This document provides an overview of intelligent interfaces and user interface design. It discusses what constitutes an interface and intelligence as it relates to interfaces. It also outlines important aspects of user interface design like placing the user in control, reducing memory load, and consistency. The document details common user interface design models involving the design, user, mental, and implementation models. It also outlines the user interface design process involving task analysis, design, construction, and validation. Finally, it discusses evaluating user interfaces through prototyping and user testing.

1. Intelligent
Interfaces I
ICS2208
vanessa.camilleri@um.edu.mt
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2. Overview
• User Interfaces: an introduction
• User Interface Design
• Design Models
• The Design Process
• User Interface Design Evaluation
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3. User Interfaces:
an introduction
• What is an interface?
• What is intelligence?
• What can an interface be intelligent about?
• What is the difference between an intelligent
interface and an intelligent system with an
interface?
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4. User Interface Design
• Virtually all high technology products require human
interaction
• Products must exhibit good usability to be
successful
• Good user interface designs result from the careful
application of design heuristics (golden rules) and
the definition of effective interaction mechanisms
(controls and display objects)
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5. User Interface Design
• Place user in control
• Reduce user memory load
• Make the interface consistent
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6. User Interface Design
Models
• Design model (incorporates data, architectural,
interface, and procedural representations of the
software)
• User model (end user profiles - novice, knowledgeable
intermittent user, knowledgeable frequent users)
• Mental model (user's mental image of system or
system perception)
• Implementation model (look and feel of the interface
and supporting media)
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7. The Design Process
• Interface task analysis and modeling
• Interface design
• Interface construction
• Interface validation
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8. • Are different types of data assigned to consistent geographical
locations on the screen?
• Can user customise screen locations of content?
• Is proper on-screen identification assigned to all content?
• How should large report be partitioned for ease of understanding?
• Will mechanisms be available for moving directly to data summary
information for large data collections?
• Will graphical output be scaled to fit bounds of display device used?
• How will color be used to enhance understanding?
• How will error messages and warnings be displayed to the user?
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9. User Interface Design
Evaluation
• Preliminary design
• Build first interface prototype
• User evaluates interface
• Evaluation studied by designer
• Design modifications made
• Build next prototype
• If interface is not complete repeat from step 3
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