Experiment No.
Aim: Case Study on User Interface.
Theory:
What is UI?
• The user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur.
• The task of user interface is to act as an interface between the human and machines.
• Examples of UI include computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy machinery operator
controls, and process controls
• The goal of user interface design is to produce a user interface which makes it easy, efficient, and
enjoyable (user-friendly) to operate a machine in the way which produces the desired result.
Types of UI:
1) Command Line Interface (CLI)
• Command line interfaces are the oldest of the interfaces discussed here.
• It involves the computer responding to commands typed by the operator.
• This type of interface has the drawback that it requires the operator to remember a range of
different commands and is not ideal for novice users.
2) Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• GUI allows the user to interact with devices through graphical icons and visual indicators
such as secondary notations.
• The first commercially available GUI, called "PARC," was developed by Xerox and it was
used by the Xerox 8010 Information System.
3) Menu Driven Interface (MDI)
• A menu driven interface is commonly used on cash machines (also known as automated teller
machines (ATM's), ticket machines and information kiosks (for example in a museum).
• They provide a simple and easy to use interface to interact with the user.
4) Form Based Interface (FBI)
• The forms used for different web pages to collect user data n different websites and also in
call centres to collect feedbacks.
5) Natural Language Interface (NLI)
• A natural language interface is a spoken interface where the user interacts with the
computer by talking to it.
• Example would be Alexa, Google Home, etc.
Principles of UI Design:
• Consistency: Consistent UI allows users to transfer existing knowledge to new tasks, master
new aspects faster, and focus on solving the problem, rather than waste time understanding
the differences in the use of certain controls, commands, etc.
• Friendliness: Users usually learn how to work with a new software product by trial and error.
An effective interface should take this into account. At each stage of work, it should only
allow the appropriate set of actions and warn users about situations where they can damage
the system or data.
• Clarity: The users need to understand what they interact with through the interface. There
should be no confusion. Clarity is about giving users confidence and willingness to continue
interacting with the interface.
• Interaction: The best interfaces are those that surprise, inspire, awaken feelings, strengthen
the experience in interaction with the world.
• Transparency: The user will have to go through all that to get to the point. To avoid that, UI
design should be aimed at direct control and naturalness.
• Strong Visual Hierarchy: It allows setting the sequence and smoothly directing the user’s
view from one interface element to another. With a weak visual hierarchy, the interface looks
overloaded and messy.
• Step-by-step Information Flow: The screen has to show only the necessary information. If a
person has to make a choice, it has to provide enough information to make a decision and
proceed with details on the following screens.
• Invisibility: It allows the user focusing on the goals without being distracted by the interface.
Although it might be hard for a designer to implement, less is better.
Features of a Good GUI:
• User Friendly
• Make Everything the User Needs Readily Accessible
• Be Consistent: Don’t keep on changing the followed pattern.
• The Purpose of the GUI should be clear.
• Appropriate feedback represents a good GUI.
• Personalize with the user of the GUI.
Features of a Bad GUI:
• The design lacks of contrast.
• Less responsive design represents a bad UI.
• No user feedback with plagiarism data.
• Inconsistent Style.
• No feedback is bad.
Comparison of two GUI: Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo
Principles Cricbuzz ESPNcricinfo
Consistency There is no form of consistency There is some sort of
as far as mastering to new consistency to master and surf
features is concerned. new features for this website.
Friendliness This website is able to adapt to This website is not able to adapt
potential user errors and hence to potential user errors and
kind of more user friendly. hence I feel it’s not that user
friendly compared to Cricbuzz.
Clarity The users have more sort of The interface is a bit complex
clarity and are able to which gives less clarity to the
understand the interface very user of the UI.
easily due to ease of use.
Interaction Various cricket related Accessing the cricket related
information is easily accessible information is not that easier
but stores the historic data of with their UI but can provide
only the international matches. historic data unlike Cricbuzz.
Transparency Less unnecessary layers make There is some unnecessary
the UI more transparent. layers to the interface like extra
buttons, graphics, options,
windows, etc.
Strong Visual Hierarchy The order in which the visual The order in which the visual
elements on the screen should elements on the screen should
be viewed is not easily be viewed is understood easily.
understood.
Step-by-step Information Users are provided with less Users are provided with many
Flow options at moment to make a options at moment which makes
decision which makes the user the decision making part harder.
task easy as to get their desired
results.
Invisibility Users gets distracted some Users are been able to focus on
times like while watching a their goals rather than getting
scorecard an unrelated news distracted.
pops up.
Provides Feedback For every user action, the For every user action, the
website clear reaction is not website is showing a
provided, it directs directly to meaningful, clear reaction.
the next stage without any
feedback.
Cricbuzz:
ESPNcricinfo
Conclusion:
In this experiment, we studied about UI their types and the basic Principles of a UI and how does UI
can play an important role in the make or break of the organization by connecting to their users
through the UI.
