4.3.

1 USER INTERFACE PRINCIPLES

Learning outcomes :

 State user interface principles.

 Apply suitable user interface principles in a

project.
USER INTERFACE PRINCIPLES

 USER INTERFACE IS A
WAY A COMPUTER
PROGRAM
COMMUNICATES WITH
THE PERSON WHO IS
USING IT.
EIGHT MAIN PRINCIPLES OF THE
USER INTERFACE
 CONSISTENCY
 CLARITY
 CONTEXT
 NAVIGATION
 SEARCH
 PERSONALISATION
 LEARNABILITY
 FLEXIBILTY
CONSISTENCY

 THE INTERFACE DESIGN IS IN

HARMONY AND THE SAME
APPLIES TO ALL SCREEN IN A
SOFTWARE.
 Every user interface uses the same
words or commands perform the
same functions.
CLARITY

 CLEARNESS OF LABELS ON ALL

ICONS TO MAKE THE SYSTEM EASY
TO UNDERSTAND
 Developer should use relevant icons or
graphics to indicate the information.
 Icons, word or commands should be
clearly labeled so that users can
understand them easily.
CONTEXT

 EVERY PART OF A LESSON

SHOULD BE RELEVANT TO
A PARTICULAR TITLE.
 Ideas presented need to
relate to the title.
NAVIGATION

 USERS CAN MOVE AROUND THE

MENUS, HELP FILES OR OTHER
SCREENS IN A SYSTEM.
 It should be clear on how to exit or
proceed from screen to screen in a
program
SEARCH
 THE SYSTEM ENABLES USERS TO
SEARCH KEYWORDS OR GLOSSARY.
IT SHOULD PROVIDE MULTIPLE
WAYS FOR USERS TO MAKE
QUERIES BY GROUPING OR
SORTING.
 The system should provide users a
preview in order to get a word in the
correct page.
PERSONALISATION

 THE USERS CAN MAKE THEIR

OWN PERSONAL OR
INDIVIDUAL LEARNING
 Users can choose their display
options.
LEARNABILITY
 THE SYSTEM PROVIDES
SUPPORT INFORMATION AND
HELP FILES TO MAKE THE
SYSTEM EASY TO UNDERSTAND.
 Support information is important,
especially in helping the user to
use the system.
FLEXIBILITY
 A USER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL THE
SECTIONS WITHOUT ANY
LIMITATIONS
 For example, the user is allowed to
access any of the lessons, sections
and pages of the program.
EXERCISES
1. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
•“Every user interface uses the same words or commands to perform the
same functions.”
A . Search
B. Context
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation

2. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?

•“It should be clear on how to exit or proceed from screen to screen in a
program.”
•Clarity
•Search
•Navigation
•Personalisation
3. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
“It should provide multiple ways for users to make queries by
grouping or sorting.”
A. Search
B. Navigation
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation

4. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?

“Users can define their display options.”
A. Clarity
B. Search
C. Context
D. Personalisation
5. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Icons, words or commands should be clearly labelled so that the
users can understand them easily.”
A. Clarity
B. Search
C. Context
D. Personalisation

6. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following

statement?
"A user has the authority to navigate through the program without
any limitation.“
A. Search
B. Context
C. Flexibility
D. Personalisation
 7. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Support information is important, especially in training and
educational applications.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation

8. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following

statement?
“Every part of a lesson should be relevant to a particular title
and ideas presented need to be related.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation
 9. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the
following statement?
“The system enables users to find keywords or
glossary.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation

10. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following

statement?
“Links should be clearly indicated to users.”
A. Search
B. Navigation
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation
 ANSWERS
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. B