This document discusses user interface design for software systems. It notes that users often judge systems by their interfaces and poor interface design can lead to errors. Most business systems now use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) which are easy to learn and use. The document advocates for user-centered design where users' needs are paramount. It outlines the user interface design process and principles such as consistency, minimizing surprises, and supporting error recovery. Design principles also include making interfaces familiar to users and providing guidance for a diverse user base.

1. Software Engineering: 18
User Interface Design
Prof Neeraj Bhargava
Vaibhav Khanna
Department of Computer Science
School of Engineering and Systems Sciences
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University Ajmer

2. User interface design
• Designing effective interfaces for software
systems
• System users often judge a system by its
interface rather than its functionality
• A poorly designed interface can cause a user
to make catastrophic errors
• Poor user interface design is the reason why
so many software systems are never used

3. Graphical user interfaces
• Most users of business systems interact with
these systems through graphical interfaces
although, in some cases, legacy text-based
interfaces are still used

5. GUI advantages
• They are easy to learn and use.
• Users without experience can learn to use the
system quickly.
• The user may switch quickly from one task to
another and can interact with several different
applications.
• Information remains visible in its own window
when attention is switched.
• Fast, full-screen interaction is possible with
immediate access to anywhere on the screen

6. User-centred design
• The aim of this chapter is to sensitise software
engineers to key issues underlying the design
rather than the implementation of user interfaces
• User-centred design is an approach to UI design
where the needs of the user are paramount and
where the user is involved in the design process
• UI design always involves the development of
prototype interfaces

7. User interface design process

8. UI design principles
• UI design must take account of the needs,
experience and capabilities of the system users
• Designers should be aware of people’s physical
and mental limitations (e.g. limited short-term
memory) and should recognise that people make
mistakes
• UI design principles underlie interface designs
although not all principles are applicable to all
designs

9. User interface design principles

10. Design principles
• User familiarity: The interface should be based on user-
oriented terms and concepts rather than computer
concepts. For example, an office system should use
concepts such as letters, documents, folders etc. rather
than directories, file identifiers, etc.
• Consistency : The system should display an appropriate
level of consistency. Commands and menus should
have the same format, command punctuation should
be similar, etc.
• Minimal surprise: If a command operates in a known
way, the user should be able to predict the operation
of comparable commands

11. Design principles
• Recoverability: The system should provide some
resilience to user errors and allow the user to
recover from errors. This might include an undo
facility, confirmation of destructive actions 'soft'
deletes, etc.
• User guidance: Some user guidance such as help
systems, on-line manuals, etc. should be supplied
• User diversity : Interaction facilities for different
types of user should be supported. For example,
some users have seeing difficulties and so larger
text should be available

12. Assignment
• Explain the User Interface Design, the process
of UI design and the Design Principles
• Thank You