BENEFITS
- is often the most complex part of the system to design, and the part that is most likely to cause users to perceive a lack of quality .
- can take over half of all development effort .
- should always be tested on users .
- Allows the user to always get out, go back or undo an action.
- Allows the user to cancel out of a dialog box .
- Allows the user to set system preferences so s/he always feels in control .
- Allows the user to undo an action that may have changed data in the system .
- Appears uncluttered
- Arranges elements in straight lines or several columns
- Asks the user to confirm an action if it can have serious consequences and cannot be undone
- Avoids technical jargon and acronyms in text
- Does not have too many pages, each with only a small amount of information, because the user will have to spend much time navigating and will become lost
- Does not use too many different colours, fonts or graphics
- Ensures that the user does not have to navigate anywhere to do subsequent steps of a task
- Explains a situation in adequate detail and helps the user to resolve a problem when something goes wrong
- Has different modes for beginners and power users if the system is complex
- Has easy-to-understand help
- Has informative error messages which tell the user the exact thing that has gone wrong and exactly how to correct the problem if possible
- Has response time of a second or less for operations such as saving most data, moving between windows, obtaining help, and obtaining the first feedback from any longer operation
- Has adequate response time
- Informs the user about where they are located among the various windows and pages
- Is good enough that the user rarely needs to access the help system
- Reduces the amount of reading and manipulation the user has to do
- Uses similar layouts and graphic designs throughout the application
- Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system, and / or
- Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation.
- Graphical user interfaces (GUI) accept input via devices such as computer keyboard and mouse and provide articulated graphical output on the computer monitor. There are at least two different principles widely used in GUI design: Object-oriented user interfaces (OOUIs) and application oriented interfaces.
- Web-based user interfaces or web user interfaces (WUI) are a subclass of GUIs that accept input and provide output by generating web pages which are transmitted via the Internet and viewed by the user using a web browser program. Newer implementations utilize Java, AJAX, Adobe Flex, Microsoft .NET, or similar technologies to provide real-time control in a separate program, eliminating the need to refresh a traditional HTML based web browser. Administrative web interfaces for web-servers, servers and networked computers are often called Control panels.
- Touch-screens are displays that accept input by touch of fingers or a stylus. Used in a growing amount of mobile devices and many types of point of sale, industrial processes and machines, self-service machines etc.
- Command line interfaces, where the user provides the input by typing a command string with the computer keyboard and the system provides output by printing text on the computer monitor. Used by programmers and system administrators, in engineering and scientific environments, and by technically advanced personal computer users.
- Touch user interface are graphical user interfaces using a touchpad or touch-screen display as a combined input and output device. They supplement or replace other forms of output with hap-tic feedback methods.
Features / examples:
User interfaces exist for various systems, and provide a means of :
Generally, the goal of user interface layer is to produce a user interface which makes it easy, efficient, and enjoyable to use in way that produces the desired result. This generally means that user needs to provide minimal input to achieve the desired output.
Types of UI:
User interfaces that are common in various fields outside desktop computing:
