GOMS
Also known as: Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules, KLM, Keystroke-Level Model, CPM-GOMS, CMN-GOMS
A family of human-computer interaction models used to predict how long it will take a user to complete a task with a given interface. GOMS stands for Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules — the four components used to describe user behavior. The simplest variant, the Keystroke-Level Model (KLM), estimates task time by summing the durations of individual actions like keystrokes, mouse clicks, and mental preparation. More complex variants like CPM-GOMS model parallel cognitive and motor activities. While widely used in interface design, GOMS models were developed for able-bodied expert users and do not account for the different interaction patterns, motor timing, and cognitive strategies of users with disabilities, limiting their applicability to accessible interface evaluation without modification.
Category: human-computer interaction · evaluation · usability
Related: Human-computer interaction · User persona · Heuristic evaluation