User Interface Design Lecture 3

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason why users seek help?

Because they are bored

Because they are curious

Because they want to learn new things

Because they are stuck and need concrete solutions (correct)

What is the recommended approach to find learnability problems?

Conducting user surveys

Analyzing Google Autosuggest queries (correct)

Conducting A/B testing

Monitoring user behavior

What is the main goal of designing a user interface?

To make it feature-rich

To make it easy to use and goal-oriented (correct)

To make it visually appealing

To make it complex and challenging

What is the primary focus of the learning approach 'learning by watching'?

Observing and imitating Signup and view all the answers

What is efficiency in the context of usability?

The speed and quickness of accomplishing tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of aggregation in interface design?

To improve efficiency by handling multiple items at once Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a unit of memory or perception?

Chunk Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a technique to improve efficiency?

Pending delete Signup and view all the answers

How can information be presented to improve efficiency of output?

Presenting information in small, easily-recognized chunks Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate capacity of working memory?

4 ± 1 chunk Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of anticipation in interface design?

To put needed information and tools within easy reach Signup and view all the answers

What is a slip in user behavior?

A failure of execution in a familiar task Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using screen corners and edges in interface design?

To improve efficiency by minimizing steering tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of cascading submenus in interface design?

To make menu items more difficult to access Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using keyboard commands in interface design?

To improve efficiency by minimizing mouse usage Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using autocomplete in interface design?

To improve efficiency by minimizing typing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of usability in user interface design?

Enabling users to effectively utilize the system's functionality Signup and view all the answers

Which dimension of usability is most crucial for novice users?

Learnability Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to make an interface more learnable?

Using metaphors that users can relate to Signup and view all the answers

How do users typically learn a new user interface?

Learning by doing, with a goal to achieve Signup and view all the answers

What dimension of usability is most critical for tasks that require high-stakes accuracy?

Safety Signup and view all the answers

Why do usability dimensions vary in importance?

Because it depends on the user and the task Signup and view all the answers

What type of error occurs when a person starts executing one sequence of actions, but then veers off into another sequence that happened to start the same way?

Capture slip Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a state in which actions have different meanings in user interface design?

Mode Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an error in the execution of any learned procedure?

Slip Signup and view all the answers

What type of error occurs when two actions are very similar, and the user intends to do one action, but accidentally substitutes the other?

Description slip Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a capture slip?

Leaving your house and finding yourself walking to school instead of where you meant to go Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a mode error?

If the user means to type lowercase letters but doesn't notice that Caps Lock is enabled Signup and view all the answers

What is a factor that contributes to the likelihood of slips?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for using the wrong procedure for the goal?

Mistake Signup and view all the answers

What should the UI give the power to do with data entered by the user?

Create, Read, Update, and Delete it Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of finding examples of user interfaces in this exercise?

To evaluate their usability in terms of learnability, efficiency, and safety Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of having no arbitrary limits on user-defined names?

It enhances the user's control over data Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of analyzing the good and bad points of usability in an interface?

To evaluate the interface's performance in terms of learnability, efficiency, and safety Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of including screenshots or photographs in the analysis of user interfaces?

To illustrate the points of usability being discussed Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered when evaluating the usability of an interface?

All three dimensions of usability: learnability, efficiency, and safety Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Usability

Usability is about creating effective user interfaces (UIs) that are more than just visually appealing.
Usability is measured by how well users can use a system's functionality.
Dimensions of usability:
- Learnability (L): ease of learning the interface.
- Efficiency (E): speed of use once learned.
- Safety (S): fewer and recoverable errors.

Learnability

Learnability considers how easily users can accomplish a task the first time they encounter the interface.
Metaphors can make an interface more learnable by allowing users to make educated guesses about how it works.
Users learn by doing and seeking help when needed.

Efficiency

Efficiency measures the speed and quickness of completing tasks once familiar with the design.
Techniques to improve efficiency:
- Chunking: presenting information in easily-recognized units.
- Improving mouse efficiency: making frequently-used targets big, placing related targets near each other, and using screen corners and edges.
- Shortcuts: using keyboard commands and menu accelerators.
- Autocomplete: minimizing typing.
- Aggregation: handling multiple items at once.
- Anticipation: placing all needed information and tools within easy reach.

Safety

Safety refers to minimizing errors and making them recoverable.
Types of errors:
- Slips: errors in execution (e.g., clicking before the mouse pointer is over the button).
- Lapses: errors in memory (e.g., forgetting the overall goal).
- Mistakes: using the wrong procedure for the goal.
Capture errors: veering off into a more familiar sequence of actions.
Description errors: substituting one action for another similar one.
Mode errors: changing the meaning of actions depending on the mode or setting.
Causes of slips: strong-but-wrong effect, similarity, inattention, and speed/accuracy tradeoff.

Other Usability Concepts

Manual overrides for automatic systems: allowing users to take control of automated systems.
User control over data: giving users the power to create, read, update, and delete their data.
No arbitrary limits on user-defined names: allowing users to choose their own names without restrictions.

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Description

This lecture covers the concept of usability in user interface design, including its definition, dimensions, and importance.