Group: user interface

Summary

The interface between users and the system is important yet difficult to design. Users are error-prone, unpredictable, slow, and forgetful. They need a non-fatiguing interface with a rapid response time. Because no user frequently uses all of a system, the system should be self-descriptive, and easy to learn. Since some are heavy users, the system should be modifiable to allow system tuning. Basically all systems need to handle two kinds of users: the unsophisticated, infrequent user and the frequent user. The frequent user wants a powerful instrument easily adaptable to his needs requiring a minimum of control. Routine operations should be as consistent as possible so they can become reflex actions. The unsophisticated user wants a simple effective tool. He has a job to be done and doesn't care, and doesn't care to know, how the job should be done. In any case the system should show a regular rational exterior regardless of the effort needed to make it rational. With wider use of dedicated computers, user interfaces can be more flexible. (cbb 5/80)

The user interface is the external representation of a system. It uses symbols to communicate the system. Hypertext may be an ideal interface. For example, ZOG/KMS is easy to learn. (cbb 1/88)

Subtopic: adapting to systems

Quote: people can get used to, and even promote, anything

Quote: the persistence of negative results in user psychology suggests that many interface features are not important [»moraTP3_1981]

Quote: users tend to compensate for deficiencies in software; these habits are difficult to change once established [»boehBW_1979]

Quote: mastery of a system inhibits desire for change in that system, even if there are serious problems [»potaWA_1979]

Subtopic: UI vs. subject vs. implementation

Quote: domain of interaction is independent of the domain of implementation and the subject domain [»winoT7_1979]

Subtopic: state vs. UI

Quote: many students confuse an object's state with mechanisms that affect that state

Subtopic: interactivity metric

Quote: interactivity is characterized by frequency of use, range of choices, and significance of choices [»laurB_1991]

Subtopic: bibliography

Quote: bibliography on user interface and electronic, typographic design [»kerrST_1986, OK]

Group: user interface

Group: graphical user interface   (24 topics, 512 quotes)
Group: types of user interfaces   (23 topics, 298 quotes)
Group: testing and evaluating user interfaces   (9 topics, 262 quotes)

Topic: current position in a user interface; cursor (23 items)
Topic: demonstrating systems (6 items)
Topic: disorientation in a user interface (13 items)
Topic: expert users (25 items)
Topic: identifying the user interface with the system (16 items)
Topic: man-machine symbiosis (46 items)
Topic: mental models, consistency, and interface metaphors (49 items)
Topic: novice users and the UserInterface (25 items)
Topic: spatial metaphor in user interfaces (33 items)
Topic: user interface design (36 items)

Topic: color in user interfaces (7 items)
Topic: error messages (37 items)
Topic: graphics (16 items)
Topic: implementation of user interfaces (18 items)
Topic: help in UserInterface (33 items)
Topic: modes in a user interface (40 items)
Topic: problem of screen size (12 items)
Topic: undoing actions in a UserInterface (23 items)
Topic: user profile
(16 items)

Related Topics

Group: document preparation   (8 topics, 180 quotes)
Group: hypertext   (44 topics, 786 quotes)
Group: information retrieval   (25 topics, 674 quotes)
Group: user interface for hypertext   (5 topics, 110 quotes)

ThesaHelp: map of the Thesa web site
Topic: alarm reporting (4 items)
Topic: communication errors between people (4 items)
Topic: control point (3 items)
Topic: exceptions from invalid input (4 items)
Topic: immediate computation (8 items)
Topic: interactive response time (32 items)
Topic: software models of reality (24 items)
Topic: non-constraining system (25 items)
Topic: people vs. computers (55 items)
Topic: preventing accidental errors (37 items)
Topic: shared information for collaborative work (36 items)
Topic: tools (20 items)
Topic: user-centered design (65 items)
Topic: user interface tool kits
(31 items)