08/09/2014
(Mon)
3
Key stages to program design:
- Designing
the User Interface
- Designing
the Data
- Designing
the Processing (algorithms)
User
interface:
The
method where the user tells the device what to do and the device responds.
The difference in UI changes and updates between
mobile phones and ATMs is largely to do
with competition. There is no competition between brands
of ATMs, however, UI is unique
selling point of many mobile phones. ATMs also have
to have familiarity, so that anyone can
use an ATM anywhere in the world.
Types
of interface:
1. Command Line Interface (CLI)
- Linux
terminal
- Command
prompt (Windows)
- PowerShell
(Windows)
- Mac
terminal (AT&T UNIX - FreeBSD)
2. WIMP - Menu Driven (Windows Icons Menus and
Pointers)
3. Natural Language - Voice recognition technologies
- Google search
4. Graphical User Interface
Command
Line Interface
-
Purely based on command sets
-
Difficult to learn - Acronym commands
that can be chained, hypothetically unlimited commands
-
For technical people.
Command line can be powerful and efficient, such as
assigning values to multiple computers.
Menu
Driven
-
Easy to use
-
Require little technical knowledge
-
Limited to the options available
-
Examples are Sat Nav systems, old
phones, Sky remotes, ATM.
Natural
Language
-
“Hello computer, create a spreadsheet
with income and expenditure to calculate my monthly outgoings…”
-
Difficult to construct – Human language
is very ambiguous
-
AI of computer systems is not developed
enough
-
Is used to some extent in Sat Nav car
systems.
GUI
Advantages:
-
Commonly used
-
Easy to learn
-
Require limited training
-
Intuitive
-
Fewer mistakes can be made when using the
program
-
Use of GUI objects such as drop downs,
option buttons, dialogue boxes to alert on validation errors
-
User can associate icons with real world
objects – e.g. Filing cabinet and recycle bin.
Limitations:
-
Require more processing power and system
resources
-
Not always suitable for the environment
it is being used in
-
Can be restrictive for more advanced
users.
Factors
to consider when designing a user interface:
-
The user
-
Screen layout
Most important
functions are central, with more complex or less used functions in menus
-
Validation
Asks if you’re sure –
Checks spelling, lets you know you need an @ symbol for your email address, make
sure the username is free, date of birth in reasonable range etc.
-
Online help
-
Readability
-
Choice of fonts and colours
-
Technology Platform
-
Help
Windows paperclip man –
‘What would you like to do?’
Windows
8
Windows 8 was redesigned radically, with the new
tile based start menu that is completely different to its predecessor. The
changes were made partly to shift closer to touch screen devices, such as
tablets.
Microsoft seemed to believe that tablets and PCs
needed to be combined – but there was no demand. They attempted to create demand
with tablet PCs and surface, which also only partly worked.
One detail that was a controversial change was the
removal of the start button in the bottom left corner – it was replaced in
windows 8.1, but it was unnerving for long term users used to utilizing the
start button for the control panel, browse files, and generally use as the
first call for system functions.
Windows 8 was received so poorly largely because of
the steep learning curve, although these complaints were addressed with Windows
8.1, an update to edge towards the functionality of Windows 7. A desktop mode
was also implemented, to actually avoid
using the tile system in place.
Windows 8 also most likely failed because it seemed
to alienate long term desktop users with a useless interface. For experienced
users, the interface got in the way more than it sped things up, especially
without a touch screen.
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