What Is The User Interface Design Gabriel Spitz1 Lecture # 2

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: o A concept of what the user is trying to achieve o A goal o Process or flow - the sequence of steps by which an intent can be achieved o How will it happen o Mechanisms that are used to control and manipulating objects in the work area o In what way o Language, images and controls used in communicating between the user and the application o Using what means Gabriel Spitz 2

Example of User Interfaces Gabriel Spitz 3

What is included in the User Interface 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 Conceptual characteristics – What is this like When designing a user interface we need to consider all of the above aspects Gabriel Spitz 4

User Interface Design Gabriel Spitz UI Scope Concept Activity Flow Representation Presentation Needs Experience Predictability Convenience Efficiency Personal Trust Human Task Expectation s Usefulness

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 6

7 Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels UI Example Watch

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 8 Telephone Controls Displays Procedure Guidance- labels

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 9 Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 10 Kiosk Controls Displays Procedure Guidance- labels

Importance of the Interface The “ quality ” of the interface design directly drives the user experience user attitude and satisfaction user performance safety Poor user interface can have serious consequences Gabriel Spitz 11

Poor Interface – Can Ruin an Election Gabriel Spitz 12 Florida Ballots (2000) Users could not figure out How to use – Poor mapping between stimulus & response

Poor Interface – Can Ruin your Dinner Gabriel Spitz 13 Poor Mapping

Poor Interface – Can Ruin a Product Gabriel Spitz 14 Bob Microsoft 1995 Users simply did not like this interface – User satisfaction

Gabriel Spitz 15 Poor Interface - Can be a Safety hazard Negative transfer of training resulting in many errors Renault 4 circa 1970

Poor Interface - Can Ruin a Trip Gabriel Spitz 16 Lavatory sink – It is difficult to use Performance Incompatibility between control design and task

The Importance of Usable Interface o 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 17

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 18

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 Gabriel Spitz 19