Step-3: Principles of Good Interface and Screen Design Lecture-6 Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface What Users Want An orderly, clean appearance An obvious indication of what is being shown & what should be done with it Expected information located where it should be A clear indication of what relates to what, including options, headings, captions, data, & so forth Plain, simple English (Kazakh, Russian) A simple way of finding out what is in a system & how to get it out A clear indication of when an action can make a permanent change in the data or system Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface MAXIM People will spend many, many hours staring at your screens. Computer Systems Interface

Interface Design Goals To make an interface easy & pleasant to use, then, the goal in design is to Reduce visual work Reduce intellectual work Reduce memory work Reduce motor work Minimize or eliminate any burdens or instructions imposed by technology Computer Systems Interface

The Test for a Good Design Can all screen or Web page elements be identified by cues other than by reading the words that make them up? The best interfaces make everything on the screen obvious. Computer Systems Interface

Screen & Web Page Meaning & Purpose Each element Every control All text The screen organization All emphasis Each color Every graphic All screen animation Each message All forms of feedback Must Have meaning to users Serve a purpose in performing tasks. Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface Signals & Noise Noise is useless information. Signals are useful information. Noise is distracting, reduces clarity, & contributes to info overload. Minimize noise & maximize signals. Ex: World’s Worst Website Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface Consistency Follow the same conventions & rules across all related interfaces Deviate only when there is a clear benefit for the user MYTH: Users can get used to anything Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface Starting Point Upper-left corner Focus user attention on the most important parts of a screen Textual displays Top-to-bottom, left-to-right Reading text Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface Starting Point (cont.) Graphical & Web Displays People tend to look at text first, not images Larger type dominates over smaller type Changing info is looked at before non-changing info Computer Systems Interface

Starting Point (Web pages) Horizontally, across the upper part Next, move down, look across in a second horizontal movement Finally, scan the contents’ left side in a vertical movement Computer Systems Interface

Ordering of Data & Content Divide info into units that are logical, meaningful, & sensible Possible ordering schemes: Conventional Sequence of use Frequency of use Function Importance General to specific Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface MAXIM Aesthetic designs are perceived as easier to use than less-aesthetic designs. Contrast, colors, grouping, & alignment Computer Systems Interface

Visually Pleasing Compositions Balance Symmetry Regularity Predictability Sequentiality Economy Proportion Etc. See p.142 Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface The Golden Ratio Computer Systems Interface

Mysteries of the Golden Ratio Computer Systems Interface

Mysteries of the Golden Ratio Computer Systems Interface

Computer Systems Interface Homework-2 Computer Systems Interface