Important Factors for Interface Design - Essay Example

?Interface Design: Important Factors for Interface Design Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 2 Rules for High-Quality Interface Design 4 Important Factors for Interface Design 4 Usability in Web Design 5 Consistency and Standards in Web Design 9 Flexibility and Competence of Use in Interface Design 10 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction High-quality interface design offers considerable optimistic outcomes. In simple words, a high-class design is a procedure that requires understanding of systems design procedures and user properties, like users' substantial restrictions, characteristics and inspirations. Thus, user interfaces design should be developed with straightforward, unbiased and reliable screens. However, a lot of user interfaces are weakly designed. In this scenario, a lot of people are not capable to utilize system user interfaces efficiently for the reason of meager interface design. In addition, high-quality user interface design is significant for minimizing faults, expenses, extra guidance, workers earnings and boosting user working and operational contentment, efficiency as well as valuable services and supreme products (The Pennsylvania State University, 2010) and (Myers, 1998). Moreover, the user interface design is frequently linked with software interfaces as well as is commonly referred as HCI (Human-Computer Interface) factor. Though, user interface design has to be recognized anywhere users collaborate with displays or user controls. Additionally, the implementation of user-interface-design is persistent, comprising products like that a plain timepiece, an airplane arena, a DVD player, a software application and so on. In a lot of scenarios, a product with high-quality functionality is not willingly approved for the reason that it is not simple or resourceful to utilize. In addition, a product's front-end user-interface design as well influences the approval, working efficiency and promotion of a certain product. In other words, excellent quality user interface designs augment the competence, intuitiveness and ease level of a product, which transforms into product approval and utilization. Thus, for a product to be flourishing, it requires many features such as high-quality working, practical capabilities, technology and a functional and insightful user interface (UI) (Interface Analysis Associates, 2011) and (Gray & Higgins, 2006). This report presents a detailed analysis of some of the main aspects and factors that are important to interface design. In this scenario this research will assess and investigate important issues regarding development of the high quality user interface. Rules for High-Quality Interface Design This section discusses some of the important rules for the high quality user interface design. In fact, effective user interface design is completely about acquiring the user’s viewpoint, as well as allowing things take place in the sequence that the client would imagine. In this scenario, the back end is normally programmed to gather or draw data in ASP, JSP, PHP, Filemaker, Lasso, etc. Additionally, the user’s screens are normally made gleaming on images as well as have to be cross browser and other platform amenable. Moreover, the page sizes are below 30kb, by making use of CSS to reduce code bloating. However, effectively shaped code is particularly significant here, because of the additional load time meager shaped code generates (FrontEndTech, 2009). Furthermore, in designing the user interface there is an awful need to ensure that the tester adjusts the report of the websites’ viewers. In this scenario, a usual function may be to discover this information in the website, and then look at how they try to fulfill a requirement in the website. In addition, video recording is a necessary element of high-quality testing, to be capable to precisely revert to the test data (FrontEndTech, 2009). Important Factors for Interface Design This section discusses some important factors that we consider to be important to interface design. In this scenario, I will assess some of the main issues and aspects regarding these factors and their possible implications: Usability in Web Design The majority of websites nowadays are very difficult to exploit. Additionally, the usability analysis and researches normally discover an achievement speed of less than 50 percent. In addition, the moment a normal person is prompted to achieve an easy assignment on the standard website, normally the result is disappointment. In this scenario, a small number of websites work as a minimum from the viewpoint of their users. However, 90 percent of websites are visibly badly designed from this viewpoint and people use merely about 10 percent of their time on their designs. Thus, the moment they realize that the website is occupied by distended graphics and little practical information, they will generally move to other point. Additionally, not as good as, they are improbable to come back. In addition, if a website collapses their web-browser, they immediately close it and do not view it after that. In this scenario, if they are not able to discover the thing they desired, they will move somewhere else, as well as they are taking to persist the site they recognize that offers the required functionality (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). Moreover, the early visit to a website is activated by the publicity finances or additional marketing web links. In view of the fact that the people have optimistic user knowledge, they are likely to return, and companies acquire helpful experience, if not profits, from their promotional money. On the other hand, when they face awful user knowledge, they are possibly never to come back, a total misuse of cash. Eventually, people fall to the websites that care for them well as well as are easy to operate (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). Furthermore, there are lots of aspects of real world business and online business. The real world business is more aligned to time consuming practice on the other hand web based business is favored due to more ease and simple functionality. Thus, this aspect of online business demands better performance and operational interface. In this scenario, the incorporation of usability makes the web based systems and user interfaces much better. This situation could be explained with the example of real world and web based shopping. In this scenario, the actual dissimilarity among a person's activities over the internet/web and in the real world of physical stores engages switching expenses; how much endeavors it creates to switch from one seller to the other. In a real world shopping store, the expenses of switching are extensive. The person has to determine the store location, and then go inside the store, and walk inside building to find the required product. Still when faced by deteriorating provisions, careless or rude sales-people, as well as rough lines at the leaving counter. On the other hand, the web based business and shopping really offers a different aspect. In addition, the effective user interfaces at the web stores offer better business and working support for the business and thus enhances productivity and efficiency of the business (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). In fact, making these concluding steps as enjoyable and simple as likely is only as significant as taking some of the other decisive steps for a business. For instance, the clients are already coming to the website as well as they know what things they want to buy. Thus, if a business fails to attract the customers at this point, it is the website's fault and from a business’s viewpoint, this is unforgivable. However, the high-quality news is that it is not tough to comprise a better user practice. Additionally, most of the websites are so defectively designed, thus they do not get a good deal to show up and be among the simplest websites existing over the internet. In this scenario, it is necessary for the website designer to throw out the spiraling logos as well as vain publicity; pay attention to the website on people's requirements in simple language with a design that is easy to search as well as offers speedy downloading capabilities (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). In addition, offering a customer-oriented managerial manner is significant; however it is not so simple. Thus, it outlines that challenging forces inside a business might have to collaborate in the arrangement of web. In view of the fact that the customers are not concerned with how the business is structured; rather they immediately require recognizing which product/item to purchase as well as what the properties of those business products are. Subsequently the client wishes to purchase it, right then and there. Moreover, if a business does not desire to struggle with its retailers, it should formulate it effortless to visit the customer sites as well as obtain the required items instantly (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). Though designing a website in correct manner is simple technical aspect, it needs the precise personnel: professionals in client experience recognize people in a better way. They need to identify how to efficiently perform field investigation, design intended for communication, build up fast models, as well as carry out fast testing capabilities. In addition, they collaborate intimately with web coders, graphic designers and marketing managers. In this scenario, it is significant to encompass the support of designers who better recognize people, that the group has suitable financial resources, and that it has enough power to perform their applications (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). The basic concern of every online business is that how to obtain a superior website with greater user interface? In this scenario, one needs to view real customers/users as they really make use of the websites. For example, an expert user-experience staff will go to the client's office, home, or place of service, the place they will get admittance to that particular website. In addition, this is not in any way similar like a more familiar research tool, take care of the groups, those offer insight that what clients imagine, not what they execute. In this scenario, focus groups disclose what clients imagine they believe, how clients believe they act, however not what they in fact consider or what they in fact perform. Thus, do not rely on what customer states; trust what they perform in their usual manner. In this scenario, usability is not a comfort over the web; it is necessary for existence. Additionally, it is the prime method for greater customer association; more than some other technology we are ready associate with customer relationship management (CRM) on the Web. For the reason that switching outlays are consequently less, awareness to usability augments the percentage of those who count a sponsor behind using the website. In addition, it is a lot less costly to augment the human-centered design financial plan as compared to twofold the promotion funds. In this scenario, the internet utilizes a type of Sheer Design Darwinism, which means continued existence of the simpler one (Nielsen & Norman, 2000) and (Dix et al., 2003). Consistency and Standards in Web Design Consistency is one of the high quality factors of user interface design. It is significant on a lot of levels of interface design. Additionally, when incorporated efficiently in a design, consistency produces a base for a client to communicate with the product in a conventional way. In addition, consistency produces usage patterns, presenting users the prospect to do well regardless of unidentified characteristics experienced for the initial time (Robertson, 2004). However, users should not need to worry whether dissimilar conditions, expressions or events refer to the common output. In this situation platform rules can be used. Actually, the platform principles over the internet outline the idea that our website is not an island. In addition, clients will be leaping over (as well as off of) our website from others, consequently we require to manage the remaining web at various levels. Moreover, deviations shape the principles that will be prospects for not viable features to move stealthily into our website (Nielsen, 2005) and (Bell College, 2004). Consistency is considered as the most significant thing that we are able to probably perform while designing the user interface. Additionally, it makes sure that our clients interface executes for all the time. If we are able to double-click on web product in one list as well as have anything occur, afterward we should be capable to double click on things in some additional list and should have the similar type of results. It can be done by placing buttons in steady places on the whole windows, utilizing the similar words inside labels and messages, and using a reliable color combination all through the interface. Moreover, consistency in our web based user interface facilitates clients in developing a precise rational paradigm of the means it operates, as well as precise rational paradigms guide to lesser control and corroboration outlays (Kori, 2011; Zuschlag, 2010). Flexibility and Competence of Use in Interface Design One of the main factors of the interface design is the high rate of complexity and flexibility. Thus, with a system of high quality user interface, there is need of incorporating low complexity and high flexibility. In this scenario, the accelerators hidden from the beginner user can frequently accelerate the communication for the advanced user like that the systems are able to deliver both new as well as skilled users (Nielsen, 2005) and (Bell College, 2004). In addition, the moment we place additional things into our system development code to manage additional flexibility, we are typically incorporating additional complexity. When our deduction regarding the flexibility discovers that our software is accurate, then we are in front of the competition. Thus, we have added. On the other hand, if we perceive it incorrect, it’s mean we have simply incorporated difficulty that makes it much harder to make changes into the software. Thus, we would not receive the benefits. However, it is not difficult to presume of wrong regarding flexibility requirements. We could estimate it in a wrong way if requirements alter somehow. What we believe is a need intended for flexibility at the present can leave or modify at some point. In addition, we can as well presume in a wrong way when we have inserted additional code into the program to develop flexibility however we do not find it fairly true (Venners, 2002), (Nielsen, 2005) and (Bell College, 2004). In this scenario, the best substitute is to utilize the XP (extreme programming) technique as well as not place the flexibility in any way. Additionally, XP articulates since the majority of the time we search out it wrong, immediately do not place the flexibility at this point. At the present, if we cannot develop our design securely, then that is a stupid way to move. However, if we are able to develop our design carefully, it turns out to be quite a pleasant methodology. Actually it turns out to be a self supporting technique. Afterward we should struggle to keep our design as easy as likely by keeping away from tentative flexibility, next it is simple to alter the code for the reason that we have less difficulty to manage. The code is simple to recognize as well as rather simple to alter. Consequently, we are able to formulate transformations in a quick manner (Venners, 2002), (Nielsen, 2005) and (Bell College, 2004). Conclusion Interface is a very important element of every system and web application. Since users use this interface to communicate with a specific application. There are many factors that are considered equally important while designing a user interface. This research has outlined some of the important factors and aspects those should be considered important regarding interface design. This report has presented a detailed analysis of these factors. This research has shown that what type of effects can happen in case of less effective application of such factors. This research has also discussed various other issues of interface design. References Bell College, 2004. 16. Guidelines and Standards. [Online] Available at: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:sAJpcUMb9K0J:hamilton.bell.ac.uk/btech/hci/hcinotes16.pdf+Consistency+and+standards+interface+design&hl=en&gl=pk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh7aoSWHjZ6_NXp95elsTPdXWEN5GaKqz3839asyP48udT3nSYcD1uKomBqbwPMf0c2WsW-j9FGquVVOr4 [Accessed 11 June 2011]. Dix, A., Finlay, A.J.E., Abowd, G.D. & Beale, R., 2003. Human-Computer Interaction. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall. FrontEndTech, 2009. User Interface (UI) Design. [Online] Available at: http://www.frontendtech.com/ui.html [Accessed 08 June 2011]. Gray, G.R. & Higgins, C.A., 2006. An introspective approach to marking graphical user interfaces. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, 38(3), pp.43-47. Interface Analysis Associates, 2011. Interface Analysis can help your company to design an intuitive user interface. [Online] Available at: http://www.interface-analysis.com/IAA/user-interface-consulting.html [Accessed 11 June 2011]. Kori, S., 2011. Web design User Interface Design Tips, Techniques, and Principles. [Online] Available at: http://www.santoshkori.com/blog/softwares/web-development/web-design-user-interface-design-tips-techniques-and-principles/ [Accessed 09 June 2011]. Myers, B.A., 1998. A Brief History of Human Computer Interaction Technology. ACM interactions, 5(2), pp.44-54. Nielsen, J., 2005. Ten Usability Heuristics. [Online] Available at: http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html [Accessed 09 June 2011]. Nielsen, J. & Norman, D.A., 2000. Web-Site Usability:Usability On The Web Isn't A Luxury. [Online] Available at: http://www.informationweek.com/773/web.htm [Accessed 09 June 2011]. Robertson, J., 2004. Interface Design Issues #02: Consistency and standards. [Online] Available at: http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/interface-design-issues-02-consistency-and-standards/ [Accessed 10 June 2011]. The Pennsylvania State University , 2010. Lesson 04: Interface Design. [Online] Available at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/cwc5/blogs/coursedesign/lesson-04-interface-design.html [Accessed 10 June 2011]. Venners, B., 2002. Flexibility and Complexity. [Online] Available at: http://www.artima.com/intv/flexplexP.html [Accessed 09 June 2011]. Zuschlag, M., 2010. Achieving and Balancing Consistency in User Interface Design. [Online] Available at: http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/07/achieving-and-balancing-consistency-in-user-interface-design.php [Accessed 08 June 2011]. Read More