interaction design basics

interaction design basics

y design:
y

what it is, interventions, goals, constraints what happens when who they are, what they are like rich stories of design finding your way around a system never get it right first time!

y the design process

y

y users
y

y scenarios
y

y navigation
y

y iteration and prototypes

y

interactions and interventions

design interactions not just interfaces
not just the immediate interaction
e.g. stapler in office technology changes interaction style
y y

manual: electric:

write, print, staple, write, print, staple, write, print, write, print, , staple

designing interventions not just artefacts

not just the system, but also
y y

documentation, manuals, tutorials what we say and do as well as what we make

what is design?
achieving goals within constraints
y goals - purpose y who is it for, why do they want it y constraints y materials, platforms y trade-offs

golden rule of design

understand your materials

for Human Computer Interaction

understand your materials
y understand computers
y

limitations, capacities, tools, platforms

y understand people
psychological, social aspects y human error
y

y and their interaction

To err is human
y accident reports .. y aircrash, industrial accident, hospital mistake y enquiry blames human error y but y concrete lintel breaks because too much weight y blame lintel error ? no design error we know how concrete behaves under stress y human error is normal y we know how users behave under stress y so design for it! y treat the user at least as well as physical materials!

Central message

the user

The process of design

what is wanted interviews ethnography what is there vs. what is wanted evaluation heuristics scenarios task analysis analysis design dialogue notations prototype implement and deploy architectures documentation help guidelines principles precise specification

Steps
y requirements
y

what is there and what is wanted ordering and understanding what to do and how to decide getting it right and finding what is really needed!

y analysis
y

y design
y

y iteration and prototyping

y

y implementation and deployment

y

making it and getting it out there

but how can I do it all ! !

y limited time design trade-off y usability?
finding problems and fixing them? y deciding what to fix?
y

y a perfect system is badly designed

y

too good too much effort in design

know your user personae cultural probes

know your user

y who are they? y probably not like you! y talk to them y watch them y use your imagination

persona
y description of an example user y not necessarily a real person y use as surrogate user y what would Betty think y details matter y makes her real

example persona
Betty is 37 years old, She has been Warehouse Manager for five years and worked for Simpkins Brothers Engineering for twelve years. She didn t go to university, but has studied in her evenings for a business diploma. She has two children aged 15 and 7 and does not like to work late. She did part of an introductory in-house computer course some years ago, but it was interrupted when she was promoted and could no longer afford to take the time. Her vision is perfect, but her righthand movement is slightly restricted following an industrial accident 3 years ago. She is enthusiastic about her work and is happy to delegate responsibility and take suggestions from her staff. However, she does feel threatened by the introduction of yet another new computer system (the third in her time at SBE).

cultural probes
y direct observation y sometimes hard
y y

in the home psychiatric patients,

y probe packs y items to prompt responses

y

e.g. glass to listen at wall, camera, postcard

y given to people to open in their own environment

they record what is meaningful to them

y used to y inform interviews, prompt ideas, enculture designers

stories for design use and reuse

scenarios
y stories for design y communicate with others y validate other models y understand dynamics y linearity y time is linear - our lives are linear y but don t show alternatives

scenarios
y what will users want to do? y step-by-step walkthrough
what can they see (sketches, screen shots) y what do they do (keyboard, mouse etc.) y what are they thinking?
y

y use and reuse throughout design

scenario movie player

Brian would like to see the new film Moments of Significance and wants to invite Alison, but he knows she doesn t like arty films. He decides to take a look at it to see if she would like it and so connects to one of the movie sharing networks. He uses his work machine as it has a higher bandwidth connection, but feels a bit guilty. He knows he will be getting an illegal copy of the film, but decides it is OK as he is intending to go to the cinema to watch it. After it downloads to his machine he takes out his new personal movie player. He presses the menu button and on the small LCD screen he scrolls using the arrow keys to bluetooth connect and presses the select button. On his computer the movie download program now has an icon showing that it has recognised a compatible device and he drags the icon of the film over the icon for the player. On the player the LCD screen says downloading now , a percent done indicator and small whirling icon.

also play act

y mock up device y pretend you are doing it y internet-connected swiss army knife
but where is that thumb?

use toothpick as stylus

explore the depths

y explore interaction y what happens when y explore cognition y what are the users thinking y explore architecture y what is happening inside

use scenarios to ..
y communicate with others y designers, clients, users y validate other models y play it against other models y express dynamics y screenshots appearance y scenario behaviour

linearity
Scenarios one linear path through system Pros:
y life and time are linear y easy to understand (stories and narrative are natural) y concrete (errors less likely)

Cons:
y no choice, no branches, no special conditions

miss the unintended

y So:

y use several scenarios y use several methods

the systems

start

info and help

management

messages

add user

remove user

local structure single screen global structure whole site

main screen

remove user

confirm

add user

levels
y widget choice y menus, buttons etc. y screen design y application navigation design y environment y other apps, O/S

the web
y widget choice y screen design y navigation design y environment

elements and tags

<a href=...>

page design site structure the web, browser, external links

physical devices
y widget choice y screen design y navigation design y environment

controls
buttons, knobs, dials

physical layout modes of device the real world

think about structure

y within a screen y later ... y local y looking from this screen out y global y structure of site, movement between screens y wider still y relationship with other applications

from one screen looking out

goal seeking
goal start

goal seeking
goal start

progress with local knowledge only ...

goal seeking
goal start

but can get to the goal

goal seeking
goal start

try to avoid these bits!

four golden rules

y knowing where you are y knowing what you can do y knowing where you are going y or what will happen y knowing where you ve been y or what you ve done

where you are breadcrumbs

shows path through web site hierarchy
top level category web site sub-category this page

live links to higher levels

beware the big button trap

things other things

more things

the thing from outer space

y where do they go? y lots of room for extra text!

modes
y lock to prevent accidental use y remove lock - c + yes to confirm y frequent practiced action y if lock forgotten y in pocket yes gets pressed y goes to phone book y in phone book c delete entry yes confirm oops !

between screens within the application

hierarchical diagrams
the system

info and help

management

messages

add user

remove user

hierarchical diagrams ctd.

y parts of application y screens or groups of screens y typically functional separation
the systems

info and help

management

messages

add user

remove user

navigating hierarchies
y deep is difficult! y misuse of Miller s 7 2 y short term memory, not menu size y optimal? y many items on each screen y but structured within screen

see /e3/online/menu-breadth/

think about dialogue

what does it mean in UI design?
Minister: do you name take this woman Man: I do Minister: do you name take this man Woman: I do Minister: I now pronounce you man and wife

think about dialogue

what does it mean in UI design?
Minister: do you name take this woman

marriage service
y y

general flow, generic blanks for names pattern of interaction between people pattern of interaction between users and system but details differ each time

computer dialogue
y y

network diagrams
main screen remove user confirm

add user

y show different paths through system

network diagrams ctd.

y what leads to what y what happens when y including branches y more task oriented then hierarchy

main screen

remove user

confirm

add user

between applications and beyond ...

wider still
y style issues: y platform standards, consistency y functional issues y cut and paste y navigation issues y embedded applications y links to other apps the web

Dix , Alan Finlay, Janet Abowd, Gregory Beale, Russell

basic principles grouping, structure, order alignment use of white space

ABCDEF*HIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ

basic principles
y ask
y what is the user doing?

y think
y what information, comparisons, order

y design
y form follows function

available tools
y grouping of items y order of items y decoration - fonts, boxes etc. y alignment of items y white space between items

grouping and structure

logically together physically together
Billing details: Name Address: Credit card no Order details: item
size 10 screws (boxes)

Delivery details: Name Address: Delivery time quantity cost/item cost

7 3.71 25.97

order of groups and items

y think! - what is natural order y should match screen order!
use boxes, space etc. y set up tabbing right!
y

y instructions
y

beware the cake recipie syndrome!

mix milk and flour, add the fruit after beating them

decoration
y use boxes to group logical items y use fonts for emphasis, headings y but not too many!!

ABCDEF*HIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ

alignment - text
y you read from left to right
(English and European)

align left hand side

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Winston Churchill - A Biography Wizard of Oz Xena - Warrior Princess

boring but readable!

fine for special effects but hard to scan

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Winston Churchill - A Biography Wizard of Oz Xena - Warrior Princess

alignment - names
y Usually scanning for surnames

make it easy!
Alan Dix Janet Finlay Gregory Abowd Russell Beale Alan Janet Gregory Russell

Dix Finlay Abowd Beale

Dix , Alan Finlay, Janet Abowd, Gregory Beale, Russell

alignment - numbers
think purpose! which is biggest?

532.56 179.3 256.317 15 73.948 1035 3.142 497.6256

alignment - numbers
visually: long number = big number align decimal points or right align integers

627.865 1.005763 382.583 2502.56 432.935 2.0175 652.87 56.34

multiple columns
y scanning across gaps hard:
(often hard to avoid with large data base fields)

sherbert toffee chocolate fruit gums coconut dreams

75 120 35 27 85

multiple columns - 2
y use leaders

sherbert toffee chocolate fruit gums coconut dreams

75 120 35 27 85

multiple columns - 3
y or greying

(vertical too)

sherbert toffee chocolate fruit gums coconut dreams

75 120 35 27 85

multiple columns - 4
y or even (with care!) bad alignment

sherbert 75 toffee 120 chocolate 35 fruit gums 27 coconut dreams 85

white space - the counter

WHAT YOU SEE

white space - the counter

WHAT YOU SEE THE GAPS BETWEEN

space to separate

space to structure

space to highlight

physical controls
y grouping of items
y defrost settings defrost settings y type of food

type of food y time to cook time to cook

physical controls
y grouping of items y order of items
1) type ofof heating type heating 2) temperature 2) temperature 3) time to cook 3) time to cook 4) start 4) start
1)

2 3 4

physical controls
y grouping of items y order of items y decoration
y different colours

different colours for for different functions different functions y lines around related lines around related buttons buttons (temp up/down)

physical controls
y grouping of items y order of items y decoration y alignment
y centered text in buttons

centred text in buttons ? easy to scan ? ? easy to scan ?

physical controls
y grouping of items y order of items y decoration y alignment y white space
y gaps to aid grouping

gaps to aid grouping

entering information knowing what to do affordances

entering information
y forms, dialogue boxes
presentation + data input y similar layout issues y alignment - N.B. different label lengths
y

Name:

Alan Dix

Address: Lancaster

Name:

Address: Lancaster

y logical layout
use task analysis (ch15) y groupings y natural order for entering information
y
y y

Name: Alan Dix Address: Lancaster

 ?

Alan Dix

top-bottom, left-right (depending on culture) set tab order for keyboard entry

N.B. see extra slides for widget choice

knowing what to do
y what is active what is passive y where do you click y where do you type y consistent style helps y e.g. web underlined links y labels and icons y standards for common actions y language bold = current state or action

affordances
y psychological term y for physical objects
y y

mug handle affords grasping

shape and size suggest actions

y

pick up, twist, throw

also cultural buttons afford pushing

y for screen objects

button like object affords mouse click y physical-like objects suggest use
y

y culture of computer use

icons afford clicking y or even double clicking
y

not like real buttons!

presenting information aesthetics and utility colour and 3D localisation & internationalisation

presenting information
y purpose matters
sort order (which column, numeric alphabetic) y text vs. diagram y scatter graph vs. histogram
y
name chap10 chap1 chap5 chap10 chap1 chap11 chap14 chap12 chap20 chap13 chap8 chap14 size 17 12 12 16 51 17 262 22 27 83 32 22

y use paper presentation principles! y but add interactivity

y

softens design choices

y y

e.g. re-ordering columns dancing histograms (chap 21)

aesthetics and utility

y aesthetically pleasing designs
y

increase user satisfaction and improve productivity

y beauty and utility may conflict

mixed up visual styles easy to distinguish y clean design little differentiation confusing y backgrounds behind text good to look at, but hard to read
y

y but can work together

e.g. the design of the counter y in consumer products key differentiator (e.g. iMac)
y

colour and 3D
y both often used very badly! y colour
older monitors limited palette y colour over used because it is there y beware colour blind! y use sparingly to reinforce other information
y

y 3D effects
good for physical information and some graphs y but if over used e.g. text in perspective!! 3D pie charts
y

bad use of colour

y over use - without very good reason (e.g. kids site) y colour blindness y poor use of contrast y do adjust your set! y adjust your monitor to greys only y can you still read your screen?

across countries and cultures

y localisation & internationalisation y changing interfaces for particular cultures/languages y globalisation y try to choose symbols etc. that work everywhere y simply change language? y use resource database instead of literal text but changes sizes, left-right order etc. y deeper issues y cultural assumptions and values y meanings of symbols e.g tick and cross +ve and -ve in some cultures but mean the same thing (mark this) in others

prototyping

getting better and starting well

prototyping
y you never get it right first time y if at first you don t succeed

OK?

design

prototype

evaluate

done!

re-design

pitfalls of prototyping
y moving little by little

but to where y Malverns or the Matterhorn?

1. need a good start point 2. need to understand what is wrong