William H. Bowers – Software Posture Cooper 8

William H. Bowers – Topics Posture Posture Four Posture Categories Four Posture Categories –Sovereign Posture –Transient Posture –Daemonic Posture –Auxiliary Posture

William H. Bowers – Topics Postures for the Web Postures for the Web –Information Oriented Sites –Transactional Sites and Applications –Web Portals Other Platforms Other Platforms

William H. Bowers – Posture Program behavior should reflect usage Program behavior should reflect usage Behavioral stance is posture Behavioral stance is posture Program’s look and feel is a behavioral choice Program’s look and feel is a behavioral choice

William H. Bowers – Four Posture Categories Sovereign Sovereign Transient Transient Daemonic Daemonic Auxiliary Auxiliary

William H. Bowers – Sovereign Posture Monopolizes screen and processing Monopolizes screen and processing Used for long, continuous processing Used for long, continuous processing –Word processing –Spreadsheets –Presentation software –Programming IDEs –

William H. Bowers – Sovereign Posture Usually run full screen Usually run full screen Used as a primary tool Used as a primary tool Shorter learning curve Shorter learning curve Most users are intermediates Most users are intermediates Make the UI easy on the eyes Make the UI easy on the eyes –Muted, narrow conservative color palette –Smaller, more numerous controls

William H. Bowers – Transient Posture Single-function application Single-function application Temporary usage and appearance Temporary usage and appearance Clear, simple, bold UI required Clear, simple, bold UI required Bolder, brighter colors Bolder, brighter colors Use only the necessary screen sizes Use only the necessary screen sizes Larger, coarser graphics permissible Larger, coarser graphics permissible Instructions built-in to UI Instructions built-in to UI

William H. Bowers – Transient Posture Keep controls away from window borders Keep controls away from window borders May be used to support sovereign programs May be used to support sovereign programs Store window preferences Store window preferences Resizing may not be appropriate Resizing may not be appropriate Must be movable Must be movable

William H. Bowers – Daemonic Posture Usually do not interact with use Usually do not interact with use Manage processes Manage processes Background applications Background applications Usually invisible Usually invisible Must be accessible to end users Must be accessible to end users –May require configuration –Use control panel application

William H. Bowers – Auxiliary Posture Blend of sovereign and transient Blend of sovereign and transient Continuously present Continuously present Performs smaller, supporting role Performs smaller, supporting role Silent reporters of ongoing processes Silent reporters of ongoing processes UI must be simple and bold UI must be simple and bold

William H. Bowers – Postures for the Web Information oriented sites Information oriented sites Transactional sites and applications Transactional sites and applications Portals Portals

William H. Bowers – Information Oriented Sites No complex transactions No complex transactions Must balance Must balance –Information density –Ease of use for first time and infrequent users Frequently updated = repeat users Frequently updated = repeat users Can not assume screen resolution or size Can not assume screen resolution or size Consider cookies or server-side data Consider cookies or server-side data

William H. Bowers – Transactional Sites and Applications Focus on goals and needs or personas Focus on goals and needs or personas Consumers, employees, B2B users Consumers, employees, B2B users Frequent, weekly, monthly users Frequent, weekly, monthly users Heavy informational aspect Heavy informational aspect Requires navigational clarity Requires navigational clarity Amazon.com is a good example Amazon.com is a good example

William H. Bowers – Web Portals Consumer oriented Consumer oriented Enterprise Enterprise Sovereign posture is appropriate Sovereign posture is appropriate Minimal complexity Minimal complexity Rich in explanatory elements Rich in explanatory elements Composed of mini-applications Composed of mini-applications

William H. Bowers – Other Platforms Kiosks Kiosks –Full screen –First time, infrequent users –Short usage –Touch screens or side buttons –Transient posture is appropriate

William H. Bowers – Other Platforms Handheld devices Handheld devices –Limited resources (screen, memory, power) –PDAs are satellites of desktop –More for viewing than input or processing –Cell phones are primary devices –Transient posture is best

William H. Bowers – Questions and Discussion