Users' preference share as a criterion for hierarchical menu optimization

Recently developed computer-aided design (CAD) tools automate design of rational hierarchical user menu structures. Proper choice of the optimization criterion is the key factor of success for such a CAD tool. We suggest user preference share as a novel metric of menu layout performance. It has clear economic grounds and is sound for management. We show how the preference share of a menu layout can be evaluated from laboratory experiments and predicted using the experimental menu navigation time and menu layout characteristics. Although navigation time is the most important factor, sometimes the faster does not mean the better. The logical compliance of a menu is also valuable for users.