1. User Interface Design
Notes are from: Wilson, Software Design and Development The Preliminary Course. Cambridge Press. pp and Fowler, Software Design and Development Preliminary Course. Heinemann Press. pp

2. About the user interface
allows the user to communicate with the program
displays information or commands to the user
meets the needs of the user
runs on the users hardware and software
is ergonomically sound
has consistent design
is efficient
User perspective – interface is a tool to do a job
Developer perspective – interface will accept inputs, and display any outputs after completing some form of processing or logic

3. The Design – meeting user need
Interface should not be designed without contribution from the user
Interview
Survey
Questionnaire
Observation
Prototyping
User needs to be guided through the process of identifying
Type of interface needed
System response times
How the interface should work
Any necessary security features
Any hardware requirements (e.g. barcode readers)

4. Screen Design Should let user effectively do their job
Design should be consistent across different screens in an application
Put like items (buttons, messages) in similar places
Use same font and format to display same type of data
Use similar commands and choices to navigate screens
Allow actions to become intuitive

5. User Messages Allows communication between the program and the user
Should be clear, concise and non-threatening, not use vulgar language or jargon
Not – “You pressed the wrong key you idiot!!”
Should specifically state what you want the user to do
“Please press the Enter Key”

6. On-Screen Text Display
Make it legible
Avoid using excessive number of fonts
Use colours that have good contrast
Don’t put purple text on a red background
Make good use of text spacing
Avoid using lots of uppercase text as it is hard to read.
Use text colour for a purpose – red for danger or yellow to highlight mandatory fields
Align text to ‘line up’ text on the screen

7. GUI Screen Design Makes design more intuitive and graphical
Allows use of
Command buttons
Check boxes
Radio buttons (and radio groups)
Icons
Windows
Pop-up prompts and warnings
Graphics, pictures and text