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Interaction Styles: Week 05

Interaction styles specify how users interact with a system and include: 1. Command line interfaces which use commands and are best for expert users but have poor learnability. 2. Menu interfaces display options for selection and are easy to use but can get lost in hierarchies. 3. Point and click interfaces minimize typing and are intuitive through icons, but require graphics. Consider the user's experience and the task requirements to choose the best interaction style. Future styles may include more natural language, 3D virtual environments, or augmented reality.

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88 views52 pages

Interaction Styles: Week 05

Interaction styles specify how users interact with a system and include: 1. Command line interfaces which use commands and are best for expert users but have poor learnability. 2. Menu interfaces display options for selection and are easy to use but can get lost in hierarchies. 3. Point and click interfaces minimize typing and are intuitive through icons, but require graphics. Consider the user's experience and the task requirements to choose the best interaction style. Future styles may include more natural language, 3D virtual environments, or augmented reality.

Uploaded by

Asma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Week 05

Interaction Styles

Reference: Chapter 3 and 4


Alan Dix, Janet Finlay,Gregory Abowd, Russell Beale,
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION, PRENTICE HALL.
Interaction Styles

Input
Data

Process Persistent
Output Data
Interaction Styles

• Specify the way user interacts with a


system

• Provide look and feel of system

• Represent alternative design


strategies for the UI
Interaction Style

Interaction style offers its own way of

1. Organizing the system’s functionality


2. Managing the user’s inputs
3. Presenting information
Common Interaction Styles

1. Command Line
2. Menus
3. Natural Language
4. Question/Answer and Query Dialogue
5. Form-Fills and Spreadsheets
6. Point and Click
7. Three–dimensional Interfaces
8. WIMP
1. Command Line Interface

Giving instructions (commands with parameters)


directly to the computer

– function keys, single characters,


short abbreviations, whole words, or a combination

•Earliest form of interaction style


•Still widely used……
Example 1: MS-DOS System

C > A:

A > dir

Not ready error reading drive A


Abort, Retry, Ignore? _

A typical dialog using an MS-DOS system


Example 2: UNIX System

HP-UX bmtlh730 A.09.05 A 9000/755 (ttyw0)

login: fkurfess
Password: **********
Please wait...checking for disk quotas

mtlh730:~> cokol
Enter EDMX password:

mtlh730:~> exit

A typical dialog using a UNIX system


Command Line Interface

Advantages:
– Powerful and fast
– Direct access to system functionality
– Suitable for repetitive tasks
– Appeals to expert users
– Supports user-defined "scripts" or macros
– More flexible (commands with many params)
Command Line Interface

Disadvantages:

• Recall rather than Recognition


• Poor Retention of commands
• Poor Learnability
• Error rates are high
• Not suitable for new users
• Error messages and assistance are hard to
provide
Command Line Interface

Conclusion:
• Suitable only for expert users
• Command names should be simple and
meaningful
2. Menus

Set of options displayed on the screen


one of the most popular interaction styles

• Options Visibility
– less recall - easier to use
• Selection by:
– numbers, letters, arrow keys, mouse
Menu Design Considerations

• Ordering
– alphabetically, by category, or by frequency
• Selection
– number or letter corresponding to the required option
– pointing at the option using a pointing device
– highlighting the item through cursor control keys
• Structure
– Linear, hierarchical, pie or hybrid
• Placement/Type
– fixed, pull-down, pop-up, …
Menu Ordering

Three alternatives:
– Alphabetical
– Categorical
• File, Edit, View……
– Frequency
– some functions should be kept apart
(e.g., ‘create’ should not be placed next
to the ‘delete’)
Menu Structure

• Linear
• Hierarchical
• Pie
• Hybrid
Linear Menu

• Simple
• Difficult selection
Hierarchical Menu
• Most frequently used form of menus
– sensible grouping is needed

Office
Automation

Word Electronic
Spreadsheet Graphics
Processing Mail

Create

Edit

Print
File
Tradeoffs with Menus

Depth vs. Breadth


–Deep: few alternatives, many selection steps
–Broad: many alternatives, few selection steps
•Deep and Narrow is often difficult for users
•Broad and Shallow is usually easier
Pie Menu

• More recent innovation


• Low error and search rates
Pie Menu Example
Pie Menu Example
Hybrid Menu
Advantages of Menus
• Self-explanatory
– require little training or learning
• Require little human memory
– easy to remember, recognition rather than recall
• Indicates when parts are not relevant
• Interaction under user control
• Fast and efficient
– shortcuts to mouse actions (for experienced users)
• Few keystrokes, which reduce errors
Problems with Menus

• Users may get lost in menu hierarchies


• Menu names may not be meaningful to users
• Inflexible
– the user is forced through sequence of steps
• Use lots of screen space
• Most effective with a pointing device
– mouse, trackball, touch screen
Let’s Exercise….
Group the following under appropriate menu headings:

Save, save as, new, delete, open mail, send mail, quit,
undo, table, glossary, preferences, character style,
format paragraph, document layout, plain, bold, italic,
underline, open file, close file, open copy of file,
increase point size, decrease point size, change font,
add footnote, cut, copy, paste, clear, repaginate, add
page break, insert graphic, insert index entry, print,
print preview, page setup, view page, find word,
change word, go to, go back, check spelling, view index,
view table of contents, count words, renumber pages,
repeat edit, help
Common Interaction Styles

1. Command Line
2. Menus
3. Natural Language
4. Question/Answer and Query Dialog
5. Form-Fills and Spreadsheets
6. Point and Click
7. Three–dimensional Interfaces
8. WIMP
3. Natural Language

Using Natural Language to communicate


and interact with a system

• Familiar to user
• Speech Recognition or
• Typed Natural Language
3. Natural Language

• Ideally, a NL dialog should be based on


speech input
– speech recognition technology is still far
from being perfect
– users may have to rely on typing, which has
its own problems
• spelling errors, slow
– field is still in its infancy
NL Interface Example
Natural Language Interface
4. Q/A and Query Interfaces
• Question/Answer dialog
– User led through interaction via series of questions
– Often used in information systems
– Easy, simple, suitable for novice users
– Restricted functionality

• Query Languages (e.g. SQL)


– Used to retrieve information from database
– Requires understanding of database structure and
language syntax, hence requires some expertise
Q/A Interface Example
Query Interface Example
5. Form-Fills and Spreadsheets

Primarily used for data entry or retrieval


– Screen resembles paper form
– Data placed in relevant place

• Requires
– Good design
– Obvious correction
facilities
Form Fill-in Interface

Type in the information below.


Press TAB to move the cursor to the next field.
Press ENTER when done.

Name: ________________________ Phone: (___) ___-___


Address: ________________________
________________________
City: _________________ Province: ____ Postal Code: _______

Catalog No. Quantity Catalog No. Quantity


___________ ____________ ___________ ____________
___________ ____________ ___________ ____________
___________ ____________ ___________ ____________
___________ ____________ ___________ ____________
___________ ____________ ___________ ____________

A fill-in form interface design for a department store


Form Fill-in

Advantages:
• No need for a pointing device
• Separation of data in fields allows
validation of the input
• Useful for routine, clerical work
• Ideal for data entry
6. Point and Click Interfaces
6. Point and Click Interfaces

• Used in ..
– multimedia
– web browsers

• Just click something!


– icons, text links or location on map

• Minimal typing
6. Point and Click Interfaces
7. Three Dimensional Interfaces

• ‘Ordinary’ window systems


– Highlighting
– Visual Affordance
flat buttons …

• 3D Workspaces
– used for extra virtual space
– light and HSR give depth
– distance effect
… or sculptured
click me!
• Virtual Reality
3D Workspaces
3D Workspaces
Virtual Reality
• Virtual Reality Welding Trainer
Virtual Reality

Integrating Force Feedback in Virtual Reality


Virtual Reality
• Architectural Modeling in VR
Augmented Reality
8. WIMP Interface

Windows
Icons
Menus
Pointers
… or windows, icons, mice, and pull-down menus

• Default style for majority of interactive


computer systems, especially PCs and desktop
machines
Elements of the WIMP Interface

windows, icons,
menus, pointers
+++
buttons,
toolbars,
palettes,
dialog boxes
Which Interaction Style?

• Considerations
– Who has control
– Ease of use for new users
– Learning time to become proficient
– Speed of use (efficiency) once users
become proficient
– Flexibility, Accuracy
– User background, levels of experience
– Task requirements
Task Requirement

• High degree of data entry is required


– fill-in forms are recommended, but a command-
line interface may also be used
• Familiar notation exists
– use a command-line interface
• Visual exploration is required
– use a point and click interface
• Users have poor keyboard skills
– rely on menu selection and point and click

Interaction Styles of the Future


Conclusion

If you want Users to do something ……

• Understand their needs


• Make it easy for them!

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