User Interface Structure Design Chapter 11 Slide 1

Key Definitions The user interface defines how the system will interact with external entities

Key Definitions The navigation mechanism provides the way for users to tell the system

PRINCIPLES FOR USER INTERFACE DESIGN Slide 4 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom &

Principles for User Interface Design Layout Content awareness Aesthetics User experience Consistency Minimal user

Layout Concepts The screen is often divided into three boxes Navigation area (top) Status

More Layout Concepts Areas and information should minimize user movement from one to another

Layout Example 1 8 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis

Layout Example 2 9 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis

Layout Example 3 10 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis

Content Awareness All interfaces should have titles Menus should show where you are where

Aesthetics Interfaces need to be functional and inviting to use Avoid squeezing in too

More Aesthetics Colors and patterns should be used carefully Test quality of colors by

User Experience How easy is the program to learn? How easy is the program

Consistency Enables users to predict what will happen Reduces learning curve Considers items within

Minimize Effort Three clicks rule Users should be able to go from the start

USER INTERFACE DESIGN PROCESS Slide 17 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden

Five Step Process 18 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis

Use Scenario Development An outline of steps to perform work Presented in a simple

Your Turn Visit the Web site for your university and navigate through several of

Interface Structure Design Window navigation diagram (WND) Shows how all screens, forms, and reports

Window Navigation Diagram Example 22 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems

Interface Standards Design The basic elements that are common across individual screens, forms, and

Interface Elements Interface 24 objects actions icons templates Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom

Interface Design Prototyping A mock-up or simulation of screen, form, or report Common methods

Storyboard Example 26 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and

Interface Evaluation Methods Heuristic evaluation Compare design to checklist Walkthrough evaluation Team simulates movement

Summary The user interface should be designed to make the user’s work easier and

Expanding the Domain Jakob Nielsen has a delightful and refreshing vision regarding user interfaces.

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Key Definitions The user interface defines how the system will interact with external entities The system interfaces define how systems exchange information with other systems 2 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Key Definitions The navigation mechanism provides the way for users to tell the system what to do The input mechanism defines the way the system captures information The output mechanism defines the way the system provides information to users or other systems 3 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Principles for User Interface Design Layout Content awareness Aesthetics User experience Consistency Minimal user effort 5 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Layout Concepts The screen is often divided into three boxes Navigation area (top) Status area (bottom) Work area (middle) Information can be presented in multiple areas Like areas should be grouped together 6 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

More Layout Concepts Areas and information should minimize user movement from one to another Ideally, areas will remain consistent in Size Shape Placement for entering data Reports presenting retrieved data 7 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Content Awareness All interfaces should have titles Menus should show where you are where you came from to get there It should be clear what information is within each area Fields and field labels should be selected carefully Use dates and version numbers to aid system users 11 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Aesthetics Interfaces need to be functional and inviting to use Avoid squeezing in too much, particularly for novice users Design text carefully Be aware of font and size Avoid using all capital letters 12 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

More Aesthetics Colors and patterns should be used carefully Test quality of colors by trying the interface on a black/white monitor Use colors to separate or categorize items 13 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

User Experience How easy is the program to learn? How easy is the program to use for the expert? Consider adding shortcuts for the expert Where there is low employee turnover, some training can lessen the impact of less precise interfaces 14 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consistency Enables users to predict what will happen Reduces learning curve Considers items within an application and across applications Pertains to many different levels Navigation controls Terminology Report and form design 15 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Minimize Effort Three clicks rule Users should be able to go from the start or main menu of a system to the information or action they want in no more than three mouse clicks or three keystrokes 16 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Use Scenario Development An outline of steps to perform work Presented in a simple narrative tied to the related DFD Document the most common cases so interface designs will be easy to use for those situations 19 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Your Turn Visit the Web site for your university and navigate through several of its Web pages. Develop two use scenarios for it. 20 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface Structure Design Window navigation diagram (WND) Shows how all screens, forms, and reports are related Shows how user moves from one to another Like a state diagram for the user interface ± ± ± 21 Boxes represent components Arrows represent transitions Stereotypes show interface type Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface Standards Design The basic elements that are common across individual screens, forms, and reports within the application Interface metaphor Desktop, checkbook, shopping cart 23 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface Elements Interface 24 objects actions icons templates Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface Design Prototyping A mock-up or simulation of screen, form, or report Common methods include Paper Storyboarding HTML Language 25 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface Evaluation Methods Heuristic evaluation Compare design to checklist Walkthrough evaluation Team simulates movement through components Interactive evaluation Users try out the system Formal usability testing Expensive Detailed use of special lab testing 27 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Summary The user interface should be designed to make the user’s work easier and more effective. Principles for good interface design include concern for content and context for navigation through activities, aesthetic consideration, assistance for novices and experts, consistency, and minimizing user effort. The design process focuses on user actions, diagramming the structure, setting up standards and a template, then evaluating interface designs. 30 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Expanding the Domain Jakob Nielsen has a delightful and refreshing vision regarding user interfaces. You can check them out at: http: //www. useit. com/papers 31 Power. Point Presentation for Dennis, Wixom & Tegarden Systems Analysis and Design Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.