COMP106 Assignment 2

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COMP106 Assignment 2

• Proposal 1

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Interface Tasks
My new interface design for the University
library catalogue will incorporate all of the
existing features, as well as some new ones.
Four of the main tasks are detailed in the
following slides.
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Interface Tasks - 1
One of the most important features of the current
interface design is the ability to search for a
book/resource in various different ways. For
example, you can narrow your search depending
upon what type of resource you are looking for,
or you can search by different criteria, such as
author or title. This is a feature that I would
re-use in my own interface design as it is the
main purpose of the library catalogue and I
believe has been designed well. In particular the
quick search tool bar is particularly useful and
aids experienced users. However I would perhaps
extend the design further, by adding extra search
categories such as audio resources or those
designed for people with special needs, for
example large print or braille texts. This would
improve the search function and also make the
interface of more use to a larger number of users.
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Interface Tasks - 2

• An entirely new feature of my interface design
  would be to add hyperlinks to the search results
  pages. For example, if a user has found details
  of a book they want to borrow but it is not
  available, there will be two different links
  available to them which will open in a new window
  so as not to disrupt their use of the library
  catalogue.
• There will be a link to a list of local
  libraries so that the user can check if the book
  is held elsewhere in the area, not just in the
  University libraries.
• There will be a link to a list of local
  bookshops so that the user can also consider
  the alternative of buying the book and view
  details of price and availability.
• Both of these links will improve the service, as
  if a book is not available the current interface
  offers no solution to the problem and so is not
  particularly useful when the users aim has been
  to find and borrow the book. With my new design,
  the user is offered a choice of ways to help them
  further.

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Interface Tasks - 3
Another new feature that I would incorporate as
part of my design would be the ability to view
the interface in a number of different languages.
This would be particularly appropriate as the
University of Liverpool has a large number of
students from different countries, and this would
help give them improved access to the library
service. The default language for the interface
will be set to English, as this is the most
commonly required and will mean that the majority
of users will not have to spend extra time
changing the language settings. There will be a
number of options in one area of the screen
representing the different languages available
and by one of these options the interface will be
displayed in the corresponding language. At any
time it will be possible to change language or
return to English.
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Interface Tasks - 4

• A key feature of the existing interface is the
  ability to log in and view your library record
  online. This allows you to edit your details,
  renew books, etc.
• I would incorporate this feature into my new
  interface design for a number of reasons.
• It would improve the efficiency of the library
  service, as it would encourage users to renew or
  return books they have borrowed making them
  available to other users.
• The accuracy of the information held about both
  users and the resources would improve as any
  details can be quickly and easily altered by
  users.
• I would perhaps also include maps and directions
  of how to reach the various different libraries
  to again improve accessibility.

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Interface Metaphor

• I will need a basic metaphor to base my interface
  design upon. After consideration, I have decided
  to use the metaphor of a cash machine, or ATM.
  This choice offers me many benefits.
• Using a cash machine is something that nearly
  everybody has had experience of, and so users
  will be able to identify and use the interface
  easily.
• The idea of using buttons to take you to new
  screens where you have to select an action from a
  number of choices is useful in this situation as
  there are so many different ways of searching for
  resources.

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Interface Metaphor - 1
My interface would appear in a similar design to
that of the actual cash machine itself, with two
columns of buttons, and a card slot to one side.
Users would interact with my system by clicking
upon any of the buttons, each which would
correspond to a high level description of a task.
This would display a new screen with further,
more low level choices, which again can be
clicked. This way the user is able to work
systematically through the different tasks
available, ensuring that they choose the option
that is most suited to their needs. The card
slot would serve as a link to the members area of
the library, where users can modify personal
details and renew books. Here the metaphor is
extended, with the card slot representing the
insertion of a library card and subsequent access
to their details.
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Interface Metaphor - 2
To interact with the system the user will use the
same input devices as with the current interface
a mouse and keyboard. Only if the user has a
touch screen monitor will the metaphor be
completely fulfilled. As moving between the
different screens may take some time, I would
still have a quick search toolbar on my main
screen to enable experienced users to use the
interface efficiently, and there would be a back
button present throughout the different screens
to improve usability. Another feature I would
include to improve my interfaces usability would
be a help section. This would consist of a small
area of screen where a brief piece of text
instructs users on how to interact with the
screen. This would ensure novice users were able
to take full advantage of the interface.
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Interface Design

• Objects and Attributes
• Screen colour, size, resolution
• Buttons positioning, size, shape, colour,
  labels
• Card slot size, positioning, colour
• Quick search toolbar positioning, size, drop
  down lists, colour, Search
  button, text size
• Text colour, size, font
• Relationships
• Buttons can be visualised on screen
• Buttons can be clicked
• Card slot can be clicked
• Buttons link to different screens
• Drop down list can be modified

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Interface Design - 1

• Actions
• Click on buttons
• Click on card slot
• Can move back to the previous screen
• Can change the language of the interface
• Can search for a book/resource
• Can renew a book/resource
• Can modify personal details

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Interface Mappings
The table below shows the mapping of some of the
more common tasks that the interface performs.