In the design field of computer-human interaction, a user interface generally is the space in which human interactions take place between machines and people. The user interface is generally a clear display screen, a mouse, keyboards, and a joystick. This user interface usually enables a user to interact with a computer application program, with the computer itself, or with other people. The key to designing user interfaces is to understand human psychology and the way that we work with our computers. These are very complex machines and any complex system can be broken down into its component parts, but we won’t take a complex system and break it down into its sub-components.
The key to good user interface design is to group these components into a hierarchy. The top of the hierarchy should always be buttons. Buttons allow users to perform simple functions, like turning a television on or off, opening a document, or playing a sound, just to name a few. Buttons allow users to navigate through the various menus that are part of any application and to select an application from a menu.
Buttons will only be useful if they are not mistaken for commands, like a mouse or a keyboard. If a user presses a button and nothing happens, he will be confused. He may think that the button was pressed accidentally, or he may try to move his mouse to a button and find that the mouse pointer refuses to move to that button. A software interface on a hardware device should offer users the ability to press buttons and nothing happens. If an application uses buttons as navigation devices, it defeats the purpose of designing a user interface.
Another reason why buttons should not be included in a user interface, at least in the beginning, is that they tend to become a source of accidental errors and are hard to track. If a user presses a button that displays an error message, he may try to move his mouse to the next input device and accidentally hit the wrong button, which causes the software to display an error message again. If this happens repeatedly, the user might get confused and start looking for a different application to use instead of the one that displayed the mistake. Accidentally pressing a number of buttons on a remote control may confuse the user and cause him to execute a command that he did not mean to. A software interface for a hardware device should include only those commands that are intended to operate on that particular hardware device.
User interfaces can also include drop-down lists, if possible. A drop-down list allows users to select from a set of available applications by indicating the type of application that they want. If an application cannot be opened, the user can choose to search for a different application. This is useful in some situations, such as when the applications displayed in the list have specialized functions that would not be implemented on a general user interface. However, a drop-down list is usually a distraction and does not contribute to the ease-of-use of a computer program.
Good user interface designs also take into consideration other factors, such as what information should be displayed and where it should be displayed. If the information displayed is not user-friendly, then there will be confusion regarding what the user is trying to get out of the computer program. For example, suppose a person wants to play a racing game. In order to play the game, he types in the game’s name on the keyboard. When the names of the programs that he has installed in his computer are displayed on the screen, he has to concentrate in order to see the names and make the necessary movements. On the other hand, a good user interface will minimize the need to focus on the computer screen.
Another factor that contributes to the effectiveness of a user interface design is visual design. The visual design of a piece of software determines its success in getting and maintaining a user’s trust and confidence in the product. The visual design should create a sense of ease-of-use, making it easy for the user to use the program. User interfaces should not only be attractive; they should be user-friendly as well. With the advancement of technology, there are greater possibilities that the designers and developers can explore. As such, it is no longer surprising why there are more innovations taking place in the world of user interface design.
For this reason, it is important for businesses to hire professionals who have the expertise to create effective user interface designs. To get the most out of the services that you are paying for, you should first consider the following ten user interface design guidelines. You should follow these guidelines, which are all related to how your business should benefit from using modern technology. Remember that you are paying for these programs and software to help your business succeed. If you do not do the job properly, your investment will go to waste.