COM201: System Analysis and Design

Lecture 6 : User Interface Design

Dr. Fayza A. Nada

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 Overview
 What is the field of HCI?
 The limitations and capabilities of “Human” and
“Computer” that influence the designing of user
interfaces
 Examples of Interactions between humans and
computers
 User Interface Design
 Need to understanding users
 Guidelines for creating usable user interfaces
 Approaches for evaluating user interfaces
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 Human Computer Interaction

What is HCI
“… involves the design,
Components?

implementation and evaluation of

interactive systems in
Interaction
the context of
the user’s task and work”
• Human: Individuals, Group, Sequence
• Computer: Computerized/Not
• Interaction: Direct/Indirect

Human (Users) Computer

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 HCI: Multi-Disciplinary Subject
Origin - Influence

Psychology and cognitive Business

science
Perceptual, cognitive, problem
•
solving
Computer
science and
Ergonomics engineering
Physical…

Sociology Technical
writing
Graphic design Expertise?
Adapt
Others …
Input
Computer scientists 4
Human: Capacities and Limitations
 Perceptual system (differences in handling
sensory stimulus )

 Senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and

smell
 e.g. visual processing system
• Limitations: Illusions – Colour Blind

 Motor skills (How to move, click…)

 Movement time (age, fitness, design for different

groups)
 Reaction time (sound, vision, pain, compound,
increase, decrease)
 Speed and accuracy (imp. In interactive sys)

 Human memory (Temp recall o Info)

Human
 Short term memory (digits, grouping Num.)
(Users) 5
 Computer: Capacities and Limitations
 Input devices
 Keyboard (QWERTY or typewriters?)
 Positioning and pointing devices
 Handwriting recognition (simple, technology, mistakes, 24
words!...)
 Speech recognition (promising, applications, disabilities)

 Output devices
 Computer screens (Raster, Resolution, hazards…)
 3D displays, Virtual Reality
 Printing (diff. readability, fonts…)
 Memory and Processing (Limitations on storage, Computer
comp, graphics, Net.) 6
 Interaction: Different Styles
Direct Manipulation Form Fill-In

Limitation…
Interaction styles?

Interaction

Menu Selection Command Language

Natural Language
[Schneiderman, 2004]
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 Direct Manipulation
Advantages
Visually presents task concept
Allows easy learning
Allow errors to be avoided
Encourages exploration
Affords high subjective
satisfactions
Menu Selection
Advantages
Shorten learning time
Reduces keystrokes
Structures decision making - all
choices are presented
Permits use of dialog-
management tools
[Source: Schneiderman, 2004]
Disadvantages
May be hard to program
May require graphics display
and point devices
Disadvantages
Present danger of many
menus - overwhelm the user
May slow frequent users
Consumes screen space
Requires rapid display rates
Form Fill-In
Advantages Disadvantages
Simplifies data entry Consumes screen space
Requires modest training
Gives convenient assistance
Command language
Advantages Disadvantages
Is flexible Has poor error handling
Appeals to the “power” users Requires substantial training
and memorization
Allows convenient creation user-
defined macros
Natural language
Advantages Disadvantages
Relives burden of learning May require more keystrokes
syntax
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 User Profiles: Human Diversity
 Physical abilities and physical workplaces
 Cognitive and perceptual abilities
 Personality differences
 Cultural and international diversity
 Users with disabilities
 Elderly users

[Source: Schneiderman, 2004]

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 User Profiles: Diversity of Users

Novice Expert frequent

Users
(first-time users)

Knowledgeable
Intermittent Users
[Source: Schneiderman, 2004] 10
 References
 Shneuiderman and Plaisant, Designing the User
Interface, 4th Edition, Addison Wesley, 2005
 Dix, et al., Human-computer interaction, 2nd
Edition, Prentice Hall, 1998
 Satzinger, et al., Systems Analysis and Design
in a changing world, Thomson, 2007
 --------------------------------------------------------
 NOTE: Time for Practical Test 1 (10%)

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