Brian Huang

CMSC243

Chapter 8 Review Questions

1. Explain the concepts of human-computer interaction (HCI).
HCI is the relationship between computers and those who use them to perform
business related tasks. HCI happens through the user interface which is all the
communications and instructions necessary to receive output from the computer.
The output is given through screen displays or printed report via input devices
like the GUI, keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner etc.
2. Explain the concept of a GUI and a switchboard. How does a GUI design
differ from a character-based screen design?
A GUI, graphical user interface, allows users to interact with computers or other
devices through icons instead of traditional text navigation. In contrast, characterbased screen designs used text interfaces to navigate menus and consisted of 25
lines with one reserved for command key display. Switchboards are a type of GUI
that use graphical icons to navigate menus as opposed to text options. A
computers BIOS is a type of character-based screen design whereas a phones
home screen uses a GUI.
3. Describe seven principles for a user-centered interface design.
First, an interface designer has to understand how a system supports individual,
departmental, and enterprise goals. The objective will be to design an interface
that helps users to perform their jobs. Next, the designer has to maximize
graphical effectiveness by creating an intuitive GUI that allows users to
efficiently accomplish his/her work. All the while, the interface designer has to
think like a user and see the GUI through their eyes while designing it. The

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interface should use terms that are familiar to users so that users can expect useful
and understandable feedback from a system. A designed should use models and
prototypes and seek user approval in all designs on the UI. Much like the agile
method of systems development, a designer should constantly receive feedback
from users to gauge how useful their system will be. While designing, the
designer has to focus on usability which allows users to easily comprehend and
navigate the system. This can be achieved by limiting the number of choices
offered to a user and organizing choices based on popularity. After the system is
completed, a designer should constantly seek feedback to better his/her system
and continually maintain the system to its users satisfaction. Finally, a designed
should document the interface design by organizing work on the UI so other
programmers/analysts can follow where you finished.
4. Describe six types of user interface controls and provide an example of how
you could use each type in a data entry screen.
The six user interface control are option/radio buttons, check boxes, text boxes,
dialog boxes, command buttons/button controls, and list boxes with scroll bars.
(i) Option/Radio buttons - These are usually used as a group where many
exclusive attributes are possible. For example, choices of color can be
displayed using option/radio buttons to display all of the options for a user
to choose from.
(ii) Check boxes- Allows for multiple responses as checking one box does not
negate checking another box as in group option buttons.

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(iii) Text Boxes- Allows input from the user based on the systems output
which requests certain data. All input forms normally have text boxes.
(iv) Dialog Boxes Displays information to the user and accepts responses.
Dialog boxes, or pop-up boxes, are used to highlight important
information about a current screen by interrupting the user interface with
questions or warning.
(v) Command Buttons/Button Controls Switchboards are made up of
multiple buttons and when pressed, additional dialog boxes or forms are
displayed for interaction from the user. These buttons can add, delete,
modify, cancel, or exit from the dialog box that a user is currently using.
(vi) List Boxes with Scroll Bars Contain repeating information that can be
selected with the mouse. When an item is selected, it returns input that is
the exact same as the output which eliminates input mistakes from the
user. The scroll bar allows users to navigate the list box vertically or
horizontally.
5. Define detail reports, exception reports, and summary reports. Explain the
concept of a control field and how it is used to produce a control-break
report.
Detail reports produce one or more lines of output for each record processed and
each line is called a detail line. Detail reports mainly detail the records in a
system. Exception reports display only records that meet a specific condition or
set of conditions. These exception reports are used when a user wants to filter
information from a system to only view specific details. Summary reports are

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used to quickly summarize data into easily understandable numbers instead of

displaying all the details used in the calculations. These are used to provide
information to managers or consumers who want to easily understand a report. A
control field controls the output of a report and stores information regarding a
specific object or entity. A control break occurs when a control field changes and
is used in the control break report. To present a control break report, control fields
have to be organized/sorted numerically or alphabetically.
6. List and describe various types of output, including technology-based forms
of information delivery.
Most computer output takes the form of reports, whether they be on physically on
a paper or digitally on a screen. Other outputs that are categorized as technologybased forms of information delivery are audio, video, computer output microfilm,
computer output to laser disk, email, or Internet/Web based output in the form of
HTML pages. These forms of output can be accessed via DVD, CD, or a web
browser.
7. Explain each of the data validation rules mentioned in this chapter.
(i) Sequence checks make sure input is in the order of a sequence. B should
follow A as 2 follows 1.
(ii) Existence checks make sure a required entry exists in the record before
continuing.
(iii) Data Type checks make sure input is numeric in an accounting field or
alphabetical in a name field.

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CMSC243

(iv) Range checks make sure input is between a range of predetermined

min/max values.
(v) Limit checks make sure input is greater or less than a value, but not both.
(vi) Reasonableness checks make sure input is reasonable for what is being
asked. For example, an input of 150 when asking for age would be
unreasonable, but not necessarily incorrect.
(vii)

(I dont know why the formatting tabs here, but I cant fix it.)

(viii)

Validity checks make sure inputs match with a known entity. If

accepting an item number in an order line, it makes sure it is a valid item

number by looking it up in the master file.
(ix) Combination checks make sure two or more fields are used to ensure
validity. For example, if accepting an item number in an order line and the
minimum order is 3, the combination check will return that an order is
invalid if the number input is 2.
(x) Batch controls make sure that the totals match the input. These are not
meaningful except for validating a batch.
8. What are the main principles of source document design?
Source documents must be easy to complete and inexpensive. When designing a
source document, there are six important zones in the layout which are generally
accepted. The heading zone is located in the top left of the form and contains
company information, logos, and form number info. The control zone is in the
upper right and contains codes, dates, and identification information pertinent to
data entry. The instruction zone is below the heading and control zones and

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CMSC243

contains vital information for the user on how to fill in the source document. The
body zone is below the instruction zone and takes up most of the form. Details are
filled out here and in the bottom right corner or the body zone is the totals zone
which summarize the detail lines in the body. The authorization zone is at the
bottom and include space for signatures and authorizations. Information on the
form flows from top to bottom in an orderly fashion and a reasonable amount of
space should be given on the form for complete responses.
9. Explain batch and online input methods. Define source data automation and
provide an example.
Batch input used to be standard and is still mostly used in accounting systems.
Batch input allows for an extra step of verification before being granted entry into
the system. Batch input also allows for aggregation of like information to be
entered in at a specific time or on a schedule. A batch input system will generate
batch input summary reports whose hash total can be checked with a calculator to
verify the proper information was input. Once the batch is approved or verified,
the system updates the main database or file system with the additional input
records. On the other hand, online input has gained popularity as computing
systems have become so powerful that instantaneous processing of input by
multiple stations is possible. The advantage of online input is that there is
immediate feedback from the system if something is wrong with the input. By
using data validation checks, the online input systems enables accurate/valid data
before submission. Source data automation is fast and accurate and minimizes
human involvement in the translation process. One example could be barcode

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labels on all products which allow for the scanning of a product which is then
looked up in a database to retrieve product item number, description, availability,
and cost. Forms of source data automation can include magnetic strips on credit
cards or radio frequency identification tags on inventory or shipping containers.
10. Provide four guidelines for reducing input volume.
(i) Only input necessary data If the data is not necessary for the
productivity of a system, omit it.
(ii) Do not enter data available from or computable by the system If there is
a column for the sum of two other columns, do not enter the sum of the
columns because the system will compute it. For example, if entering an
item number, one does not need to enter the description that can be
retrieved from the database.
(iii) Do not input constant data An order number does not have be entered
for every item on the order since it is not changing and can be accessed
from the same location.
(iv) Use codes Codes are shorter, easier to remember, and convey a lot of
information with very little memory through the use of characters. Item
numbers customer numbers, and tax codes are all examples of user codes.