Lucy Buykx, Helen Petrie

Human Computer Interaction Research Group, Dept of Computer Science, University of York

What cooks need from multimedia and textually enhanced recipes

Background

Earlier systems to help cooks have different goals To help novice cooks (Ju et al 2001)

To reduce errors (Tran et al 2005)

To increase efficiency (Hamada et al 2005)

To increase confidence (Mennicken et al 2010)

Share a similar approach to recipe Transform text into short steps Enhance with multimedia

This study

Tests Control format vs short steps Ingredient measures in steps

Measures Time taken to complete recipe (efficiency) Post recipe rating (experience) Post recipe feedback (problems,

preferences)

Study design

3 recipes Spicy bean and tomato dip Lemongrass & lime chicken burgers Key lime pie

3 conditions Control (as published) Simple step-by-step Edited step-by-step

Participants

24 cooks 18-25 years equal male/female

92% (22) cook more than 4 days a week 37% (9) use a recipe once in 2 weeks

Protocol

Brief & kitchen explore Complete participant profile Cook recipes x 3

Cook recipe Complete post-recipe questionnaire

Debrief, pack & take home food

Recipe text conditions

Control condition

Transformation: ControlSimple

1. Soak the black beans…2. Heat the oil in a saucepan set over high heat and add the red pepper and onion.

Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 8 minutes. Add the cumin, garlic and chilli and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, vinegar and passata and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer rapidly for 10 minutes, until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the tomatoes start to look mushy.

3. Preheat the grill…4. Transfer the bean mixture…

a) Identify tasks within stepsb) Split out into stepsc) Renumber steps

Transformation: ControlSimple

1. Soak the black beans…2. Heat the oil in a saucepan set over high heat || and add the red pepper and

onion. || Reduce the heat to low, || cover and cook for about 8 minutes. || Add the cumin, garlic and chilli || and cook for a further 2 minutes. || Add the beans, tomatoes, vinegar and passata ||and bring to the boil. || Reduce the heat|| and simmer rapidly for 10 minutes, until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the tomatoes start to look mushy.

3. Preheat the grill…4. Transfer the bean mixture…

a) Identify tasks within stepsb) Split out into stepsc) Renumber steps

Simple step-by-step condition

Transformation: SimpleEdited

a) Identify tasks within ingredientsb) Move tasks to steps in method sectionc) Add ingredient measures to steps

1/2 small red pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced1 small red onion, thinly sliced1 teaspoon ground cumin1 garlic clove, finely chopped2 tomatoes, chopped1 small red chilli, finely chopped1 tablespoon red wine vinegar125 ml passata

Transformation: SimpleEdited

a) Identify tasks within ingredientsb) Move tasks to steps in method sectionc) Add ingredient measures to steps

1/2 small red pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced1 small red onion, thinly sliced1 teaspoon ground cumin1 garlic clove, finely chopped2 tomatoes, chopped1 small red chilli, finely chopped1 tablespoon red wine vinegar125 ml passata

Edited step-by-step condition

1/2 small red pepper1 small red onion1 teaspoon ground cumin1 garlic clove2 tomatoes, chopped1 small red chilli1 tablespoon red wine vinegar125 ml passata

1. Deseed and thinly slice ½ small red pepper2. Thinly slice 1 small red onion3. Finely chop 1 garlic clove4. Chop 2 tomatoes….

Edited step-by-step condition

Results

Time taken to complete recipe Post recipe ratings Post recipe feedback

Time taken to complete

Key lime pie recipe No significant

difference in mean time to complete recipe

Variation in cooks higher than between conditions

Efficiency measures not appropriate for domestic cooks

Post recipe rating

Were the instructions clear?

Post recipe rating

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Post recipe feedback

Free form comments in addition to scores 61 comments from 20 cooks Sorted into categories

Dense steps cause frustration (10 comments)

Ingredient measures not in step (7 comments)

Queries about technique (15 comments)

Queries about interim or end state (6 comments)

Want visuals (6 comments)

Post recipe feedback: dense steps

“The text was difficult to read as it was one solid block. Had to reread a number of times to feel confident in what I was doing.” (Cook 11)

“The second step could have been broken down in two steps because when read on the ipad, the vast amount of text cluttered the screen and made it seem more complex than it actually was.” (Cook 23)

“Some bits had lots of text in one massive paragraph - means that you have to read through it a number of times to find the bit you need.” (Cook 4)

About recipes in control condition:

Post recipe feedback: ingredient measures

“it is better to include the quantity of ingredients required in the instructions on iPad” (cook 1)

“One issue I found was that I kept having to refer back to the first page, on which the ingredients were listed, and it was a bit annoying” (cook 15)

“Quite a lot of annoyance with flipping back and forth between pages, back to see amounts needed and forward to see what to do next” (cook 7)

About recipes in control & simple step-by-step condition:

Post recipe feedback: state query

“It would be nice to get information on the consistency and maybe texture of the food in the making, depending on the step you are at.” (cook 21)

“crushed garlic to me implies a crushed clove, and in a burger, minced is more appropriate” (cook 18)

“recipe didn’t mention whether or not to remove coriander stalks” (cook 24)

Post recipe feedback:technique query

“not very clear about the way to chop the tomatoes” (cook 3)

“slightly ambiguous statements like ‘mix well’ although common in recipes not quite clear” (cook 4)

“the onion needed to be grated but I wasn’t sure which side of the grater to use” (cook 12)

Post recipe feedback:want visuals

“I’d have really liked a photograph (possibly at key stages) to know what I should be aiming for” (cook 11)

“I think if there are some pictures to illustrate what it looks like in important steps will be fantastic” (cook 22)

“I believe that when consulting recipes people are very visual and like to know what their food is going to look like in the end so they can make comparisons and such” (cook 23)

In summary

Different recipe conditions did not effect time or score

But comments show different experience Smaller steps useful Ingredient measures preferred Photos desired Technique & ingredient states benefit from

extra info Support for recipe enhancement

Questions

Lucy Buykx buykx@cs.york.ac.uk Helen Petrie petrie@cs.york.ac.uk