1 Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces Why is the user interface the most important component of a DSS?

2 User Interface: An Overview zA set of menus, icons, commands, graphics zHardware and software zProvides cues for desired actions by the user A User Interface puzzle Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

3 User Interface: An Overview zA well-designed user interface can: yIncrease human processing speed yReduce errors yIncrease productivity yCreate a sense of user control Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

4 Issues Related to Building an Interface zUser interface style yIs the style or combination of styles appropriate? What styles are used in the user interface? zScreen design and layout yIs the design easy to understand and attractive? Is the design symmetric and balanced?

5 Issues Related to Building an Interface zThe human-software interaction sequence yIs the interaction developed by the software logical and intuitive? Do people respond predictably to the interaction sequence? zUse of colors, lines and graphics yAre colors used appropriately? Do graphics improve the design or distract the user?

6 Issues Related to Building an Interface zInformation density yIs too much information presented on a screen? Can users control the information density? zUse of icons and symbols yAre icons understandable? zChoice of input and output devices yDo the devices fit the task?

7 User Interface Input Styles zCommand-line Interfaces zMenu Interfaces zGraphical User Interfaces zQuestion and Answer Interfaces zVoice, touch, immersive zMost DSS use a combination of styles Building Blocks Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

8 Command-Line >RUN Analyzer >LOAD sales.dat >DISPLAY CHART a method of interacting with a computer via a text terminal. Commands are entered as typed characters from a keyboard and output is also received as text. The > carat is the command prompt. Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

9 Menu a list of entries for the user to choose from Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

10 Graphical User Interface A graphical user interface or GUI (pronounced "gooey") use a mouse pointer to act on objects Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

11 Question and Answer A type of dialogue in which a computer displays questions, one at a time, for a user to answer. Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

12 Voice, touch, immersive z Voice Command Language z Natural language z Immersive 3D User Interface z A CAVE with four sides (three walls and a floor) is used as a display and interaction space. Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

13 ROMC Design Approach zRepresentations zOperations zMemory Aids zControl Aids Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

14 Innovative Representations Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

15 Operations zOperations are specific tasks that a decision- maker can perform with a DSS zFor example, a DSS may have operators to gather data, generate a report, retrieve alternatives, rate alternatives, add alternatives, etc. zAnalysts need to decide how operations will be controlled from the user interface. Will menus be used? Icons?

16 Memory Aids zSupport the use of representations and operations zExample: icon tips

17 Control Aids zDSS control aids are intended to help decision-makers use representations, operations and memory aids zControl aids help decision-makers direct the use of the DSS zGeneric control aids ySave, edit, undo, and delete

18 Building the DSS User Interface z Get started - identify the user, brainstorm capabilities z Design screens and respond quickly to feedback z Pay attention to the interaction -- try it, analyze it, simplify it, change it, try it... Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

19 Design Elements z Graphics are useful - communicate one main idea z Color enhances the interface z Symmetry -- balanced proportions, beauty of form z Provide guidance to users Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

20 Guidelines z Strive for consistency z Provide informative feedback z Design dialogs to create closure z Permit easy reversal of actions z Reduce information overload Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power

21 Factors influencing design success z DSS speed z Versatility of DSS -- multiple tasks z Quality of on-line help z Adaptability of the DSS z Uniformity of interface z Learning time z Ease of recall z Fun The design of user interface software is not only expensive and time-consuming, but it is also critical for effective system performance. Designing and Evaluating DSS User Interfaces, D. J. Power