Presentation Styles Balancing Function And Fashion Ben Carson Rajesh Golla Sunil D’souza

Introduction  4 Design Issues Error messages Error messages Non anthropomorphic design Non anthropomorphic design Display design Display design Color Color

Error Messages  Specificity  Constructive guidance & positive tone  User centered phrasing  Physical format  Effective messages

Specificity POOR Syntax Error Invalid Data BETTER Unmatched left parenthesis Days range from 1 to 31 Specific error messages instead of vague condemning messages

Constructive guidance and positive tone POOR Disastrous string overflow BETTER Use shorter strings or expand string space Help users to rectify mistakes rather than condemn them

User centered phrasing Give user the feeling that he controls the system rather than just responds to commands Give user the feeling that he controls the system rather than just responds to commands E.g. POOR BETTER Enter Data Ready For Data Enter Data Ready For Data

Physical format  Upper-case only text v/s Mixed-case  Placement : near the error v/s same position  Sound alerts – can be annoying

Develop better error messages Better wording - consult technical writers Better wording - consult technical writers Quality Control - approval of expert committees Quality Control - approval of expert committees Develop guidelines Develop guidelines a) Positive tone a) Positive tone b) Specific b) Specific c) user centric c) user centric d) neat comprehensible format d) neat comprehensible format Carry out usability tests Carry out usability tests Collect user performance data Collect user performance data

Non anthropomorphic Design Failure of anthropomorphic design Failure of anthropomorphic design Ex: bank tellers: Tillie the teller and BOB, postal buddy Ex: bank tellers: Tillie the teller and BOB, postal buddy Text only preferred over anthropomorphic designs Text only preferred over anthropomorphic designs Anthropomorphic interfaces using first person pronouns may be counter productive Anthropomorphic interfaces using first person pronouns may be counter productive Poor: I will begin the lesson when you press RETURN Poor: I will begin the lesson when you press RETURN Better: You can begin the lesson by pressing RETURN Better: You can begin the lesson by pressing RETURN Better: To begin the lesson, press RETURN Better: To begin the lesson, press RETURN

Display Design Display's key to successful design Display's key to successful design Smith and Mosier’s 162 guidelines of data display Smith and Mosier’s 162 guidelines of data display Designers thorough knowledge of users tasks Designers thorough knowledge of users tasks Effective designs ( proper sequence, grouping, consistency, orderly format, highlighting, shading, color, font etc) Effective designs ( proper sequence, grouping, consistency, orderly format, highlighting, shading, color, font etc)

Non anthropomorphic guidelines Avoid presenting computers as people Avoid presenting computers as people Choose appropriate humans for introductions or guides Choose appropriate humans for introductions or guides Use caution in designing computer generated human faces or cartoon characters Use caution in designing computer generated human faces or cartoon characters Use cartoon characters in games Use cartoon characters in games Design comprehensible, predictable, and controllable interfaces Design comprehensible, predictable, and controllable interfaces Provide user centered overviews Provide user centered overviews Do not use “I” when computer responds to human actions Do not use “I” when computer responds to human actions Use “you” to guides users, or just state facts Use “you” to guides users, or just state facts

Six categories of principles which show complexity of designers task 1. Elegance and simplicity 2. Scale, contrast and proportion 3. Organization and visual structure 4. Module and program 5. Image and representation 6. Style

Field layout Explore with a variety of layouts. Explore with a variety of layouts.

Narrative form Structured form Empirical results

display complexity metrics The four task independent metrics for alphanumeric displays Overall density Overall density Local density Local density Grouping Grouping Layout complexity Layout complexity

Structured format Unstructured format

Layout appropriateness

Color Use of color for a system is subjective. Use of color for a system is subjective. Some systems require color Some systems require color Alphanumeric displays can be helped or hurt by the use of color Alphanumeric displays can be helped or hurt by the use of color

Guidelines for Using Color Use color conservatively Use color conservatively Limit the number of colors Limit the number of colors Recognize that color is a coding technique Recognize that color is a coding technique Color coding should support the task Color coding should support the task Color coding appears with minimal input Color coding appears with minimal input Color coding is under user control Color coding is under user control Design for monochrome first Design for monochrome first Consider needs of color deficient users Consider needs of color deficient users

More Guidelines Color can help with formatting Color can help with formatting Use a consistent color scheme Use a consistent color scheme Be aware of common expectations about color codes Be aware of common expectations about color codes Be aware of problems with color pairings Be aware of problems with color pairings Use color changes to indicate status changes Use color changes to indicate status changes Use color in graphic displays for greater information density Use color in graphic displays for greater information density

Conclusion Hoadley, 1990 study of display charts Hoadley, 1990 study of display charts “uncritical addition of color may not be uniformly beneficial” “uncritical addition of color may not be uniformly beneficial” Color can improve some displays and lead to more efficient use of the system, but improper use of color can mislead and be counterproductive Color can improve some displays and lead to more efficient use of the system, but improper use of color can mislead and be counterproductive