Software engineering 18 user interface design
- 1. Software Engineering: 18 User Interface Design Prof Neeraj Bhargava Vaibhav Khanna Department of Computer Science School of Engineering and Systems Sciences Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University Ajmer
- 2. User interface design • Designing effective interfaces for software systems • System users often judge a system by its interface rather than its functionality • A poorly designed interface can cause a user to make catastrophic errors • Poor user interface design is the reason why so many software systems are never used
- 3. Graphical user interfaces • Most users of business systems interact with these systems through graphical interfaces although, in some cases, legacy text-based interfaces are still used
- 5. GUI advantages • They are easy to learn and use. • Users without experience can learn to use the system quickly. • The user may switch quickly from one task to another and can interact with several different applications. • Information remains visible in its own window when attention is switched. • Fast, full-screen interaction is possible with immediate access to anywhere on the screen
- 6. User-centred design • The aim of this chapter is to sensitise software engineers to key issues underlying the design rather than the implementation of user interfaces • User-centred design is an approach to UI design where the needs of the user are paramount and where the user is involved in the design process • UI design always involves the development of prototype interfaces
- 7. User interface design process
- 8. UI design principles • UI design must take account of the needs, experience and capabilities of the system users • Designers should be aware of people’s physical and mental limitations (e.g. limited short-term memory) and should recognise that people make mistakes • UI design principles underlie interface designs although not all principles are applicable to all designs
- 9. User interface design principles
- 10. Design principles • User familiarity: The interface should be based on user- oriented terms and concepts rather than computer concepts. For example, an office system should use concepts such as letters, documents, folders etc. rather than directories, file identifiers, etc. • Consistency : The system should display an appropriate level of consistency. Commands and menus should have the same format, command punctuation should be similar, etc. • Minimal surprise: If a command operates in a known way, the user should be able to predict the operation of comparable commands
- 11. Design principles • Recoverability: The system should provide some resilience to user errors and allow the user to recover from errors. This might include an undo facility, confirmation of destructive actions 'soft' deletes, etc. • User guidance: Some user guidance such as help systems, on-line manuals, etc. should be supplied • User diversity : Interaction facilities for different types of user should be supported. For example, some users have seeing difficulties and so larger text should be available
- 12. Assignment • Explain the User Interface Design, the process of UI design and the Design Principles • Thank You