The Essential Guide to User Interface Design - 3rd Edition



The Essential Guide to User Interface Design - 3rd Edition

Wilbert O. Galitz

Text Objectives

The Essential Guide to User Interface Design’s first objective is to present the important practical guidelines for good interface and screen design. It is intended as a ready reference source for all graphical and Web systems. The guidelines reflect a mix of human behavior, science, and art, and are organized within the context of the interface design process. The specific objectives are to enable the reader to do the following:

• Understand the many considerations that must be applied to the interface and screen design process.

• Understand the rationale and rules for an effective interface design methodology.

• Identify the components of graphical and Web interfaces and screens, including windows, menus, and controls.

• Design and organize graphical screens and Web pages to encourage the fastest and most accurate comprehension and execution of screen features.

• Choose screen colors and design screen icons and graphics.

• Perform the user interface design process, including interface development and testing.

The book’s other objective is to provide materials that, when applied, will allow users to become more productive—and more satisfied—using the interfaces that are produced.

Text Organization

This text is composed of two parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the human-computer interface. Chapter 1 examines what an interface is, its importance, and its history. Chapter 2 reviews the two dominant user interfaces today: the graphical user interface (GUI) and the World Wide Web (WWW or Web). GUI interfaces are looked at in terms of their components, characteristics, and advantages over the older text-based systems. Web interfaces are compared to both GUI interfaces and conventional printed documents. The differing characteristics of three distinct Web environments, the Internet, intranet, and extranet are also summarized. The second chapter concludes with a statement of the basic underlying principles for interface design.

Part 2 presents an extensive series of guidelines for the interface design process. It is organized in the order of the development steps typically followed in creating a graphical system’s or Web site’s screens and pages. The 14 steps presented are:

Step 1: Know Your User or Client. You must have an understanding of the most important system or Web site component: the user or client. Understanding people and what they do is a critical and often difficult and undervalued process. The first step in the design process involves identifying people’s innate and learned characteristics, and understanding how they affect design.

Step 2: Understand the Business Function. A system or Web site must achieve the business objectives for which it is designed. To do so requires an understanding of the goals of the system and the functions and tasks performed. Determining basic business functions, describing user activities through task analysis, understanding the user’s mental model, and developing a conceptual model of the system accomplish this. The system’s conceptual model must fit the user’s view of the tasks to be performed. Step 2 also addresses the establishment of design standards or style guides, and the definition of training and documentation needs.

Step 3: Understand the Principles of Good Interface and Screen Design. A well-designed screen must reflect the needs and capabilities of its users, be developed within the physical constraints imposed by the hardware on which it is displayed, and effectively utilize the capabilities of its controlling software. Step 3 involves understanding the capabilities of, and limitations imposed by people, hardware, and software in designing screens and Web pages. It presents an enormous number of general design guidelines for organizing and presenting information to people.

Step 4: Develop System Menus and Navigation Schemes. Graphical systems and Web sites are heavily menu-oriented. Menus are used to designate commands, properties that apply to an object, documents, and windows. To accomplish these goals, a variety of menu styles are available to choose from. Step 4 involves understanding how menus are used, and selecting the proper kinds for specific tasks. The principles of menu design are described, and the purpose and proper usage of various menu types are detailed. In this step guidelines for Web site navigation are also presented. Topics addressed include the elements of Web navigation such as links, navigation aids, and search facilities.

Step 5: Select the Proper Kinds of Windows. Graphical screen design consists of a series of windows. Step 5 involves understanding how windows are used and selecting the proper kinds for the tasks. The elements of windows are described, and the purpose and proper usage of various types of windows are detailed. The step concludes with a discussion of Web browsers,

Step 6: Select the Proper Interaction Devices. In addition to the keyboard, a system or Web site might offer the user a mouse, trackball, joystick, graphic tablet, touch screen, light pen, or some other similar device. Step 6 consists of identifying the characteristics and capabilities of these various control mechanisms and providing the proper ones for users and their tasks.

Step 7: Choose the Proper Screen-Based Controls. The designer is presented with an array of controls to choose from. Selecting the right one for the user and the task is often difficult. But, as with interaction devices, making the right choice is critical to system success. A proper fit between user and control will lead to fast, accurate performance. A poor fit will result in lower productivity, more errors, and often user dissatisfaction. Step 7 consists of identifying the characteristics and capabilities of these various screen-based controls and guidelines for providing the proper ones for users and their tasks.

Step 8: Write Clear Text and Messages. Creating text and messages in a form the user wants and understands is absolutely necessary for system acceptance and success. Rules for writing text and messages for systems and Web sites are presented.

Step 9: Provide Effective Feedback, Guidance, and Assistance. Effective feedback, guidance, and assistance are also necessary elements of good design. This step presents the guidelines for presenting to the user feedback concerning the system and its processing status. It also describes the system response times necessary to meet user needs. Step 9 also describes the kinds of guidance and assistance that should be included in a system, and presents important design guidelines for the various kinds.

Step 10: Provide Effective Internationalization and Accessibility. People from different cultures and people who speak different languages may use graphical systems and Web sites. Guidelines for accommodating different cultures and languages in a design are presented. People with disabilities may also be users. Design considerations for these kinds of users are also described.

Step 11: Create Meaningful Graphics, Icons, and Images. Graphics, including icons and images, are an integral part of design. Design guidelines for various types of graphics are presented. Icons are described, including a discussion of what kinds of icons exist, what influences their usability, and how they should be designed so they are meaningful and recognizable. The elements of multimedia presentation are also reviewed. Guidelines presented include those for images, photographs, videos, drawings, animation, and audition.

Step 12: Choose the Proper Colors. Color, if used properly, can emphasize the logical organization of a screen, facilitate the discrimination of screen components, accentuate differences, and make displays more interesting. If used improperly, color can be distracting and cause visual fatigue, impairing a system’s usability. Step 12 involves understanding color and how to use it effectively on textual and statistical graphics screens, and in Web sites.

Step 13: Organize and Layout Windows and Pages. After determining all the components of a screen or page, the screen or page must be organized and its elements presented clearly and meaningfully. Proper presentation and organization encourages the quick and accurate comprehension of information and the fastest possible execution of user tasks. Step 13 addresses the rules for laying out all screen elements and controls in the most effective manner possible.

Step 14: Test, Test, and Retest. A host of factors must be considered in design and numerous trade-offs will have been made. Indeed, the design of some parts of the system may be based on skimpy data and simply reflect the most educated guess possible. Also, the implications for some design decisions may not be fully appreciated until the results can be seen. Waiting until after a system has been implemented to uncover any deficiencies and make any design changes can be aggravating, costly, and time-consuming. To minimize these kinds of problems, interfaces and screens must be continually tested and refined as development proceeds. Step 14 reviews the kinds of tests that can be performed, and discusses creating, evaluating, and modifying prototypes in an iterative manner. It also reviews final system testing and ongoing evaluations of working systems.

Although Part 2 is organized into what appear to be non-overlapping linear tasks, this does not mean to imply that the actual design process will fall into such neat categories—one step finishing before the next step starts. In reality, some steps will run concurrently or overlap, and design iterations will cause occasional movements backward as well as forward. If any of these steps are omitted, or carelessly performed, a product’s foundation will be flawed. A flawed foundation is difficult to correct afterward.

This book is both a reference book and a textbook. A set of related bulleted listings of guidelines, many with illustrative examples, are first presented in checklist form. Each checklist is then followed by more detailed explanatory text providing necessary rationale and any research upon which they are based. The reader can use the narrative to gain an understanding of the reasoning behind the guidelines and use the bulleted listings as a checklist for design.

Scattered throughout the book are many illustrations of design, both good and bad. These illustrations have been made as generic as possible, without intending to reflect any one graphical product or system. In view of the ever-changing interface landscape, this seems the most practical approach. The screen examples, however, were created using Microsoft’s Visual Basic, so an illustrative bias will exist in this direction.

Research citations are confined to those in the last decade or so. Older citations have been included, however, when they are extremely relevant to a guideline or a guideline’s discussion. Finally, also sprinkled throughout the book are a collection of design myths to be discounted and maximums to be adhered to.

Text Outline

An outline of the major text topics, by chapter and step, will be found below.

Learning Objectives

The learning objectives, by chapter and step, will be found below.

Test Bank

The Test Bank contains 500 questions distributed as follows:

Short Answer: 166

True/False: 167

Multiple Choice: 167

500

Most chapters contain ten questions of each style. Three short chapters do contain fewer in number, however, and one very long chapter contains about 20 questions of each style.

Answers for all questions are also included.

Design Problems

Several design problems, with solutions, are found in the exercise included on the companion Web site. These problems are located in Steps 3, 4, 7, and 13.

PowerPoint Slides

A series of PowerPoint slides (totaling 676) have been created for each chapter and step in the text. They have been designed around the text and incorporate key topics, points, and guidelines.

Part One

The User Interface—An Introduction and Overview

Chapter 1

The Importance of the User Interface

Outline

Defining the User Interface

The Importance of Good Design

The Benefits of Good Design

A Brief History of the Human-Computer Interface

Introduction of the Graphical User Interface

The Blossoming of the World Wide Web

A Brief History of Screen Design

What’s Next?

Objectives

After completion of Chapter 1 the student should be able to:

• Define and describe the user interface.

• Explain why good design is important.

• Describe the benefits of good design.

• Describe a brief history of the human-computer interface.

• Describe a brief history of the graphical user interface.

• Describe a brief history of the World Wide Web.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 1

Test Bank

Short Answer: 4

True/False: 4

Multiple Choice: 3

Chapter 2

Characteristics of Graphical and Web User Interfaces

Outline

Interaction Styles

The Graphical User Interface

The Concept of Direct Manipulation

Graphical Systems: Advantages and Disadvantages

Characteristics of the Graphical User Interface

The Web User Interface

The Popularity of the Web

Characteristics of a Web Interface

GUI versus Web Page Design

Printed page versus Web Page Design

The Merging of Graphical Business Systems and the Web

Characteristics of an Intranet versus the Internet

Extranets

Web Page versus Application Design

Principles of User Interface Design

Principles for the Xerox STAR

General Design Principles

What’s Next?

Objectives

After completion of Chapter 2 the student should be able to:

• Describe the different interaction styles.

• Explain how the graphical user interface revolutionized design.

• Explain the concept of direct manipulation.

• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a graphical system.

• Describe the characteristics of a graphical user interface.

• Describe the characteristics of the Web user interface.

• Explain the difference between GUI and Web page design.

• Explain the difference between printed page and Web page design.

• Explain how graphical business systems and the Web have merged.

• Explain the differences between an intranet and the Internet.

• Describe an extranet.

• Explain the difference between Web page and Web application design.

• Describe the design principles for the Xerox STAR.

• Define and describe the general principles of interface design.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 37

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Part Two

The User Interface Design Process

Outline

Obstacles and Pitfalls in the Development Path

Designing for People: The Seven Commandments

Usability

Usability Assessment in the Design Process

Common Usability Problems

Some Practical Measures of Usability

Some Objective Measures of Usability

Objectives

After completion of this Part 2 Introduction the student should be able to:

• Describe the obstacles and pitfalls in the system development path.

• Describe the seven Commandments for designing for people.

• Explain the concept of usability.

• Describe the common system usability problems.

• Describe some practical measures of usability.

• Describe some objective measures of usability.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 10

Test Bank

Short Answer: 4

True/False: 4

Multiple Choice: 3

Step 1

Know Your User or Client

Outline

Understanding How People Interact with Computers

The Human Action Cycle

Why People Have Trouble with Computers

Responses to Poor Design

People and Their Tasks

Important Human Characteristics in Design

Human Considerations in the Design of Business Systems

The User’s Knowledge and Experience

The User’s Tasks and Needs

The User’s Psychological Characteristics

The User’s Physical Characteristics

Human Interaction Speeds

Performance versus Preference

Methods for Gaining an Understanding of Users

Objectives

After completion of Step 1 the student should be able to:

• Describe how people interact with computers.

• Explain the human action cycle.

• List the reasons why people have trouble with computers.

• Describe some typical user responses to poor design.

• Describe the human characteristics important in the design process.

• Describe what aspects of the user’s level of knowledge and experience are important in design.

• Describe what aspects of the user’s tasks and needs are important in design.

• Describe what psychological characteristics of the user are important in design.

• Describe what physical characteristics of the user are important in design.

• Explain the roles user performance and preference measures play in design.

• Describe some methods for gaining understanding of users.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 40

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Step 2

Understand the Business Function

Outline

Business Definition and Requirements Analysis

Information Collection Techniques

Direct Methods

Indirect Methods

Defining the Domain

Considering the Environment

Possible Problems in Requirements Collection

Determining Basic Business Functions

Understanding the User’s Work

Developing Conceptual Models

The User’s New Mental Model

Design Standards or Style Guides

System Training and Documentation Needs

Objectives

After completion of Step 2 the student should be able to:

• Perform a business definition and requirements analysis.

• Describe the requirements information collection techniques.

• Explain the difference between direct and indirect collection methods.

• Explain a domain.

• Explain why a system’s usage environment is important in design.

• Describe what aspects of the environment are important.

• Describe the possible problems that may be encountered in requirements data collection.

• Explain why understanding the user’s work is important.

• Describe a mental model.

• Describe a task analysis.

• Describe a conceptual model.

• Define an object

• Define a metaphor.

• Explain why design standards or style guides are important in design.

• Identify the governmental standards impacting design.

• List the design guidelines for a customized style guide.

• Explain why good system training and documentation are necessary.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 18

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Step 3

Understand the Principles of Good Interface and Screen Design

Outline

Human Considerations in Interface and Screen Design

How to Discourage the User

What Users Want

What Users Do

Interface Design Goals

The Test for a Good Design

Screen and Web Page Meaning and Purpose

Consistency

Starting Point

Ordering of Data and Content

Organizing Elements Clearly and Meaningfully

Navigation and Flow

Visually Pleasing Composition

Distinctiveness

Focus and Emphasis

Conveying Depth of Levels or a Three-Dimensional Appearance

Presenting Information Simply and Meaningfully

Typography

Application and Page Size

Application Screen Elements

Data Output

Organization and Structure Guidelines

The Web—Web sites and Web Pages

Page scanning

Page writing

Presenting information

Homepage

Browsing and searching

Intranet Design Guidelines

Extranet Design Guidelines

Small Screens

Weblogs

Statistical Graphics

Uses

Components

Types

Flow Charts

Technological Considerations in Interface Design

Graphical Systems

Web Systems

Objectives

After completion of Step 3 the student should be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of well-designed interface and screen.

• Describe the design factors that lead to user problems and discouragement.

• Explain what people want in a well-designed screen.

• Explain what people do in interacting with a computer system.

• Describe the design goals to make an interface easy and pleasant to use.

• Describe the “Test for a Good Design.”

• Explain the difference between the concepts of “signal” and “noise.”

• Explain how consistency is achieved in design.

• Describe how people scan screens and Web pages.

• Describe how screen data or content should be organized.

• Describe how screen navigation and flow should proceed.

• Describe all the aspects of visually pleasing composition.

• Describe the objective measures of screen usability that have been derived.

• Describe how effective grouping of screen elements is achieved.

• Explain how distinctiveness is achieved in design.

• Explain how focus and emphasis is achieved in design.

• Explain how depth of levels or a three-dimensional appearance is achieved in design.

• Explain how to present information simply and meaningfully

• Describe and explain all the aspects of typography important in design.

• Describe the considerations in determining Web application or page size.

• List and describe all the screen elements of an application.

• Describe how to format and organize lists of data.

• Describe the proper keying procedures for large data entry applications.

• Describe the guidelines for presenting data output.

• Describe the organization and structure guidelines for Information entry and modification (conversational) screens

• Describe the organization and structure guidelines for text entry from a source document screens.

• Describe the organization and structure guidelines for Display/read-only screens.

• Describe the dimensions of a Web site.

• Describe the Web user interaction styles.

• Describe what shapes the Web user’s experience.

• Describe the guidelines for making Web pages easy to scan.

• Describe the guidelines for the writing of Web pages.

• Describe the guidelines for presenting information on Web pages.

• Describe the desirable characteristics and content of a Homepage.

• Explain the characteristics and differences between “browsing” and “searching.”

• Describe the guidelines for search facilities.

• Describe the design guidelines for an intranet.

• Describe the design guidelines for an extranet.

• Describe the design guidelines for small screens.

• Describe the design guidelines for Weblogs.

• Explain what a statistical graphic is and how it is used.

• List the components of a statistical graphic.

• List the types of statistical graphics.

• Describe the design guidelines for the various types of statistical graphics.

• Describe the design guidelines for flow charts.

• Describe the technological considerations in interface design.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 130

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Design Problem

A design problem will be found in the companion Web site.

Step 4

Develop System Menus and Navigation Schemes

Outline

Structures of Menus

Single Menus

Sequential Linear Menus

Simultaneous Menus

Hierarchical or Sequential Menus

Connected Menus

Event-Trapping Menus

Functions of Menus

Content of Menus

Selecting Menu Choices

Web Site Navigation

Web Site Navigation Problems

Web Site Navigation Goals

Web Site Navigation Design

Maintaining a Sense of Place

Kinds of Graphical Menus

Menu Bar

Pull-down Menu

Cascading Menus

Pop-up Menus

Tear-off Menus

Iconic Menus

Pie Menus

Objectives

After completion of Step 4 the student should be able to:

• Explain what a menu is.

• Describe the various menu structures.

• Describe the functions of menus.

• List the four elements that comprise a menu.

• Describe the guidelines for formatting menus.

• Describe the different kinds of selection support menus.

• Describe the guidelines for writing or phrasing menus.

• Describe the guidelines for selecting menu choices.

• Explain the process of “wayfinding” in navigation of Web sites.

• Describe the user problems typically encountered in navigating Web sites.

• Describe the user’s goals and needs in Web site navigation.

• Describe the aids available to assist Web site navigation.

• Describe the design guidelines for site organization and page design.

• Describe the components of a Web site navigation system.

• Explain the concept of Web page “link.”

• Describe the different kinds of links.

• Describe how to present links.

• Describe the guidelines for writing link labels.

• Explain the methods to allow the user to maintaining a “sense of place” in a Web site.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Menu Bars.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Pull-down menus.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Cascading menus.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Pop-up menus.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Tear-off menus.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Iconic menus.

• Describe the proper usage of and design guidelines for Pie menus.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 60

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Design Problem

A design problem will be found in the companion Web site.

Step 5

Select the Proper Kinds of Windows

Outline

Window Characteristics

The Attraction of Windows

Constraints in Window System Design

Components of a Window

Window Presentation Styles

Types of Windows

Primary Window

Secondary Windows

Dialog Boxes

Property Sheets and Property Inspectors

Message Boxes

Palette Windows

Pop-up Windows

Organizing Window Functions

The Web and the Browser

Objectives

After completion of Step 5 the student should be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of a window.

• Describe the uses of windows.

• Describe the components of a window.

• Describe the window presentation styles.

• Describe the types of windows available.

• Describe the uses of the various types of windows.

• Explain the difference between modal and modeless windows.

• Explain the difference between cascading and unfolding windows.

• Explain the difference between property sheets and property inspectors.

• Explain how to organize window systems.

• Describe the proper placement of windows.

• Describe the components of a Web browser.

• Describe a Web system frame, its proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe the use of pop-up windows.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 28

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Step 6

Select the Proper Interaction Devices

Outline

Input Devices

Characteristics of Input Devices

Trackball

Joystick

Graphic Tablet or Trackpad

Touch screen

Light pen

Voice

Mouse

Keyboard

Other Input Devices

Selecting the Proper Input Device

Pointer Guidelines

Output Devices

Screens

Speakers

Objectives

After completion of Step 6 the student should be able to:

• Define an input device.

• Describe the characteristics of input devices.

• Describe a trackball and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a joystick and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a graphic tablet or trackpad and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a touch screen and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a light pen and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a mouse and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe a keyboard and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe voice recognition and explain its advantages and disadvantages.

• Identify several other input devices now under development or in use.

• Explain the research comparing the various input devices.

• Describe the guidelines for selecting the proper input device

• Describe the guidelines for designing and using pointers.

• Define an output device.

• Describe the considerations for selecting a monitor or screen.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 18

Test Bank

Short Answer: 8

True/False: 8

Multiple Choice: 8

Step 7

Select the Proper Screen-Based Controls

Outline

Operable Controls

Buttons

Text Entry/Read-only Controls

Text Boxes

Selection Controls

Radio Buttons

Check Boxes

Palettes

List Boxes

List View Controls

Drop-down/Pop-up List Boxes

Combination Entry/Selection Controls

Spin Boxes

Combo Boxes

Drop-down/Pop-up Combo Boxes

Other Operable Controls

Slider

Tabs

Date-Picker

Tree View

Scroll Bars

Custom Controls

Presentation Controls

Static Text Fields

Group Boxes

Column Headings

ToolTips

Balloon Tips

Progress Indicators

Sample Box

Scrolling Tickers

Selecting the Proper Controls

Comparison of GUI Controls

Control Selection Criteria

Choosing a Control Form

Objectives

After completion of Step 7 the student should be able to:

• Explain what a screen-based control, or widget, is and its purpose.

• Describe the three extremely important principles regarding controls.

• Explain the purpose and use of an operable control.

• Describe a button and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Explain the purpose and use of a text entry/read only control.

• Describe a text box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Explain the purpose and use of a selection control.

• Describe a radio button and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a check box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a palette and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a list box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a list view control and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a drop-down/pop-up list box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Explain the purpose and use of a combination entry/selection control.

• Describe a spin box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a combo box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a drop-down/pop-up combo box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a slider and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a tab control and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a date-picker and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a tree view control and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a scroll bar and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a media control and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a custom control and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Explain the purpose and use of a presentation control.

• Describe a static text field and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a group box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a column heading and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a ToolTip and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a balloon tip and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a progress indicator and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a sample box and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe a scrolling ticker and explain its purpose, advantages, disadvantages, proper use, and design guidelines.

• Describe the research comparing various entry and selection controls.

• Describe the criteria for selecting the proper controls for the user and tasks.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 108

Test Bank

Short Answer: 19

True/False: 20

Multiple Choice: 20

Design Problem

A design problem will be found in the companion Web site.

Step 8

Write Clear Text and Messages

Outline

Words, Sentences, Messages, and Text

Readability

Choosing the Proper Words

Writing Sentences and Messages

Kinds of Messages

Presenting and Writing Text

Window Title, Conventions, and Sequence Control Guidance

Content and Text for Web Pages

Words

Page Text

Page Title

Headings and Headlines

Instructions

Error Messages

Objectives

After completion of Step 8 the student should be able to:

• Explain the concept of readability.

• Identify the proper words in writing sentences, messages, and text.

• Describe the proper construction and tone for sentences and messages.

• Describe the kinds and types of screen messages.

• Describe proper message box text.

• Describe the proper message box controls.

• Describe the proper structure and format for presenting and writing text.

• Describe the guidelines for window title, conventions, and sequence control guidance.

• Describe properly written and presented text for Web page components.

• Describe properly written Web page links, headings, instructions, and error messages.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 26

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 12

Step 9

Provide Effective Feedback and Guidance and Assistance

Outline

Providing the Proper Feedback

Response Time

Dealing with Time Delays

Blinking for Attention

Use of Sound

Guidance and Assistance

Preventing Errors

Problem Management

Providing Guidance and Assistance

Instructions or Prompting

Help Facility

Contextual Help

Task-Oriented Help

Reference Help

Wizards

Hints or Tips

Objectives

After completion of Step 9 the student should be able to:

• Describe acceptable system response times.

• Describe acceptable Web page download times.

• Explain the guidelines to achieve acceptable Web page downloading times.

• Describe how to deal with time delays.

• Describe how to attract the user’s attention by blinking.

• Explain how to properly use sound at the user interface.

• Distinguish the difference between a user slip and a mistake.

• Explain how to prevent, detect, and correct user errors.

• Describe the user questions useful guidance and assistance must answer.

• Explain how users interact with documentation.

• Describe when and how to provide user instructions or prompting.

• Describe the benefits and potential problems of a Help facility.

• Describe the design guidelines for a Help facility.

• Define contextual help.

• Describe the kinds of contextual help available, including their purpose and design guidelines.

• Describe task-oriented help and its purpose.

• Describe the design, presentation, and writing guidelines for task-oriented help.

• Describe reference help and its purpose.

• Describe the design, presentation, and writing guidelines for reference help.

• Describe a wizard and its purpose.

• Describe the design, presentation, and writing guidelines for a wizard.

• Describe a hint or tip, its purpose, and its design guidelines.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 42

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Step 10

Provide Effective Internationalization and Accessibility

Outline

International considerations

Localization

Cultural considerations

Words and Text

Images and Symbols

Color, Sequence, and Functionality

Requirements Determination and Testing

Accessibility

Types of Disabilities

Accessibility Design

Web Page Accessibility Design

Usability for Lower-Literacy People

Usability for Senior Citizens

Objectives

After completion of Step 10 the student should be able to:

• Distinguish between internationalization and localization.

• Explain the kinds of potential differences that may exist between cultures.

• Explain the words and text design guidelines that are necessary because of user cultural and language differences.

• Explain the images and symbols design guidelines that are necessary because of user cultural and language differences.

• Explain the color, sequence, and functionality design guidelines that are necessary because of user cultural and language differences.

• Explain the requirements determination and testing design guidelines that are necessary because of user cultural and language differences.

• Define accessibility.

• List the types of disabilities that may exist in the user population.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a visual disability.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a hearing disability.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a physical movement disability.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a speech or language disability.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a cognitive disability.

• Describe the design guidelines necessary for users with a seizure disorder.

• Describe the accessibility design guidelines for Web sites and pages.

• Explain the role of the World Wide Web Consortium in accessibility design.

• Explain the role of the United States Government Rehabilitation Act, Section 508 in accessibility design.

• Describe the design guidelines for lower-literacy users.

• Describe the design guidelines for senior citizen users.

• Explain why accessibility documentation and testing is always necessary.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 27

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 11

Step 11

Create Meaningful Graphics, Icons, and Images

Outline

Icons

Kinds of Icons

Characteristics of Icons

Influences on Icon Usability

Choosing Icons

Choosing Icon Images

Creating Icon Images

Drawing Icon Images

Icon Animation and Audition

The Icon Design Process

Screen Presentation

Multimedia

Graphics

Images

Photographs/Pictures

Video

Diagrams

Drawings

Animation

Audition

Combining Mediums

Objectives

After completion of Step 11 the student should be able to:

• Define an icon.

• Describe the kinds or categories into which icons can be classified.

• Distinguish between the syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic characteristics of icons.

• Describe the factors that influence an icon’s usability.

• Describe the general characteristics of a successful icon.

• Describe the guidelines for choosing icon images

• Describe the guidelines for creating icon images

• Describe the guidelines for drawing icon images

• Describe the guidelines for icon animation and audition.

• Describe the icon design process.

• Describe the icon screen presentation guidelines.

• Define multimedia.

• Explain the proper use of graphics.

• Describe the design guidelines for presenting graphical images.

• Describe an Image Map and explain its proper use, advantages, disadvantages, and design guidelines.

• Describe the proper use and design guidelines for Photographs or Pictures.

• Describe the proper use, disadvantages, and design guidelines for Video.

• Describe the proper use, kinds, parts, and design guidelines of Diagrams.

• Describe the proper use and design guidelines for Drawings.

• Describe the proper use, disadvantages, and design guidelines for Animation.

• Describe the proper use, advantages, disadvantages, and design guidelines for Audition.

• Describe the design guidelines for Interactive Voice Response.

• Describe the design guidelines for combining mediums.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 27

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 11

Step 12

Choose the Proper Colors

Outline

Color—What Is It?

Color Uses

Color as a Formatting Aid

Color as a Visual Code

Other Color Uses

Possible Problems with Color

High Attention-Getting Capacity

Interference with Use of Other Screens

Varying Sensitivity of the Eye to Different Colors

Color-Viewing Deficiencies

Color Connotations

Cross-Disciplinary and Cross-Cultural Differences

Color—What the Research Shows

Color and Human Vision

Choosing Colors

Choosing Colors for Categories of Information

Colors in Context

Usage

Discrimination and Harmony

Emphasis

Common Meanings

Location

Ordering

Foregrounds and Backgrounds

Three-Dimensional Look

Color Palette, Defaults, and Customization

Text in Color

Consistency

Considerations for People with Color-Viewing Deficiencies

Cultural, Disciplinary, and Accessibility Considerations

Choosing Colors for Textual Graphic Screens

Effective Foreground/Background Combinations

Choose the Background First

Maximum of Four Colors

Choosing Colors for Statistical Graphics Screens

Choosing Colors for Web Pages

Uses of Color to Avoid

Objectives

After completion of Step 12 the student should be able to:

• Explain how color is used properly and improperly.

• Define what color is and color’s components.

• Describe the proper uses of color.

• Describe possible problems when working with color.

• Explain the impact of learned color connotations.

• Explain the impact of disciplinary and cultural differences.

• Describe the research results for using color.

• Explain how the physiology of the eye impacts the perception of color.

• Describe the considerations in choosing effective colors for display on screens.

• Describe the impact of colored text on screens.

• Describe the considerations for people with color-viewing deficiencies

• Describe effective foreground and background combinations.

• Describe the guidelines for choosing the proper colors for textual graphic screens.

• Describe the guidelines for choosing the proper colors for statistical graphics screens.

• Describe the guidelines for choosing the proper color for Web screen text and images.

• Describe the uses of color that should be avoided.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 35

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Step 13

Organize and Layout Windows and Pages

Outline

Organizing and Laying Out Screens

General Guidelines

Organization Guidelines

Control Navigation

Window Guidelines

Web Page Guidelines

Objectives

After completion of Step 13 the student should be able to:

• Summarize the general guidelines for organizing and laying out screens.

• Summarize the general guidelines for creating groupings of information.

• Summarize the general guidelines for aligning and balancing screen elements.

• Summarize the general guidelines for control navigation.

• Summarize the general guidelines for presenting windows.

• Summarize the general guidelines for Web page layout.

• Summarize the general guidelines for Web site navigation.

• Describe the general elements that may be included on Web pages.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 25

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 11

Multiple Choice: 10

Design Problem

A design problem will be found in the companion Web site.

Step 14

Test, Test, and Retest

Outline

Usability

The Purpose of Usability Testing

The Importance of Usability Testing

Scope of Testing

Prototypes

Hand Sketches and Scenarios

Interactive Paper Prototypes

Programmed Facades

Prototype-Oriented Languages

Comparisons of Prototypes

Kinds of Tests

Guidelines and Standards Review

Heuristic Evaluation

Cognitive Walkthroughs

Think-Aloud Evaluations

Usability Test

Classic Experiments

Focus Groups

Choosing a Testing Method

Developing and Conducting a Test

The Test Plan

Test Conduct and Data Collection

Analyze, Modify, and Retest

Evaluate the Working System

Objectives

After completion of Step 14 the student should be able to:

• Explain the purpose and scope of usability testing.

• Explain the importance of usability testing.

• Describe the scope of testing and the kinds of test that may be performed.

• Define a prototype.

• Distinguish between low-and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Describe the types of prototypes that may be constructed, and their advantages and disadvantages.

• Describe the research comparing various types of prototypes.

• Provide a definition of “test.”

• Describe the kinds of tests or evaluations that may be performed, and their advantages, disadvantages, and conduct guidelines.

• Describe the heuristic evaluation process.

• Describe the heuristic evaluation effectiveness.

• Explain how to choose the proper testing method.

• Describe the research comparing concurrent versus retrospective user comments in a test.

• Explain an automated evaluation method.

• Describe the steps in creating a Test Plan.

• Explain why a pilot test is always necessary.

• Describe the considerations and guidelines for choosing test participants.

• Describe the kinds of locations where a test may be conducted.

• Describe the guidelines for conducting a usability test.

• Explain why retesting is usually necessary.

• Explain why evaluating the working system is necessary.

• Describe how information concerning a working system may be collected.

PowerPoint Slides

Slides: 49

Test Bank

Short Answer: 10

True/False: 10

Multiple Choice: 10

Author

Wilbert (Bill) O. Galitz is an internationally respected consultant, author, and instructor with a long and illustrious career in human factors and user-interface design. For many years he has consulted, lectured, written about, and conducted seminars and workshops on these topics worldwide. Now the author of eleven books, his first book, Human Factors in Office Automation, published in 1980, was critically acclaimed internationally. This book was the first to address the entire range of human factors issues involved in business information systems. As a result, he was awarded the Administrative Management Society’s Olsten Award. Other books have included User-Interface Screen Design and It’s Time to Clean Your Windows. He has long been recognized as a world authority on the topic of screen design.

Bill’s career now spans more than 45 years in information systems and he has been witness to the amazing transformation of technology over this time span. His career began in 1961 with the System Development Corporation where he was a training consultant for the SAGE North American Air Defense System. SAGE was the first large-scale display-based system in the world. Before forming his own consulting company in 1981, he worked for CNA Insurance and the Insurance Company of North America (now CIGNA) where he designed the user interfaces and developed screen and interface design standards for a variety of business information systems. His work experience also includes an appointment at South Africa’s National Institute for Personnel Research, and a number of years with UNIVAC (now UNISYS). At UNIVAC he performed the human engineering of the company’s first commercial display terminal, and completed a pioneering study on the operational aspects of large-scale computer systems.

A native of Chicago, Bill possesses a B.A. in Psychology from Lake Forest College in Illinois and an M.S. in Industrial Psychology from Iowa State University. He currently resides in Surprise, Arizona.

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