What Is The User Interface Design Lecture # 1 Gabriel Spitz 1

What is the User Interface (UI)  A user interface is the meeting point between a user and a computer program  It is the means and methods by which a user utilizes a specific application to achieve a goal for which the application was designed for and the user wants to achieve Gabriel Spitz 2

Good User Interface  Good User Interface is an interface that is designed in such a way that when using it the user will walk away with a positive User Experience  The process for designing an interface that will result in a good experience is called Usability Gabriel Spitz 3

What is Usability  It is a Process  It is a set of techniques that we use to achieve the Result  It is a design philosophy to meet user's needs Gabriel Spitz 4

Designing Usable Products  To design a usable product we need to:  Identify who will use the product  Describe how and why the product will be used  Design with the Active user in mind; Activity-centered  Design to meet the 5 Es of good product  Easy to learn  Efficient  Effective  Engaging  Error tollerant  Solicit user-feedback Gabriel Spitz 5

Components of A User Interface  Thus a user-interface always includes: o Goal - An understanding of what the user is trying to achieve o Process or flow - the sequence of steps by which an intent can be achieved o How will it happen o Mechanisms that are used to control and manipulating objects in the work area o In what way o Language, images and controls used in communicating between the user and the application o Using what means Gabriel Spitz 6

Making it Usable Gabriel Spitz 7  And an Understanding of Human Behavior

Deconstructing the UI  Goal – Reduce splashing around the urinal  Process – The user will approach the urinal, detect the image and aim at it  Mechanism – Passively guide user attention and behavior  Means – Visual Icon of a fly Gabriel Spitz 8

Why a User Interface  Enable  Enable the user to perform specific tasks  Enable the user to acquire specific information  Communicate  Communicate to the user what has to be done  Communicate to users how it should be done  Promote  Promote a positive experience  Promote satisfaction Gabriel Spitz 9

What is Included in the UI  User Interface includes more than the functionality it offers the user. It also includes  Physical characteristics – Size, resistance, gesture  Perceptual/Cognitive characteristics – Color, font size, label, work flow  Conceptual characteristics – What is this like  When designing a user interface we need to consider all of the above aspects Gabriel Spitz 10

Interfaces are Everywhere  Interfaces are used in controlling or manipulating  Products – PIM, Cell Phones, Cars, etc.  Applications – Excel, Word, etc.  Our environment – Thermostat, Appliances, etc.  Interfaces are the medium through which the user communicate with the computer application Gabriel Spitz 11

Gabriel Spitz 12 Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels UI Example Watch

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 13 Telephone Controls Displays Procedure Guidance- labels

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 14 Controls Displays Procedure Guidance-labels

UI Example Gabriel Spitz 15 Kiosk Controls Displays Procedure Guidance- labels

Importance of the Interface  The “ quality ” of the interface design directly drives the user experience  user attitude and feelings  User satisfaction  user performance  safety  Poor user interface can have serious consequences Gabriel Spitz 16

Poor UI – Can Ruin an Election Gabriel Spitz 17 Florida Ballots (2000) Users could not figure out How to use – Poor mapping between stimulus & response

Poor UI – Can Ruin your Dinner Gabriel Spitz 18 Poor Mapping

Poor UI – Can Ruin a Product Gabriel Spitz 19 Bob Microsoft 1995 Users simply did not like this interface – User satisfaction

Poor UI - Can be a Safety hazard Gabriel Spitz 20 Negative transfer of training resulting in many errors Renault 4 circa 1970

Poor UI - Can Ruin a Trip Gabriel Spitz 21 Lavatory sink – It is difficult to use Performance Incompatibility between control design and task

The Importance of Usable Interface o From a user ’ s perspective there is no good user interface in the absolute sense only usable and useful interface  An interface is bad or good only to the extent that it hinders or supports users in performing a specific task in a specific environment  Poor interface = Poor product/application Gabriel Spitz 22

What is a Usable Interface  Our goal in designing the user interface that the product is Useful, Usable, and Delightful  An Interface is Useful if:  It enable users to achieve their intentions  An interface is considered Usable if it:  Easy to learn  Efficient- Performance speed and errors  Effective – Easy to use  Error tolerant  Engaging Gabriel Spitz 23