Gabriel Spitz

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What Is The User Interface DesignLecture # 1

Gabriel Spitz

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What is the User Interface (UI)

A user interface is the meeting point between a user and a computer program

It is the means and methods by which a user utilizes a specific application to achieve a goal for which the application was designed for and the user wants to achieve

Gabriel Spitz

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Good User Interface

Good User Interface is an interface that is designed in such a way that when using it the user will walk away with a positive User Experience

The process for designing an interface that will result in a good experience is called Usability

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What is Usability

It is a Process

It is a set of techniques that we use to achieve the Result

It is a design philosophy to meet user's needs

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Designing Usable Products

To design a usable product we need to: Identify who will use the product Describe how and why the product will be used Design with the Active user in mind; Activity-centered Design to meet the 5 Es of good product

Easy to learn Efficient Effective Engaging Error tollerant

Solicit user-feedback

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Components of A User Interface

Thus a user-interface always includes:o Goal - An understanding of what the user is trying to

achieve o Process or flow - the sequence of steps by which an

intent can be achieved o How will it happen

o Mechanisms that are used to control and manipulating objects in the work area o In what way

o Language, images and controls used in communicating between the user and the applicationo Using what means

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Making it Usable

And an Understanding of Human Behavior

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Deconstructing the UI

Goal – Reduce splashing around the urinal

Process – The user will approach the urinal, detect the image and aim at it

Mechanism – Passively guide user attention and behavior

Means – Visual Icon of a fly

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Why a User Interface

Enable Enable the user to perform specific tasks Enable the user to acquire specific information

Communicate Communicate to the user what has to be done Communicate to users how it should be done

Promote Promote a positive experience Promote satisfaction

Gabriel Spitz

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What is Included in the UI

User Interface includes more than the functionality it offers the user. It also includes Physical characteristics – Size, resistance, gesture Perceptual/Cognitive characteristics – Color, font

size, label, work flow Conceptual characteristics– What is this like

When designing a user interface we need to consider all of the above aspects

Gabriel Spitz

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Interfaces are Everywhere

Interfaces are used in controlling or manipulating Products – PIM, Cell Phones, Cars, etc. Applications – Excel, Word, etc. Our environment – Thermostat, Appliances, etc.

Interfaces are the medium through which the user communicate with the computer application

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Controls

Displays

Procedure

Guidance-labels

UI Example

Watch

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UI Example

Telephone

Controls

Displays

Procedure

Guidance-labels

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UI Example

Controls

Displays

Procedure

Guidance-labels

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UI Example

Kiosk

Controls

Displays

Procedure

Guidance-labels

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Importance of the Interface

The “quality” of the interface design directly drives the user experience user attitude and feelings User satisfaction user performance safety

Poor user interface can have serious consequences

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Poor UI – Can Ruin an Election

Florida Ballots (2000)

Users could not figure out How to use –Poor mapping between stimulus & response

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Poor UI – Can Ruin your Dinner

Poor Mapping

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Poor UI – Can Ruin a Product

Bob

Microsoft 1995

Users simply did not like this interface –

User satisfaction

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Poor UI - Can be a Safety hazard

Negative transfer of training resulting in many errors

Renault 4 circa 1970

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Poor UI - Can Ruin a Trip

Lavatory sink – It is difficult to use Performance

Incompatibility between control design and task

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The Importance of Usable Interface

o From a user’s perspective there is no good user interface in the absolute sense only usable and useful interface

An interface is bad or good only to the extent that it hinders or supports users in performing a specific task in a specific environment Poor interface = Poor product/application

Gabriel Spitz

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What is a Usable Interface

Our goal in designing the user interface that the product is Useful, Usable, and Delightful

An Interface is Useful if: It enable users to achieve their intentions

An interface is considered Usable if it: Easy to learn Efficient- Performance speed and errors Effective – Easy to use Error tolerant Engaging