1. Investigating User Interfaces

2. Purpose, features and functionality, users
Content
National 4 National 5
User interface
User interface (also applies in software design and development)
User requirements (visual layout, navigation, selection, consistency, interactivity, readability)
Purpose, features and functionality, users
Simple descriptions of main features and functionality
Description of purpose
Users: expert, novice, age-range

3. Learning Intentions National 4:- National 5:-
Identify the purpose of the information system being investigated:-
Simple descriptions of main features and functionality
National 5:-
Identify the range and type of users of the information system being investigated:-
expert, novice, age-range
Describe a well-made user interface:-
visual layout, navigation, selection, consistency, interactivity, readability

4. Purpose
Different websites have different purposes eg. To inform, shopping, banking etc
Look at these websites and identify their purpose:
School website

5. Types of users
When developing a website, the developer must consider who the website is intended for – ie. the target audience
Consider the type of users –
expert, novice
Age range e.g. children, teenagers, adults
Different media types that could be used
Balance of media types
Different navigation features
Accessibility – different colours/text size/audio

6. Describe the users
Look at these websites and describe the users (expert, novice, age range)
Website 1
Website 2
Website 3
Website 4
Describe the users of Click and Go

7. Visual Layout A A A Pages should look appealing to all users
Avoid information overload
Ensure a balance between graphics and text
Accessibility features
Target audience
Clutter
Use of colour/White space

8. Navigation
Consideration must be given to how the user will navigate the information system
Browser buttons – back, forward, home
Hyperlinks – blue and underlined, hover over and pointer changes to a hand
Hotspot - hover over and pointer changes to a hand, action is invoked
Pop-up menu
Search feature
Lost in hyperspace

9. Selection
Consideration must be given to how the user will interact with and make choices within the information system.
Menu selection
Form fill
Radio button
Hotspot

10. Consistency
Pages should have a consistent appearance throughout the information system
Text style, font, colour
Use of colour
Page balance
Navigation features

11. Consistency
Look at the following websites and comment on the consistency:
Website 1
Website 2
Website 3

12. Interactivity
When the user interacts with a page, what changes might happen in response to the user other than navigation
level of difficulty increases if you do well e.g. training website
information on particular topic
Audio
Dialogue eg. Error reporting

13. Accessibility About making the website usable by everyone
all abilities
all impairments
Good websites are designed so that all users can access the information

14. Summary
The target audience is the person/people who will use the website
The purpose of the website should be clear
Navigation features should be easy to use
Pages should be visually appealing and consistent

15. Worksheet task
Evaluate the websites