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Lec 5

This document discusses various factors to consider for information display in human-computer interaction, including whether the user needs precise or relative information, how frequently information changes, and whether the user must take action in response. It also covers analog vs. digital presentation, alternative presentations like charts and graphs, different types of interfaces like command line, menu, and GUI, as well as design considerations for menus, icons, and websites. Key recommendations include supporting diversity, incorporating shortcuts, consistency, simplicity, informative feedback and error prevention.

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28 views23 pages

Lec 5

This document discusses various factors to consider for information display in human-computer interaction, including whether the user needs precise or relative information, how frequently information changes, and whether the user must take action in response. It also covers analog vs. digital presentation, alternative presentations like charts and graphs, different types of interfaces like command line, menu, and GUI, as well as design considerations for menus, icons, and websites. Key recommendations include supporting diversity, incorporating shortcuts, consistency, simplicity, informative feedback and error prevention.

Uploaded by

ranaumair1326
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Human

Computer
Interaction
Lec-5
Information display factors
▪ Is the user interested in precise information or
data relationships?
▪ How quickly do information values change?
Must the change be indicated immediately?
▪ Must the user take some action in response to
a change?
▪ Is there a direct manipulation interface?
▪ Is the information textual or numeric?
Analog vs. digital presentation
▪ Digital presentation
□ Compact - takes up little screen space
□ Precise values can be communicated
▪ Analog presentation
□ Easier to get an 'at a glance’ but can be imprecise
□ Possible to show relative values
□ Easier to see exceptional data values
Alternative information presentations
Jan Feb Mar April May June
2842 2851 3164 2789 1273 2835

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
Jan Feb Mar April May June
Information display

1
0 10 20
4 2

Dial with needle Pie chart Thermometer Horizontal bar


Displaying relative values

Pressure Temper atu re


0 100 200 300 400 0 25 50 75 100
Types of Interfaces

▪ There are numerous types of interfaces.


□ Command line
□ Menu Driven
□ Natural Language
□ Forms and Dialogue boxes
□ GUI
▪ Choice of interface depends on the capabilities of
the user and the type of system.
▪ Varying types of interfaces have different pros and
cons. 7
1. Command Line interfaces

□ Allow users to interact with the system by typing


in commands.
□ Most common example is DOS and SQL.
□ Users issue key commands through a
combination of keys or by using command entry

8
Comparison
Pros Cons
▪ Requires less ▪ Requires user to
resources memorize commands and
▪ Faster for syntax
experienced users ▪ Not suitable for highly
▪ Repetition of tasks is interactive systems
easier ▪ Requires a level of
training for beginners.
▪ Things you don’t know
about are invisible 9
Menu Driven Interfaces
This type of interface lets you interact with a
computer or device by working your way through a
series of screens or menus.
Headings are generally placed to group together
similar menu items.

10
Flat Menus

▪ Mostly suitable for


displaying a small number
of items or on a small
screen size.
▪ Can require effort as
options are nested among
other options.
▪ Going forward in menu
and reversal requires user
to click the menu items.
11
Cascading Menu

▪ Allows secondary menus to appear


along side the primary menu.
▪ Requires precise mouse control to
operate.
▪ Undershooting and overshooting a menu
is a problem.
▪ Menu adjusts to accommodate screen
resolution
12
Contextual Menu

▪ Used to provide choices based on a


specific context.
▪ Limited set of options are made
available for a particular element in the
main interface.
Suggested Improvements

▪ To improve the speed of interaction designers


incorporate shortcuts.
▪ To create a logical flow partitions are created in
menus
▪ It is a common rule that all accesses should be made
in 3 clicks.
▪ What about depth versus breadth
Depth vs breadth
Layouts influence fewer errors, reduced time, and greater customer
satisfaction and acceptance.
There are two alternatives. Consider the ATM example
Icon design

▪ Icons are assumed to be easier to learn and


remember than commands
▪ They function as visual ques to a certain
command element
▪ Can be designed to be compact and variably
positioned on a screen
Icon design

▪ The mapping between the representation and


underlying referent can be:
□ similar (e.g., a picture of a file to represent
the object file)
□ analogical (e.g., a picture of a pair of scissors
to represent ‘cut’)
□ arbitrary (e.g., the use of an X to represent
‘delete’)
▪ Note that the dominating colour of an icon also
gives directions as to what the icon does.
Early Icons were very primitive
and lacked visual impact
Web Design

▪ Earlier websites were textual in nature and


presented hyperlinks.
▪ Modern websites are fully functioning interfaces
that strive to create a
□ Striking design
□ Distinctive design
□ Welcome user
▪ In a website both the content and navigation will
help retain visitor.
19
20
Lessons Learnt (Quick Tips)

▪ Recognize Diversity
□ Understand that users will have varying needs
and knowledge. Accommodating all is a challenge.
▪ Incorporate Shortcuts
□ Help users to accomplish tasks quickly
□ Increase the speed of interaction
Lessons Learnt (Quick Tips)

▪ Strive for Consistency


□ consistent actions in similar situations
□ identical terminology
□ consistent colour, layout, capitalization, fonts
▪ Keep Design simple and Uncluttered
□ For improved understandability and clarity of the
interface.
Lessons Learnt (Quick Tips)

▪ Informative feedback
□ For every user action, system should respond
□ Show user activity completed successfully.
▪ Error prevention and simple error handling
□ Example: prefer menu selection to form fill
□ Example: no alphabetic characters in numeric
entry fields

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