New interface design Proposal 19

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3 Find Books Renew Books Reserve Books Modify Account Information Contact The Library Help And Information

4 The main operations to be automated within the interface are as follows: Search Searching for a book is an automated operation of the interface Renew Renewing a book currently on loan is another of the interfaces automated operations Reserve The ability to reserve reference material for priority use is now also one of the automated operations of the interface Account Modifying account information is also an automated operation of the interface

5 Main Interface Navigation Main navigation area arranged in an uncluttered, easy to understand manner. Drop Zone Area in which the user interacts with the interface by dropping icons into this sector. Search Field The text input area of the interface used to enter search strings. Feedback Panel Feedback area of the interface used to display information including book locations, book renewal confirmation and date, search input type and available reservation times as well as other helpful information. Main Panel This is the main display panel which contains all user manipulative icons and pages of information.

6 Icons that once dropped in the drop zone initiate that type of search Area that will display help related to the type of search, for example how the search should be inputted.

7 List of books currently on loan that once the icon next to the book has been dropped into the drop zone renews the book The feedback panel then displays a confirmation of renewal message Book Successfully Renewed Artificial Intelligence New Due Date: 28th April 2005

8 These icons, once dropped into the drop zone open account related pages allowing the user to view books currently on loan as well as modify account related information

9 Icons that once dropped in the drop zone open pages containing information and help about both the interface and the library

10 The newest feature implemented into my interface is the opportunity to reserve library reference material for priority use during a specific time and date. The reservation screen is identical in layout and operation as the search screen but it only looks for reference books that cannot be removed from the library.

11 Once the search for the reference material has been performed the results are displayed in the main area of the interface. The user then drags the icon next to the book they wish to reserve to the drop zone (same as on the renewal screen). The available times and ability to change date is then displayed in the feedback pane of the interface. All the user has to do then is select the date and time they wish to reserve the material for priority use.

12 Search A card catalogue has been used as the icon associated with the search facility of the interface Renew The renew icon has an image of a book with arrow leading to itself to resemble renewal Reserve The reserve icon has a stop watch on it to symbolise the book being available for a limited amount of time Account The icon used to represent the users account is a library card Contact Us A letter icon has been used to represent the image associated with the contact facility of the interface Information The information icon is similar in design to that used to represent tourist information centres on maps and road signs

13 The main metaphor of the interface is the drop zone, it has several real life meanings which help explain it’s use. Technical computing documents define a drop zone as: An area of the workspace, including the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) Trash Can, Printer, and Mail control icons, that accepts a dropped object. A military definition of a drop zone is: A specific area upon which airborne troops, equipment, or supplies are airdropped. In skydiving a drop zone is defined as: A specified area into which skydivers intend to land. In forestry they define a drop zone as: Target area for air tankers, helitankers, and cargo dropping. The drop zone is the area designated as the target for icons to be dragged to and dropped, to execute interface operations. The drop zone metaphor is pretty self-explanatory, it’s the zone in which objects are dragged to by the user and then dropped.

14 Objects & Attributes Drop zone: size, location… Icons: name, size, image… Relationships Icons can be dropped on the drop zone Actions Select icons, drag and drop icons onto the drop zone Objects & Attributes Screen: size, colour… Icons: name, size, image… Relationships Icons can be visualised on screen Actions Drag and drop icons, input text, display icons… Source Characteristics Target Characteristics

15 TaskHow the user performs itHow the interface performs it Task 1. Search for a book Drag and drop search type icon onto drop zone and enter search string Task 2. Renew book Drag and drop book icon onto drop zone Task 3. Reserve bookDrag and drop book icon onto drop zone then select required time and date from feedback pane Task 4. Change PINDrag change PIN icon onto drop zone and enter new PIN into text input area Task 5. Change PINDrag change PIN icon onto drop zone and enter new PIN into text input area