1. Step-3: Principles of Good Interface and Screen Design
Lecture-6
Computer Systems Interface

2. Computer Systems Interface
What Users Want
An orderly, clean appearance
An obvious indication of what is being shown & what should be done with it
Expected information located where it should be
A clear indication of what relates to what, including options, headings, captions, data, & so forth
Plain, simple English (Kazakh, Russian)
A simple way of finding out what is in a system & how to get it out
A clear indication of when an action can make a permanent change in the data or system
Computer Systems Interface

3. Computer Systems Interface
MAXIM
People will spend many, many hours staring at your screens.
Computer Systems Interface

4. Interface Design Goals
To make an interface easy & pleasant to use, then, the goal in design is to
Reduce visual work
Reduce intellectual work
Reduce memory work
Reduce motor work
Minimize or eliminate any burdens or instructions imposed by technology
Computer Systems Interface

5. The Test for a Good Design
Can all screen or Web page elements be identified by cues other than by reading the words that make them up?
The best interfaces make everything on the screen obvious.
Computer Systems Interface

6. Screen & Web Page Meaning & Purpose
Each element
Every control
All text
The screen organization
All emphasis
Each color
Every graphic
All screen animation
Each message
All forms of feedback
Must
Have meaning to users
Serve a purpose in performing tasks.
Computer Systems Interface

7. Computer Systems Interface
Signals & Noise
Noise is useless information.
Signals are useful information.
Noise is distracting, reduces clarity, & contributes to info overload.
Minimize noise & maximize signals.
Ex: World’s Worst Website
Computer Systems Interface

8. Computer Systems Interface
Consistency
Follow the same conventions & rules across all related interfaces
Deviate only when there is a clear benefit for the user
MYTH: Users can get used to anything
Computer Systems Interface

9. Computer Systems Interface
Starting Point
Upper-left corner
Focus user attention on the most important parts of a screen
Textual displays
Top-to-bottom, left-to-right
Reading text
Computer Systems Interface

10. Computer Systems Interface
Starting Point (cont.)
Graphical & Web Displays
People tend to look at text first, not images
Larger type dominates over smaller type
Changing info is looked at before non-changing info
Computer Systems Interface

11. Starting Point (Web pages)
Horizontally, across the upper part
Next, move down, look across in a second horizontal movement
Finally, scan the contents’ left side in a vertical movement
Computer Systems Interface

12. Ordering of Data & Content
Divide info into units that are logical, meaningful, & sensible
Possible ordering schemes:
Conventional
Sequence of use
Frequency of use
Function
Importance
General to specific
Computer Systems Interface

13. Computer Systems Interface
MAXIM
Aesthetic designs are perceived as easier to use than less-aesthetic designs.
Contrast, colors, grouping, & alignment
Computer Systems Interface

14. Visually Pleasing Compositions
Balance
Symmetry
Regularity
Predictability
Sequentiality
Economy
Proportion
Etc. See p.142
Computer Systems Interface

15. Computer Systems Interface
The Golden Ratio
Computer Systems Interface

16. Mysteries of the Golden Ratio
Computer Systems Interface

17. Mysteries of the Golden Ratio
Computer Systems Interface

18. Computer Systems Interface
Homework-2
Computer Systems Interface