Software Interface Design Features / Issues

Learning Objectives Discuss the features affecting interface design.

Colour Contrasting colours for background and text or text becomes difficult to read. Colour (red) to highlight items more important than others. Care with red/green because of colour blind people. Needs to be used sparingly. Use of corporate colour scheme. Bold points are the more general points you should be able to use in all questions.

Layout Make use of whole screen. Should be easy to use, understand and interpret because …. Layout should be consistent and similar on all pieces of software/screens so that user gets used to the layout. e.g. …. (something relevant) should be always be in the same place. Volume of information and Information overload Limit the volume of information because otherwise a screen becomes daunting. Prioritising of information Layout should follow normal reading pattern for eye because natural and less chance of errors being made or things missed out. Bold points are the more general points you should be able to use in all questions.

Content Content must be relevant or user will begin to ignore. Content type must be correct e.g. if highlighted in red it really must be urgent. Take account of the expertise and needs of different users. Help should be available. Type of data representation (textual/graphical/…) Content should be similar across other pieces of software to enable user to be trained easily. Bold points are the more general points you should be able to use in all questions.

Store or just display on screen? Short term memory Transitory, constantly updated information presented via the user computer interface. Transitory, constantly updated information presented via the user computer interface. E.g. a scrolling graph. Long Term Memory: Stores data for future reference. Stores data for future reference.

Visual perception Size? Contrast? Font Type? Screen or hardcopy (printer).

Miscellaneous Placement of hardware Data input techniques Tasks to be done

Summary Colour: Contrasting colours for background and text or text becomes difficult to read. Contrasting colours for background and text or text becomes difficult to read. Colour (red) to highlight items more important than others. Colour (red) to highlight items more important than others. Care with red/green because of colour blind people. Care with red/green because of colour blind people.Layout: Make use of whole screen. Make use of whole screen. Should be easy to use, understand and interpret because …. Should be easy to use, understand and interpret because …. Layout should be consistent and similar on all pieces of software/screens so that user gets used to the layout. Layout should be consistent and similar on all pieces of software/screens so that user gets used to the layout. e.g. …. (something relevant) should be always be in the same place. Content: Content must be relevant or user will begin to ignore. Content must be relevant or user will begin to ignore. Content type must be correct e.g. if highlighted in red it really must be urgent. Content type must be correct e.g. if highlighted in red it really must be urgent. Take account of the expertise and needs of different users. Take account of the expertise and needs of different users. Help should be available. Help should be available. These are the more general points you should be able to use in all questions.

Plenary Discuss the importance of: Colour Colour Layout Layout Content Content

Plenary Colour Contrasting colours for background and text or text becomes difficult to read. Contrasting colours for background and text or text becomes difficult to read. Colour (red) to highlight items more important than others. Colour (red) to highlight items more important than others. Needs to be used sparingly. Needs to be used sparingly. Use of corporate colour scheme. Use of corporate colour scheme. Care with red/green because of colour blind people. Care with red/green because of colour blind people.

Plenary Layout Layout should follow normal reading pattern for eye because natural and less. Layout should follow normal reading pattern for eye because natural and less. chance of errors being made or things missed out. chance of errors being made or things missed out. Limit the volume of information because otherwise a screen becomes daunting. Limit the volume of information because otherwise a screen becomes daunting. Layout should be similar on all pieces of software so that user gets used to the layout. Layout should be similar on all pieces of software so that user gets used to the layout.

Plenary Content: Content should be similar across pieces of software. Content should be similar across pieces of software. To enable user to be trained easily. To enable user to be trained easily. Content must be relevant or user will begin to ignore. Content must be relevant or user will begin to ignore. Content type must be correct e.g. if highlighted in red it really must be urgent. Content type must be correct e.g. if highlighted in red it really must be urgent. Take account of different users. Take account of different users. Help should be available. Help should be available.