golden rules of hci

1. Heuristic Evaluation
(golden rules of user
interface design)

2. 2
Golden Rules of Interface Design
 1. Consistency
 2. Accelerator keys
 3. Feedback
 4. Directness
 5. Simplicity
 6. Forgiveness
 7. User Control
 8. Minimal Memory Load

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1. Strive for consistency
Most frequently violated
Many forms of consistency
– Sequence of actions
– Identical terminology
– color, layout, fonts
Exceptions
– Echoing password

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Consistency
Make appearance consistent
Make a company’s image consistent
Simplify appearance and behavior
Simplify development effort

5. 5
Windows guidelines: general guidelines
 Use consistency
– Easy to Understand and use
 Use arrangement and flow
– Upper left corner
 Use alignment
– Left alignment
 Use grouping
– Show relationships
 Use emphasis
– Focus, location, grouping, hierarchy, enabling/disabling, size,
color, font attributes

6. 6
Windows guidelines: general guidelines..
 Use visual clues
– Sizing to indicate similarity and difference
 Use white space
– “breathing room”
 Watch for vanity
– Avoid using logos, names anywhere
 Watch sizing
– Independent resolution
 Use resource templates
– Predefined grids

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2. Enable frequent users to use shortcuts
Reduce number and increase pace of interaction
Abbreviations, special keys, hidden commands,
macros
Short response time and fast display rates

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3. Offer informative feedback
Feedback for every user action
Varies from modest to substantial
Visual presentation

9. 9
4. Design dialogs to yield closure
Group Sequence of actions
– Beginning, middle, end
Provides sense of control, satisfaction

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5. Offer error preventions and simple error
handling
Do not allow possibility of serious errors
If errors are made
– Detect
– Offer instructions for recovery
– Leave the system state unchanged or provide
instructions to restore the state
Ex. Oh Dear, problem! This error should never,
ever happen!

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Guidelines: error messages
Avoid error numbers
Avoid blaming the user
Avoid hostile language
Use plain English in the text
Avoid trying to be funny or clever in message text
Allow users to suppress non-critical text

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Error messages
ERROR!: You failed to set the correct File path
The file c:MyFile.doc could not be found

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6. Permit easy reversal of actions
Removes anxiety
Encourages exploration of unfamiliar options
Units of reversibility
– Single actions
– Data-entry task
– Complete task

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7. Support internal locus of control
Sense of control
Avoid
– Surprising system actions
– Tedious data entry sequence
– Inability or difficulty in obtaining information
– Inability to produce desired action
Users initiators of action

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8. Reduce short-term memory load
Limits of STM: 7(+-)2
Keeps displays simple,
consolidate multiple page displays
Reduce window motion frequency
Training for codes, mnemonics, action sequences

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Guidelines: Information Display
Helps in promoting consistency
Recording practical experience
Empirical studies
Rules of thumb

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Guidelines for data display
Organize displays consistently
Support efficient assimilation by user
Minimize memory load
Keep display compatible with entry (WYSIWYG)
Provide format flexibility

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Windows Standard Layout
Title Zone
(Title, Menu, Toolbar, Date/Time)
Body Zone
(Work Space, Data Entry & Display)
Status Zone
(Help & Status Messages, Date/Time)
Opt.
2nd
Tool
Bar

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Getting user’s attention
Intensity: use two levels only
Marking: Underline, enclose in box, point to with
an arrow, or use an indicator such as an asterisk,
bullet, dash, or an X
Size: use up to four sizes
Choice of fonts: use up to three fonts
Inverse video: use inverse coloring

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Getting user’s attention…
Blinking: use blinking display
Color: use four standard colors, additional
colors for occasional use
Color blinking: changes in color
Audio: soft tones for regular positive
feedback, harsh sounds for emergency

21. 21
Guidelines: data entry
Fewer input, greater productivity fewer chances
to occur errors
use of mouse, few keystrokes etc
selection from list eliminates memorization,
structured decision making, typographic errors
avoid redundant data entry
deactivate commands that are inappropriate