Uid Mod 1
Uid Mod 1
Uid Mod 1
.The user interface is the part of a computer and its software that people can see,
hear, touch, talk to, or otherwise understand or direct. The user interface has
essentially two components: input and output.
I n p u t is how people communicate his needs to the system using keyboard or any
result to user
pointing device and output is how the system returns processing
through screen or sound.
The best interface is one which has proper design with combination of effective
input and output mechanisms.
P o o r design may even chase some people away from a system permanently. It
O t h e r benefits also accrue from good design (Karat, 1997). Training costs are
lowered because training time is reduced, support line costs are lowered because
fewer assist calls are necessary, and employee satisfaction is increased because
Visual presentation is the visual aspect of the interface. It is what people see on
the screen. The sophistication of a graphical system permits displaying lines,
including drawings and icons. I also permits the displaying of a variety of
character fonts, including different sizes and styles.
Pick-and-Click Interaction
Visualization
Visualization is a cognitive process that allows people to understand
information that is difficult to perceive, because it is either too voluminous or
too abstract.
Object Orientation
A graphical system consists of objects and actions. Objecets are what people see
onthescreen as a singleunit.
Objects can be composed of sub objects. For example, an object may be a
specification).
.The following is a typical property/attribute specification sequence:
o The user selects an object for example, several words of text.
o The user then selects an action to apply to that object, such as the
action BOLD
o The selected words are made bold and will remain bold until selected
and changed again.
mindlproblem.
Concurrent Performance of Functions
Graphic systems may do two or more things at one time. Multiple programs
multitasking.
Data may also be transferred between programs. It may be temporarily stored on a
Clipboad for later transfer or be automatically wrapped between programs.
.Web interface design is essentially the design of navigation and the presentation
of information.
Actions are rapid and incremental with visible display of results: theresuts
ofcurrent
actionsform.
are immediately displayed visually on the screen in their new and
Auditory feedback may also be provided. The impact of a
previous action is quickly seen, and the evolution of tasks is continuous and
effortless.
Users: The users of intranets, being organization employees, know a lot about
the organization, its structure, its products, its jargon, and its culture. Customers
use Internet sites and others who know much less about the organization, and
often care less about it.
Thedesign goalsin creating auserinterface are described below. They are fundamental
to the design and implementation of all effective interfaces, including GUI and Web
ones. These principles are general characteristics of the interface, and they apply to all
aspects.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Provide visual appeal by following these presentation and graphic
design principles:
Provide meaningful contrast between screen elements.
Create groupings.
Align screen elements and groups.
Visual elements
Functions
Metaphors
Words and text
Compatibility
Provide compatibility with the
following:
The user
The task and job
The product
Adopt the user's perspective
Comprehensibility
A system should be easily learned and understood. A user should
know the following:
What to look at
What to do
When to do it
Where to do it
Why to do it
How to do it
.Configurability
Permit easy personalization, configuration, and reconfiguration of settings.
Enhances a sense of control.
Consistency
Operate similarly.
The same action should always yield the same result.
Control
Directness
Efficiency
Minimize eye and hand movements, and other control actions.
Navigation
paths should be as short as possible.
Familiarity
Employ familiar concepts and use a language that is familiar to the user.
Use real-world
metaphors.
Flexibility
A system must be sensitive to the differing needs of its users,
enabling a level and type of performance based upon:
.Predictability
The user should be able to anticipate the natural progression of each task.
Recovery
Responsiveness
The system must rapidly respond to the user's requests.
Visual.
Textual.
Auditory.
Simplicity
Provide as simple an interface as possible.
Provide defaults.
Minimize screen alignment points
Transparency
Permit the user to focus on the task or job, without conceru for
the mechanics of the interface.
Trade-Offs
technical requirements.