A survey of users of thermal simulation programs

Much of the current building simulation research and development concentrates on improving user interfaces to simulation “engines”. The goal seems to be to make the software easier to use. This begs two questions: what interface to use? And, by what criteria is software ease of use measured? What is the intelligent personal (design) assistant1? This paper reports analysis of a survey of users of simulation software which aimed to determine what they seek from improvements to the product they use regularly. During January and February 1996 a telephone and C The amount of customisation of the mail survey was conducted of experienced simulation simulation package routinely undertaken. consultants in the western United States of America. This paper examines the processes used by these practitioners when they wish to maintain quality assurance in their office simulation routine. It also describes the priority placed by these practitioners on such usability features as Graphic User Interfaces, Default Values and “Prototypical” buildings.