COMP 106 Practical 2 Proposal 5 Slide 1

Designing an Interface (1) The user must be able to anticipate a widget's behaviour from its visual properties. The user must be able to anticipate the behaviour of your program using knowledge gained from other programs. View every user warning and error dialog that your program generates as an opportunity to improve your interface. Provide adequate user feedback. Create a safe environment for exploration. Strive to make your application self-evident. Use sound, colour, animation and multimedia clips sparingly. Help users customize and preserve their preferred work environment. Avoid modal behaviours. Design your interface so that your users can accomplish their tasks while being minimally aware of the interface itself. Slide 2 Ten Principles for Good GUI Design:

Designing an Interface (2) New interface must improve on: The navigation used. The user should expect the outcome from each action. Well planned and intuitive lay out. Interface should be easy to use so that the user can accomplish there goal in minimum time. Use informative layout that gives the user all the relevant information needed. Slide 3

Direct Manipulation Direct manipulation is a human-computer interaction style that involves continuous representation of objects of interest. The intention is to allow a user to directly manipulate objects presented to them, using actions that correspond at least loosely to the physical world. Having real-world metaphors for objects and actions can make it easier for a user to learn and use an interface. The interface is more natural or intuitive for the user. Incremental feedback allows a user to make fewer errors and complete tasks in less time. Slide 4

Analysis The aspects that need to be concentrated on in the new design for the website are: The logon screen that is used to renew a users books. Searching the database The navigation aspects. Information for user. Slide 5

Design The new Liverpool University Library website should be improved in the following aspects: Renewing a Book In particular the logon screen that is used to renew a users books. Searching the database Concentrating mainly on the navigation aspects. Book Suggestions Mainly concentrating on the users speed of data entry and information available. Slide 6

Task 1 Renew a book On the main menu for logging on to the system the page and the input fields are not clearly laid out for the user. Log onto system: The input fields will be clearly labelled Currently the input fields are not labelled as clearly as they could be. The new logging on screen will have the input fields which will be clearly labelled with the type of information that needs to be input. The logging on screen will be laid out more simply, Just the basic information that is needed will be asked for, Name, University ID and Library PIN. Any additional information that is required will be shown in as a link to a separate page. ( log on help etc…) Example showing the user what to enter into the fields As a quick guide to novice users there will be an example to help with the input. To help users further a link referring to an information page will help uncluttered the main page and provide in-depth information and guides. Slide 7

Task 2 Search for a book The main systems book searching facility. Navigation control. when using the search facility on the current system it doesn’t offer any way of going back to a previous search. The new system would have full navigation so that a user could start a new search or select to go back to a previous search. Improved search results. when entering a search criteria the results that are displayed are some times not appropriate to the subject criteria. Example when ?????? Is entered contained in the results are foreign books, when clearly the criteria is in English. The results will be filtered for relevance and only show the results that will interest the user. Slide 8

Task 3 Book Suggestions The system used for Book Suggestions from the user. Improved data entry When the user is to enter a book suggestion, there is no list of past entries. If the website listed the entries that past users have entered there might be some similarity in course or book. This would then greatly speed up the information that needs to be entered. The user could just suggest the book that is in the list. Information available It would be useful is the website listed the past books that have been suggested. This would give the user an idea on how many books are suggested from each subject, and by how many people and the success rate at which the books are made available to loan from the library etc. Slide 9

Metaphor (1) Slide 10 ApplicationMetaphorExploits knowledge of Library webpageLibrary / Borrowing a Book Searching Books in ordered sections. Title, Author, Subject, ISBN, Class Number. Renew, Reserve books Limit searches The library metaphor will help the user to use the website effectively. When searching for a book the same methods that are applied when using a library are also relevant to using the webpage. The same activities that can be complete in a library are related to the functions that can be complete on the website. Renew a book, search online database, reserve books etc…

Metaphor (2) Task 1: Renewing a book. In the real world to renew a book on loan from the library the book need to be taken to the main desk along with your library details, the book is then extended for a longer period. This relates to the metaphor used in the website, to renew a book you first need to logon using your details, and then select to renew the book. Task 2: Searching for a book when searching for a book in the library you need to know some details about the book before you start looking. The author or type of book so that you know what section or were alphabetical to start your search. The metaphor is the same, the user need to know some details about the book, the details is entered and then searched for. Task 3 In the library when a book is suggested a form is filled out using pen and paper method. You need to fill in your student details and the book you want to suggest. This relates to the online method used via the website. The same student details are used but are entered into fields and the book details are also entered this way.

Interface Design (1) Slide 12 TaskHow the user performs it How the interface performs it Task1 (Renew)Take book to issue desk, give in library card and extend loan period. Logon to website using user details, select book and click renew. Task2 (Search)Get detail about book, start the search in the relevant section of library. Use the detail about book as the search criteria. Task3 (Suggestions)Go to issue desk, fill out book suggestion form with students details and book details. Enter student details on the Book Suggestions page along with the details on the book.

Interface Design (2) Metaphor Source characteristics - Objects: Books, Library Card. - Relations: book checked in. - Actions: Renew book by getting it stamped and loan period extended. Person takes out book on short loan. Check availability of a book by check number on shelf. Metaphor Target characteristics - Objects: Data Fields, Logon details - Relations: check in not available though website. - Actions: logon, select book and renew book. Book on loan is shown to be unavailable. Check the number of available books in the database Slide 13