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What Is The User Interface Design. Lecture # 2. Why a User Interface. Enable Enable the user to perform specific tasks Enable the user to acquire specific information Communicate Communicate to the user what has to be done Communicate to users how it should be done Promote
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Gabriel Spitz What Is The User Interface Design Lecture # 2
Gabriel Spitz Why a User Interface • Enable • Enable the user to perform specific tasks • Enable the user to acquire specific information • Communicate • Communicate to the user what has to be done • Communicate to users how it should be done • Promote • Promote a positive experience • Promote satisfaction
Gabriel Spitz What is the User Interface (UI) • A user interface is the means and methods that we provide to the users to achieve their goal • The user-interface always includes: • A concept of whatthe user is trying to achieve • A goal • Process or flow - the sequence of steps by which an intent can be achieved • How will it happen • Mechanisms that are used to control and manipulating objects in the work area • In what way • Language, images and controls used in communicating between the user and the application • Using what means
Gabriel Spitz Example of User Interfaces Guiding User Behavior
Gabriel Spitz What is Included in the UI • User Interface includes more than the functionality it offers the user. It also includes • Physical characteristics –Size, resistance • Perceptual/Cognitive characteristics– Color, font size, label, work flow • Conceptualcharacteristics–What is this like • When designing a user interface we need to consider all of the above aspects
Gabriel Spitz User Interface Design Needs UI Experience Scope Usefulness Predictability Concept Task Convenience Activity Flow Human Efficiency Representation Expectations Presentation Personal Trust
Gabriel Spitz Interfaces are Everywhere • Interfaces are used in controlling or manipulating • Products – PIM, Cell Phones, Cars, etc. • Applications – Excel, Word, etc. • Our environment – Thermostat, Appliances, etc. • Interfaces are the medium through which the user communicate with the computer application
Gabriel Spitz UI Example Watch Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels
Gabriel Spitz UI Example Telephone Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels
Gabriel Spitz UI Example Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels
Gabriel Spitz UI Example Kiosk Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels
Gabriel Spitz Importance of the Interface • The “quality” of the interface design directly drives the user experience • user attitude and feelings • User satisfaction • user performance • safety • Poor user interface can have serious consequences
Gabriel Spitz Poor UI – Can Ruin an Election Florida Ballots (2000) Users could not figure out How to use –Poor mapping between stimulus & response
Gabriel Spitz Poor UI – Can Ruin your Dinner Poor Mapping
Gabriel Spitz Poor UI – Can Ruin a Product Bob Microsoft 1995 Users simply did not like this interface – User satisfaction
Gabriel Spitz Poor UI - Can be a Safety hazard Renault 4 circa 1970 Negative transfer of training resulting in many errors
Gabriel Spitz Poor UI - Can Ruin a Trip Lavatory sink –It is difficult to use Performance Incompatibility between control design and task
Gabriel Spitz The Importance of Usable Interface • From a user’s perspective there is no good user interface in the absolute sense only usable and useful interface • An interface is bad or good only to the extent that it hinders or supports users in performing a specific task in a specific environment • Poor interface = Poor product/application
Gabriel Spitz What is a Usable Interface • Our goal is to design the user interface for products so they enable users to achieve their intentions in an easy and pleasant way • An interface is considered usable if it: • Helps user achieve their goal • Easy to learn • Easy to use – e.g., recall vs. recognition, simple • Facilitates performance –speed, errors • Fun to use • These aspects of the interface are also called Usability Indicators
Gabriel Spitz Usability of an Airline Kiosk • Key usability indicators • Goal achievement – to obtain a boarding pass (but sometimes to get onto an earlier flight) • Learning - no learning required • Ease of use – system leads users (hand holding) • Performance– not applicable (from passenger perspective) • Fun– nice to have, but not critical • Rarely can we maximize all of them