Characteristics of effective user interfaces Flashcards
Usability
The usability of software depends on the following factors
-The software should allow users to work efficiently and should require minimal learning/memorisation and stress
-The most commonly used/basic functions should be the quickest and easiest to locate
The software should communicate with its users by showing its operations status/progress
Affordance
Affordance refers to the concept that objects on your interface should immediately suggest what they do and how to use them. An interface with good affordance leads to users using it accurately allowing the user to accomplish their goals
Accessibility
Accessibility in software development refers to catering for users with special needs and disabilities.
- To cater for colour blind people you can avoid using red text on a green background
- To cater for people with poor eyesight you can avoid using small text
- To cater for people with limited hand coordination you can make buttons larger and space them further apart
- To cater for people who have limited reading ability you can use short words
Structure
Structure refers to organising your interface so that your design is easy for users to use and so that they practically already know where majority of things are
Visibility
Visibility in a user interface means that tools and options that users need to perform a specific task should be visible to them without being distracted by superfluous information
Legibility
The promotion of ease of use and reading comprehension by ensuring that the information on the user interface is noticeable and clearly distinguishable
Tolerance
Tolerance is the capacity of software and interfaces to compensate for a users errors and cope with people’s natural differences in how they carry out tasks
Consistency
An interface should look and behave consistently from start to finish
