Human computer Interaction Topic The Colours

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Human Computer Interface

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Principles of HCI
 The objectives that should be used in designing are:
• Accuracy – Create a design that ensures the User has to finish each
task;
• Attractiveness – Create a design that the user will enjoy using, or even
be drawn to using.
• Consistency –group data similarly from one application to the next;
• Ease of use –straightforward, requiring no extra effort to decipher;
• Effectiveness –For a specific purpose.
• Simplicity –Focuses the users attention.

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The Importance Of HCI
A good design can ensure users carry out
their tasks
1. Safely
2. Effectively
3. Efficiently
4. Enjoyably

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Fundamental questions when
designing
 Who will use the application
 What is the purpose of application
 When is the application needed and used
 Where does the application need to be delivered
and used
 How many people need to use or view
application

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Guidelines for the design of forms
and reports
 Meaningful titles – clear specific titles to
describe the content and use of the application
 Meaningful information – only needed
information should be displayed not all of the fields on a
table
 Balance the layout – not all on one side
 Design an easy navigation system – clearly
show where you are and how to move forwards and
backwards

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How to Highlight information
 Different colours
 Different fonts
 Size differences
 Boxing
 Underlining
 ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
 Off setting

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Make application easy to fill out
 Group your information logically
 Have a Heading /main body and then a sub parts
 Add command buttons that help the user to
save/delete/create new records and close the application
easily
 Use the Caption property
 Create labels to give further help information on the
form
 Use validation on your database fields to make sure the
user can only enter valid information

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Application should be attractive
 Using different fonts, using separator lines,
colour, and other features can help enhance
the appearance
 Follow the same colour scheme and layout
on your forms

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Benefits and problems of using
colour
 Benefits
– soothes or strikes the eye
– Emphasises organisation of information
– Draws attention to warnings
 Problems
– May cause problems for some users (colour blindness)
– Colour may degrade on different displays

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Colour
1. Colour is very effective for highlighting,
but must be used carefully.
2. Colours have a meaning
– Red - danger / warmth
– Green – normality
– Blue – cold

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Colour and Design
1. Use background colours carefully
– The screen should not contain too much
bright colour.
2. Don’t use too many colours on one
screen
– do not exceed 6 different colours
3. Be consistent across the whole system
– one colour should not be used for more than
one purpose.

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Colour Hints
1. Colours which clash should be avoided
e.g. purple with pink.
2. Care should be taken as 8% of men and
0.4% of women are colour blind, and
have difficulty with colours such as
green, red, and yellow.

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Colour Hints (Cont)
1. Colour can be used to convey greater amounts
of information more clearly
2. Colour should be used to improve user
performance
3. Colour and brightness effect perceived size.
Warm colours are larger (red, yellow). Cold
colours are smaller (blue, green).

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Bright Clashing Colours
Colours with insufficient contrast should be
avoided e.g. yellow and white
Avoid text over pictures

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Presentation And Contrast
1. Positive presentation is when the
background is fairly subdued, i.e.
white background, dark text
2. Negative presentation – dark
background, white text.
3. A bright area on a dark background
seems larger than the reverse.
4. Which is best???

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Other Factors
1. Take care in spacing fonts, and choosing a
correct font for screen use.
2. Letter Spacing
– |3 looks like a B. Space it out | 3
3. Some fonts can be difficult to read, and should
be avoided.
4. You must be careful how you word things, so
that they are not misinterpreted.

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Legibility
1. Be concise. Icons need careful design in order to
be understood
2. Avoid blinking, zooming or moving text
3. Font Size to be readable
4. Left Justified most of the text – can centre or
right justify a few lines for effect
5. Sans Serif Fonts are more readable, but people
prefer serif fonts.
6. Avoid Caps for text

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FORM CREATED USING A
WIZARD
 What are the bad features of this form design

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Improved Design