The Concept of the Interface Design Factors - Assignment Example

An investigation of interface design factors inhibiting the development of Internet banking - Introduction pages This research will discuss the interface design factors that influence the usability of the internet websites with specific thrust on internet banking. The influence of the navigation, content sharing and information mapping will also be analyzed and presented. In the course of the work being done, it will also be identified how the logical and physical views of information is to created using appropriate information design parameters. Finally, in order to improve upon the overall usability of the design other factors such as the context sensitivity, style, familiarity and consistency across the site will all be analyzed and the effect of the same on the usability and customer loyalty will also be studied. Introduction Internet banking is offered today by all leading banks in UK, though the extent of usage and the features offered by the banks vary and is limited. Internet is available at more than 42% of the homes in UK in 2002 (National Statistics, 2002). Internet is now being used by more than 50% of the population in the UK from their home and they are connected reasonably high speeds of connectivity which enables them to make use of any of the currently available service on the net. Internet banking however has not been adopted by about 30% of the customers to a larger extent. While most of the people make use of the internet banking to look up their balances and to see whether the expected credit or debit has taken place. This avoids may be a walk down to the bank or possibly a call to know the status of the account. Most of the banking customers do not use internet banking for money transfers on large scale. Still they believe on old instruments like the cheques or the other standing instructions though they are getting implemented using electronic means more and more. It is also true still that most people access internet to access their emails and of course do some shopping. In UK 70% of the people use it for email and for seeking information on products and services; while 60% come in only to do general browsing. The number of people using internet for banking is pretty limited. Paying or purchasing over the internet which would also be using services of the bank is around 38% of the adults. The adult group itself is about 55% of all adults who are in UK who really access the internet. Out of the population this is still a minority since most of the young between 14 and 20 years access the internet much more widely than the rest of the groups. Interactive systems are a fusion of People, Activities, Contexts and Technologies (David Benyon et al, Nov 2004). The usage spread in UK also indicates the design of the internet and the sites thereof, are dependent on the psychology of the human beings using the same. This is naturally, dependent on the age of the user and on the aims of the user. That is why, we find more people using it for emails in the case of adults whereas among the younger lot, we find that the usage is more towards education and other browsing activities. The Interactive systems need to necessarily take care of this variation in interest and should also keep in mind the adult concepts of security which is primary for internet banking exercises. Usage issues in Internet Banking Most of the banking sites are pretty secure at 128 bit encryption. They are also designed in line with the principles of interactive design. Most of the sites do not go beyond the 4 colors doctrine which is recommended for usage in any web site. By using up to a maximum of four colors, the site is easier to read or work on and do not cause any irritation to the user. Internet banking continues to be a query point where people tend to go and check their balances and possible credits or debits only. Transactions are not happening as expected though it is easier to do over the net. Some of the issues that are faced by the customers include: 1. Comfort of use for lay men. Human centered design is what most of the text books recommend. But we find that there are sites that are not comfortable for a non-computer literate to work on. This sets the tempo for usage and people who are not computer savvy, just log out never to come in again. 2. Navigation in a website is all about 'wayfinding'. The site should provide for laymen who do not know what they are looking for and two, for people who know what they are looking for. A typical example of navigation is the IKAEIA home furnishing shops. (http://www.kelake.org/slides/SimpleViewer.plslideshow=ikea ). This informs the way the retail shops need to get organized much the same way as the web sites need to be. The web sites should provide for sharing of information space; provide for clearly marked path of movement, purchase or get what is needed and move out once the job is over with the least amount of time and best processing route giving all possible alternatives. 3. Navigation shall also be provided by using either tables or frames or any other methods (Jonathan Lazar, 2001). A sketch of the appropriate navigation scheme is to be made in order to ensure that the same is adopted in the site and provides the users with the needed structure. 4. Scenario based design or context sensitive design is becoming a part of all expectations. Specific context sensitiveness is to be built into the design which would enable the user to make use of the various options available on the site. This is also valid in case where the user is not comfortable or computer savvy then to throw up only those that are of relevance to the user would invoke a better response from the user. More and more bank sites are becoming customer specific and every customer can design or have his own or her own My Bank page which would appear as they want rather than as the designer wanted. 5. With an increased cost control measures on in most companies and banks, internet is once again in the focus to reduce cost of production (Julie Meringer, 2002). Increasing productivity with a reduction in overall production cost is on the pipe line and is expected out of every new system that should go on stream. This also stems out of the human centered approach that has to be kept in focus. 6. The information on the site needs to be visible and appealing in line with the theory of colors for proper interface. Consistency of the site will enhance the usability by providing a standard working environment. All these in addition to the ease of navigation, control and style to the user will all help in addressing the usability point of view of the site. 7. Information design parameters such as physical and logical information views need to be created to ensure sound and good working web site.(Douglas Donaldson, 1998). 8. The site should also provide for a feedback handling system with the least number of constraints and offering greater flexibility. Greater Conviviality or warmth in handling people is very important. This gets reflected in the statements that are made by the site when an error is encountered or when a guidance is given for the user to help him get his job done. All these would decide whether the user will come back again to the site or not. Conclusion While security is certainly a major concern of most of the users, they expect every bank which goes on the net to provide the user with the needed one. However, if the site is not comfortable and does not provide the required usage features viz., usability, flexibility and other features discussed above to increase the site's attractiveness to the user. It is important that these factors are given due consideration while designing the site. References: 1. David Benyon, Phil Turner and Susan Turner, Nov 2004, Designing Interactive Systems, ISBN13: 9780321116291 2. Jonathan Lazar, 2001, User Centered Web Development, Jones and Barlett Publishers, ISBN: 0763714313 3. Julie Meringer, 2002, eCommerce Next Wave: Innovation and Productivity, Forrester Research Ltd., available at: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/sem05_e/1 4. National Statistics, 2 Jul 2002, Internet Access, available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/intacc0702.pdf#search=%22internet%20banking%20statistics%20UK%22 5. Douglas Donaldson, 9 Apr 1998, Information Space Design, ANSA Technical Committee, available at: http://www.ansa.co.uk/ANSATech/ANSAhtml/98-ansa/external/9804tb/9804isd.pdf#search=%22information%20space%20design%22 Read More