Proposal 13

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Proposal 13

• HUMAN CENTRIC COMPUTING (COMP106)
• ASSIGNMENT 2

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Introduction.
The new interface that I have designed for the
University Online Library Catalogue will consist
of many tasks that the user will be able to
perform with the interface. I feel though, that
there are 3 main tasks involved with this type of
interface, and these are the tasks that I will
concentrate on in this design.

• The 3 tasks are
• Searching for a book.
• Checking the availability of a book.
• Checking the location of the book in the library.

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Task 1 Searching for a book.

• Main operations
• The user will be provided with a Form Fill-in
  style of data entry.
• A drop down menu will be included enabling users
  to select by which option they would like to use
  to search for their book. e.g. author or title.
• A button will be available on-screen allowing the
  user to finalise their search. A drop-down menu
  will also be available on-screen enabling the
  user to either search again, go back a page, or
  return to the main menu.
• Unlike in the current interface, error messages
  will be displayed if, for example, letters are
  attempted to be entered in a search by category
  number.
• A thank you message will be displayed at end of
  this and every other task, giving good closure.

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Task 2 Checking the availability of a book.

• Main operations
• After user has chosen their book, they have the
  chance to select the availability option from
  the drop-down menu on-screen to see whether their
  chosen book is available for loan.
• The following screen will tell the user whether
  their book is available. If so, the user will be
  thanked, and given the option to check the
  location of the book. If not, unlike in the
  current interface, the user will now be informed
  as to how many days it will take for the book to
  become available and whether they would like a
  confirmation e-mail telling them that their book
  is available.
• Again, their will be a drop-down menu on-screen
  allowing the user to either check the location of
  the book in the library, perform a new search, go
  back a page, or start over completely.
• The user, unlike in the current interface, will
  be thanked for using the service after each task
  they perform.

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Task 3 Checking the location of a book in the
library.

• Main operations
• Once the user has completed either of the first
  two tasks, they will have the option to check the
  location of the book in the library by pressing
  the location button.
• The following screen will, unlike in the current
  interface, describe in detail where the book is
  locating, by showing a top down map of the
  library indicating where the user needs to go to
  collect the book.
• On this screen also will be a button which the
  user can press if they want to take the library
  tour, (an option which is available on the very
  first menu of the interface) in order to become
  more familiar with the library and its
  locations.
• The user again will have a drop-down menu
  available to them, if they want to check the
  availability of the book, perform a new search,
  go back a page, or simply start again at the home
  page.
• Again, the user will be thanked after they have
  completed this task.

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Summary of the new operations, which were not
allowed on the current interface.

• Thank you messages being displayed at the end of
  each task, giving the user a feeling of
  satisfaction having completed a task.
• A map of the library being displayed on the
  location screen, highlighting the area of the
  library that the users chosen book is kept.
• An opportunity for the user to input their e-mail
  address in order to receive a confirmation
  message when their chosen book, which is
  currently not available for loan, becomes
  available.
• Only one method of data entry, making things a
  little less confusing for the inexperienced user.
  A Form Fill-in style of data entry will be used
  for this, its advantages being that it is
  attractive and suitable for users of all
  standards.
• Drop-down menus and buttons being displayed
  clearly on each screen, allowing the user to
  perform a number of operations, i.e. search, go
  back one page, start over, and so on.
• Better error handling than the current interface.
  For example if a letter is typed in the category
  number search option, then an error message will
  be displayed, informing the user clearly of what
  they have done wrong. In the current interface,
  the search is performed anyway even though
  invalid data has been entered.
• Clearer information in general, making things
  less confusing for the user. For example, things
  are less crammed in the new design, and the user
  is informed on every screen of what is going on.
  In the current interface, it seemed like a lot of
  things were crammed onto one screen, thus perhaps
  confusing a less experienced user.

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Designing a Metaphor.

• The basic metaphor which I will be using will be
  that of a directory.
• Basically, a directory is generally known as a
  book, or list, of some specific data. Here are a
  few examples
• Names
• Addresses
• Telephone Numbers
• ID Numbers
• That is the basic idea, and I believe that the
  fact that the online library catalogue is
  basically a list of books, this metaphor is
  suitable.

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Designing a Metaphor.
Basically, we want the user to be allowed to do
in the metaphor, exactly the same as what they
are allowed to do in the real system. Lets use a
telephone directory as an example. A telephone
directory lists information on people including
their address and their telephone number. (Much
in the same way that the online library catalogue
lists information on books, including their
availability and their location within the
library).
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Using the metaphor in relation to the 3 main
tasks.
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The new interface design

• The new interface has been designed concentrating
  on a direct manipulation style of interaction.
  This is important considering the interface will
  be used by inexperienced as well as experienced
  users.
• Here are the two main objects that will be made
  available to the user
• Buttons
• Drop-Down Menus
• I have made more use of drop-down menus in the
  new interface compared to the current interface.
  For example, in the current interface, where
  there is a list of buttons at the head of the
  screen for the user to select, I intend to create
  more space on the screen by using a drop-down
  menu thus reducing the amount of buttons
  on-screen. I believe this, in addition to
  creating more space on-screen, is far more
  attractive and efficient for the experienced or
  inexperienced user. It also seems more
  modernised, as constantly using buttons seems a
  bit old-school now.

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A look at the new features on each screen
involving the 3 main tasks.
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A look at the new features on each screen
involving the 3 main tasks.
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A look at the new features on each screen
involving the 3 main tasks.
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Summary of how the user will benefit from using
the new interface in relation to the 8 Golden
Rules of interface design.

• The new interface is consistent throughout, with
  the background remaining the same. Every page
  feels more or less the same to the user, making
  things less confusing. The information given to
  the user remains consistent, as well as the
  buttons and drop-down menus on each page.
• Expert users have been taken into considering.
  The system is generally kept simple, but the
  appearance of certain abbreviations and function
  keys, including drop-down menus replacing buttons
  where appropriate, will benefit the more
  experienced user.
• Feedback is one of the things I have worked most
  on in improving the interface. Feedback is now
  given to the user on each and every page, whether
  it is to thank them, to welcome them, or to
  explain to them what to do or what is going on.
  The user needs to be able to understand the
  system easily.
• Closure has also been improved in the new
  interface. Unlike with the current interface, the
  user is now thanked after completing every task,
  giving them a sense of relief and satisfaction.
  Each task now feels more like a unique chunk.
• Error prevention has also been improved, with
  the inclusion of error messages when invalid data
  has been entered.
• The user can now reverse their actions easily,
  with the opportunity to go back a page or even
  start a new search or start over again being
  included on each and every page. The user now
  never feels like they are stuck, they know that
  they can easily reverse their action with the
  click of a button.
• The locus of control has also been improved as
  I believe now that the user feels more in control
  of the system. They will become less confused or
  flustered as they know where they are with the
  system at all times, as everything is explained
  to them in detail.
• The system maintains the level of memory it uses
  to a minimum, by keeping everything simple and
  consistent. There are no 3D graphical effects of
  any kind which would take up more memory than
  needed. The system overall is kept simple,
  reliable and informative, without anything fancy.
  And this should suit users of any experience
  level perfectly.

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The EndThank you