The user interface is an application very important side - it directly affects the value of the program. For most users, the user interface is their understanding of a product. So for them, an application for a good internal design but the user interface is a bad program. A user interface framework for an application is an important factor in determining its business value.
What is an excellent user interface? Speaking of the bottom: an excellent user interface is an intuitive, a transparent interface to the user: When the user is first exposed to this software, I feel at a glance. If you don't need much training, you can easily use it, and the user is using the process I will even get a happy mood. It is very simple to say, but in actual development, it is not easy to do this. The author believes that we want to design an excellent graphical user interface, should start in the design of the software, which is to pay more attention to the demand analysis phase.
Interface demand analysis process
Interface element
Usually the elements of a software interface include interface main color, font color, font size, interface layout, interface interaction, interface function distribution, interface input and output mode. Among them, elements that have a significant impact on user work efficiency include: input and output mode, interactive, functional distribution, in systems with command interactive mode, command name, parameter is also the content of interface elements, how to design commands and parameters are also very important. Elements that affect users' evaluation of system-friendly are: color, font size, interface layout, etc., this division is not absolute, the software interface is used as a whole, where any element does not meet the user habits, not satisfying user requirements will be reduced The user's recognition of the software system even affects the user's work efficiency, and the user will eventually give up the use system. The design objects to be achieved around the interface are to allow end users to get aesthetics, improve work efficiency, and easy to operate the system.
At present, there are many research on interface elements, layout design, etc., cover the discussion of availability engineering, human-machine engineering, cognitive psychology, aesthetics, color theory, etc.
User role
Interface demand analysis must focus on users, different from objective functional demand analysis, with great subjectivity. Although, interface designers can design according to the principles, but the user's cultural background, knowledge, personal preferences, etc. are different, and their interface needs are also very different. Different users have different requirements for the software interface, and they express their requirements. And the user's interface requirement usually as easy as the business function needs, it can be checked, which can be analyzed using a specialized tool. Most users often make clear, global interface needs, and their needs are closely related to their own subjective factors, and is blurred and changing. Investigate the user's interface needs, we must first start from the investigation user's own characteristics, comprehensively process the requirements of different characteristic user groups, and more to analyze its interface needs. So here to lead the conceptual model of the user role.
The user role refers to a collection of many user features that can represent some user features in accordance with a certain reference system division. The goal of the user survey is to summarize the single users that cannot establish a model into a collection by investigating the user characteristics, defining the user collection as a role model, and gives different priority levels to find out their interface requirements. The user's needs survey and its characteristic survey, that is, the user's role definition is often performed simultaneously. There are many ways to investigate, such as direct communication, data statistics, form investigation, etc. The principle of user role definitions is representative, and the system function is related to the needs analysis of the interface. One user role may include a large number of user individuals, and their requirements for the interface can be defined in accordance with a certain interface model. In a software system, the user role definition is based on the system, and a single user can belong to different user roles in different reference systems, but a user role requires a type of interface. If the cashier is divided into a user role according to the user's position, if the proficiency of the operation computer is followed, the system users belonging to the cashier role can be divided into: skilled users, and the user.
User role definition is an application of human-computer engineering theory in software development. The determination of the user role can be defined according to the user data and industry experience provided by the system requirements, such as aesthetics, user computer level, user working content, etc., and then modify the demand survey process. The reason why the user role is to define because the different user roles are different in the demand analysis process, and the side focus is different, and even contradict each other. In a large system, users who need analystists can only be a single user individual, and their needs are taught. Only by clarifying the user role, demand analysts can require the inheritance of the vendor in a chaotic and unclear user, according to the different priorities of the user character, balance the contradictions in many users, abstract the full GUI interface model.
Demand change
We know that users usually can only propose basic requirements, and the requirements are not necessarily scientific, so how to induce users to clarify their needs as soon as possible, they are any problems that are needed for analysts.
The user proposes its own requirements based on the ideal system you imagine. After the development side implements the target, it is handed over to the user. After the system implementation runs, the user will compare the actual target system with their own ideal system, and the use of the target system stimulates the ideal system in the user's imagination, and then puts forward new needs. Since the evaluation factor of the software interface has a big relationship with the user's psychological situation, the user can only know if it is in compliance with its own operating habits, color, font and other interface elements to meet their own requirements after use. This makes a clearer requirement.
Interface prototype
Due to the pre-software development, the user's interface needs vague, and even there is no ideal model, the requirements of users are difficult to quantify, and the results are easy to be ignored by demand analysts. Therefore, the application fast prototype method is applied after the user role definition is completed, and the user can help users improve their ideal model as soon as possible.
Using interface prototypes to shorten the cycle of interface requirements, and meet the requirements of users as much as possible. The rapid prototyping method is rapidly generating a prototype of a software system according to the demand of the software system, which is the main benefit to get more complete, more accurate needs and design as soon as possible. Using interface prototypes, users can feelly recognize future system's interface style and operation, so as to quickly make a judgment: whether system is in line with their own sense of sensory, whether to meet their operating habits, can meet their work. Demand analysts can use interface prototypes to induce users to correct their ideal systems, and propose new interface requirements.
Therefore, the step of interface demand analysis can be: determining the interface elements involved, analyzing user features and defining user roles, and design interface in accordance with the interface requirements of the user role and constantly improving improvement.
Common principles.
On the issue of the user interface, Dong Shi's effect is more effective than pushing new. The software system has been developing for so many years. Each type of software has its popular interface style and design cross-section is not an interface master, and the old man is never wrong.
Simple. The configuration of the interface is to make the user easy to use, easy to understand, and reduce the possibility of user error selection.
2. The language of the user. The interface that can reflect the user itself in the interface is used instead of the language of the designer. To select an active language rather than passive.
3. Memory burden minimizes. The human brain is not a computer, and the human brain handling information must be considered when the design interface is considered. Human short-term memory is unstable, limited, and there is 25% for forgetting within 24 hours. So for users, browsing information is easier than memory.
4. Consistency. It is the characteristics of every excellent interface. The structure of the interface must be clear and consistent, and the style must be consistent with the content.
5. Clear. It is easy to understand and use in visual effects.
6. The user's familiarity. Users can use the interface through knowledge that has been mastered, but should not exceed general common sense.
7. Conside by the user's point of view. I want to think, do what they do. Users always understand and use their own way. Complete better design by comparing two different worlds (real and virtual) things. Such as: book comparison bamboo slip. 8. Arrange. An ordered interface allows users to easily use it.
9. Security. Users can choose freely, and all options are reversible. There is information prompt when the user makes a dangerous choice.
10. Flexibility. Simply put to make the user easy to use, but it is different from the above. That is, interactive multiplex, is not limited to a single tool (including mouse, keyboard or handle).
11. Human. High efficiency and user satisfaction are humanized embodiments. Two interfaces that are skilled by skilled users and sparse users, that is, the user can customize the interface according to their own habit, and save the settings.
Conclusion:
I believe that everyone will be able to design a good user interface according to the procedures described above and the common rules.
Reference:
This section lists some resources in HCI, availability, and user interface design.
Boehm, Barry W. Software Engineering Economics. Ny: Prentice Hall, 1981. (ISBN: 0138221227)
Dumas, Joseph S. and Janice C. Redish.a Practical Guide To USAbility Testing.
London
: Intellect Books, 1999. (ISBN: 1841500208)
Helander, Martin, Thomas K. Landauer and Prasad V. Prabhu, Eds.handbook of Human-Computer Intertion. North-Holland, 1997. (ISBN: 0444818766)
John, B. E. "Why goms?" ACM Interactions, Vol. 2, NO. 4 (1995): 80-89.
Nielsen, Jakob. USAbility Engineering. Boston: AP Professional, 1994. (ISBN: 0125184069)
http://www.usabilityfirst.com
http://www.gui-designers.co.uk
http://www.tworivers.com
http://www.asktog.com
http://www.acm.org/sigchi/
http://www.useit.com
http://www.iarchitect.com
http://www.acm.org/~perlman/readings.html
http://msdn.microsoft.com/ui
http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/macosx/essentials/
http://www-3.ibm.com/easy/
IBM's Ease of Use Web Site
http://www.ibm.com//ibm/hci/
http://world.std.com/~uiweb/
http://www.pegasus3d.com/apple_screens.html
