USER INTERFACE DESIGN

SYBsc I.T
15075
R.D National College
 What is UI
Visual part of computer application or operating system through which a user
interacts with a computer or a software.
It determines how commands are given to the computer or the program and how
information is displayed on the screen.
Three main types of user interfaces are
(1) Command language: the user must know the machine and program-specific
instructions or codes.
(2) Menus: user chooses the commands from lists displayed on the screen.
(3) Graphical user interface (GUI): user gives commands by selecting and clicking on
icons displayed on the screen.
 The User Interface
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
Most users of business systems interact with these systems through
graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
In some cases, legacy text-based interfaces are still used
Characteristics
 Graphical User Interfa
Graphical User interfaces rely much more heavily on the mouse. A typical
example of this type of interface is any version of the Windows Operating
System. The main advantages are:
1. Less expert knowledge is required to use it (more user friendly)
2. Easier to navigate.. can look through folders quickly in a guess and
check manner.
The main disadvantages are:
1. Typically decreased options (less powerful)
2. Typically less customizable. Not easy to use one button for tons of
different variations.
Graphical User Interfaces are more common than text-based interfaces
in modern computing.
 Elements Of user in
To perform user interface analysis, the practitioner needs to study and
understand four elements
The users who will interact with the system through the interface
The tasks that end users must perform to do their work
The content that is presented as part of the interface
The work environment in which these tasks will be conducted
Text-Based User Interface
This method relies primarily on the keyboard. A typical example of this is
UNIX. The main advantages of a Text-Based User Interface are:
1. Many and Easier to customization options
2. Typically capable of more powerful tasks
The main disadvantages of a Text-Based User Interface are:
1. Relies heavily on recall rather than recognition.
2. Navigation is often more difficult
 Principles of user interface design
The principles of user interface design are a way to improve the
quality of user interface design.
According to Larry Constantine and Lucy Lockwood in their
usage-centered design, these are principles of User Interface
Design
The structure principle:- Design should organize the user interface
purposefully, in meaningful and useful ways based on clear, consistent
models that are apparent and recognizable to users, putting related things
together and separating unrelated things, differentiating dissimilar things
and making similar things resemble one another. The structure principle is
concerned with overall user interface architecture.
The visibility principle: The design should make all needed options and materials
for a given task visible without distracting the user with extraneous or
redundant information. Good designs don't overwhelm users with alternatives
or confuse with unneeded information.

The feedback principle: The design should keep users informed of actions or
interpretations, changes of state or condition, and errors or exceptions that are
relevant and of interest to the user through clear, concise, and unambiguous
language familiar to users.
The tolerance principle: The design should be flexible and tolerant, reducing the
cost of mistakes and misuse by allowing undoing and redoing, while also
preventing errors wherever possible by tolerating varied inputs and sequences
and by interpreting all reasonable actions.

The reuse principle: The design should reuse internal and external components
and behaviors, maintaining consistency with purpose rather than merely
arbitrary consistency, thus reducing the need for users to rethink and remember.
 What makes a good user
interface?
A good interface makes it easy for users to tell the computer what they want
to do, for the computer to request information from the users, and for the
computer to present understandable information. Clear communication between
the user and the computer is the working premise of good UI design.
 Good interfaces are:
Clear
A clear interface helps prevent user errors, makes important information obvious,
and contributes to ease of learning and use.

Consistent
A consistent interface allows users to apply previously learned knowledge to new
tasks.
Effective applications are both consistent within themselves and consistent with
one another.
Simple
The best interface designs are simple. Simple designs are easy to learn and to use
and give the interface a consistent look. A good design requires a good balance
between maximizing Functionality and maintaining simplicity through progressive
disclosure of information.

User-Controlled
The user, not the computer, initiates and controls all actions.
Laws of UI Design
According to Jef Raskin in his book The Humane Interface, there are two
laws of user interface design
1, First Law: - A computer shall not harm your work or, through
inactivity, allow your work to come to harm.
2, Second Law: - A computer shall not waste your time or require you to
do more work than is strictly necessary.
Jef Raskin also mentions that "users should set the pace of an interaction,"
meaning that a user should not be kept waiting unnecessarily.
 Finance
Finance

Cost savings of usability testing.

For commercial organizations, greater
usability leads to increased sales and greater
competitive
advantage.
For non-profits, conversion rates (e.g. transforming a
casual user to a signed-up and engaged user) are still
important: a resource that addresses the needs of its
users is more likely to lead to greater use and (repeated)
engagement.
Reduce support costs.
 IMPACT

Increased user engagement in design This can lead to more user-

focused resources which in turn can increase a resources impact.
Impact important consideration when creating funding applications.
 Advantages (GUI)
It can be user-friendly and speed up the user's work.
It can be more attractive for non-technical people.
In general, it looks more professional (but this does not mean it is always the
best solution).
 Advantages (GUI)
When it is not properly built, it can be very difficult to work with.
It generally requires more memory resources than a non-graphical
one.
It might require the installation of additional software, e.g., the
"runtime environment" in the case of java.
Depending on the programmer, it might require more time to be
implemented.