ABSTRACT
This chapter covers principles of software user interface design that are particularly relevant to avoid: unnecessary workspace navigation, loss of situational awareness, the getting-lost phenomenon, and display thrashing. Unfortunately, software systems are sometimes designed in such a way as to require scrolling or paging when a redesign would avoid such a need. Well-designed software systems are those that were designed with major goal in mind: to effectively and efficiently support intended user tasks. Designing to minimize workspace navigation is of particular importance as users will change their behavior in response to the ease or difficulty with which they can gather necessary information. Poorly designed systems, with multiple operating modes, complex data-navigation schemes, and poor feedback about system state can all lead to predictable errors with their use. People may adopt coping strategies for handling an overly complex system.
