next marked (notice)
1.1638389122.656.0(Send a) letter (to)
1.1132435108.56.0Wait (for news)
0.94503319.911.0Present
0.8535148152.889.0Answer (privately)
0.79499224.05.0Enter (it)
0.79457721.59.0List (all) news
0.64651737.915.5Only (read last)
0.591147971.730.0(Re-)type (the entry)
0.50300.20.0Begin (with new) name
0.45797165.96.0(Remove last) line
0.418427.73.0Cancel (it)
0.39106510.22.0Mark (the notice)
0.3624577250.8141.5(Type new) entry
0.35801084.327.0(Remove last) word
0.33831094.444.0(Re-) type (the letter)
0.30356344.028.0List active (meetings)
0.30167220.916.0(Become) member (of)
0.29103813.111.0(Something) else
0.27347547.625.0(Read) file
0.24109116.59.0Skip (all comments)
0.24222534.217.0Save (entry)
0.23176728.03.0Unmark (the notice)
0.2276912.85.0Information (copy to)
0.1985016.311.0Erase (activity)
0.1782517.612.0Withdraw (permanently from)
0.16181543.27.0Submit (file)
0.14581.51.0Change page size
0.1381123.25.0Continue (writing)
0.1272421.98.0Add receivers
0.1053920.76.5(Get) daytime
0.099976433.7235.0(Read all) news
0.093644158.480.0List (public) meetings
0.092048.21.0Change expert (level to)
0.0825911.85.0Move entries
0.08622.81.5(Set) terminal (type) display
0.0777640.87.0Subtract receiver
0.071769.88.5Delete (entry)
0.0730.20.0Call English COM
0.0774441.327.5Something else
0.071558.67.0Reassign output (to file)
0.0653731.623.0Archive (entry)
0.0582163.253.0Read messages
0.0534426.513.0Leave COM
0.0447447.433.0Add participant
0.0313414.911.0Scan (news)
0.031612179.167.0Change subject
0.0321924.313.0(Submit) file
0.0369486.853.5Create (new meeting)
0.0320.30.0Call mini COM
0.0218731.220.5Internal mail (FOA)
0.02680113.3125.0List private (meetings)
0.0235659.357.0(Get) system information
0.0223338.835.0(Get) help
0.0220.40.0Call new COM
0.01205.05.0Finish (entry)
0.011105368.3137.0Change presentation (of)
0.0118060.018.0Continue
0.01157.57.5Message (to letter writers)
0.0129573.879.5List commands
0.0127067.562.0List information
0.0122073.344.0Change name (of)
0.019230.727.0Change password (of)
0.01463231.5231.5Organize meetings
0.0111055.055.0Change parameters
0.012110.510.5Organize meetings
0.0100.00.0Call travel compensation
0.003838.038.0Write messages
0.0000.00.0(Set) expiration (time)
0.002626.026.0(Make) inquiry
0.0000.00.0Insert (entry)
0.00195195.0195.0List (all) persons
0.0000.00.0Inactive activities
0.0000.00.0Active activities
0.003939.039.0Change membership
0.001212.012.0Change organizer (of)
0.0044.04.0Compute
0.0000.00.0Begin (from new) number
0.0000.00.0Call type writing course
0.0000.00.0Call 3rip
0.0000.00.0Change type (of meeting)
0.0000.00.0(Set) terminal (type) no display
0.0000.00.0Set terminal (type)
0.0000.00.0(Define) group
0.0000.00.0Exclude participant
0.0000.00.0Call old COM
0.0000.00.0Call program