Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Principles of User Interface Design
from the theory of Larry Constantine and Lucy Lockwood in their usage-centered design, the principles are:
Structure Principle
Simplicity Principle
Visibility Principle
Feedback Principle
Tolerance Principle
Reuse Principle
The user interface of an application will often make or break it. Although the functionality that an application provides to users is important, the way in which it provides that functionality is just as important. An application that is difficult to use won’t be used. Period. It won’t matter how technically superior your software is or what functionality it provides, if your users don’t like it they simply won’t use it. Don’t underestimate the value of user interface design nor of usability.
Structure Principle
- organize the user interface purposefully
- make it meaningful and useful based on clear, consistent models apparent and recognizable to users
- put related things together; separate unrelated things
- differentiate dissimilar things, make similar things resemble one another
Simplicity Principle
- make simple, common tasks simple to do
- communicate clearly and simply in user’s own language
- provide good shortcuts that are meaningfully related to longer procedures
Visibility Principle
- keep all needed options and materials for a given task visible
- do not distract user with extraneous and redundant information
- do not confuse user with too many alternatives for performing same task
Feedback Principle
- inform actions or interpretations
- inform changes of state or condition
- inform errors or exceptions
- keep mode of communication – relevant, clear, concise, and in language familiar to user
Tolerance Principle
- reduce cost of mistakes and misuse by allowing ‘undo’ and ‘redo’
- prevent errors by tolerating varied inputs and sequences and by interpreting reasonable actions
Reuse Principle
- reuse internal and external components and behaviors; maintaining consistency with purpose
- reduce the need for users to rethink and remember
The user interface of an application will often make or break it. Although the functionality that an application provides to users is important, the way in which it provides that functionality is just as important. An application that is difficult to use won’t be used. Period. It won’t matter how technically superior your software is or what functionality it provides, if your users don’t like it they simply won’t use it. Don’t underestimate the value of user interface design nor of usability.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
People Focus
inspired by one of my mentors, Thomas Ewe.
People.
We are in the people business. We may be software, consulting, and services vendor, but make no mistake; we are in the 'people' business. People make our world tick. We group people in two: External and Internal. While outsiders are very important to us, insiders are EVERYONE among and EVERYTHING to us. How we treat those on the outside is the subject of another philosophy.
In the definition of ourselves, we are interested only in people on the inside (employees, consultants, vendor partners) and it can be summed up in one sentence; "we take care of our own." For us to succeed, it takes all to make it happen. And therefore, we arrive at the fundamental concept of teamwork. What one person can accomplish is limited. But when all of us pull together in one focused direction, the result of our combined efforts will be multiplied. Suddenly it takes less to accomplish more.
As a team, we cover and make up for each others weaknesses. And when we come together; we expose none of them to outsiders. We compete against outsiders, never among ourselves. So to those on the outside, all they will feel is the brunt of one combined, focused blow.
As blood is to the body; 'information' is to the 'team.' So, information should flow freely and shared freely. It should be written up and cataloged for future reference, so that we don't reinvent the wheel again and again. Any work that we do or are about to do, we must think of how others can leverage and build on top of it; and then structure it just that way. Facilitate. And don't underestimate the power of hard work. The little additional time you spend now; reap enormous rewards even if your work is only reused once in future; and the rewards snowball as it is reused more than once.
Faith. We trust and love our people beyond religious beliefs. We respect humanity, while appreciating and honoring our individual decisions to come-together and work-together. Even though our love is secular; it is nonetheless applied with absolute conviction. Just as the army leaves no wounded behind; we strive to be inclusive, supportive, fair and appreciative. So we stand faced in one direction; and walk towards one destination.
"The automobile capital of the world is not Detroit; it's Toyota City; where everyone considers himself a brother of the other."
People.
We are in the people business. We may be software, consulting, and services vendor, but make no mistake; we are in the 'people' business. People make our world tick. We group people in two: External and Internal. While outsiders are very important to us, insiders are EVERYONE among and EVERYTHING to us. How we treat those on the outside is the subject of another philosophy.
In the definition of ourselves, we are interested only in people on the inside (employees, consultants, vendor partners) and it can be summed up in one sentence; "we take care of our own." For us to succeed, it takes all to make it happen. And therefore, we arrive at the fundamental concept of teamwork. What one person can accomplish is limited. But when all of us pull together in one focused direction, the result of our combined efforts will be multiplied. Suddenly it takes less to accomplish more.
As a team, we cover and make up for each others weaknesses. And when we come together; we expose none of them to outsiders. We compete against outsiders, never among ourselves. So to those on the outside, all they will feel is the brunt of one combined, focused blow.
As blood is to the body; 'information' is to the 'team.' So, information should flow freely and shared freely. It should be written up and cataloged for future reference, so that we don't reinvent the wheel again and again. Any work that we do or are about to do, we must think of how others can leverage and build on top of it; and then structure it just that way. Facilitate. And don't underestimate the power of hard work. The little additional time you spend now; reap enormous rewards even if your work is only reused once in future; and the rewards snowball as it is reused more than once.
Faith. We trust and love our people beyond religious beliefs. We respect humanity, while appreciating and honoring our individual decisions to come-together and work-together. Even though our love is secular; it is nonetheless applied with absolute conviction. Just as the army leaves no wounded behind; we strive to be inclusive, supportive, fair and appreciative. So we stand faced in one direction; and walk towards one destination.
"The automobile capital of the world is not Detroit; it's Toyota City; where everyone considers himself a brother of the other."
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