ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of usability concepts, and discusses techniques to make these concepts a reality in application design. It outlines a process for designing graphical user interface (GUI) to deliver on the goal of usability. Usability and user-centered design have become essential features of today’s application design environment. User interface designers should be aware of a set of basic guidelines as well as a documentation technique for capturing and communicating GUI application designs. When designing an interface for users with a low understanding of how the task is to be done, the user interface must be much more supportive of the performance of the business process or task, leading users step by step if necessary. Consistency is often touted as the “holy grail” of user interface design. Consistency is certainly a valid goal, considering the amount of time and money spent on training users to use new software programs.