LUIGIDOLLOSA

10754903

BOOK REVIEW 5

BOOK: Systems Analysis and Design

AUTHORS: Kendall & Kendall

REFERENCE #: QA 76.9 S88 K45 2002

CHAPTER: 18- Designing User Interfaces

QUOTE: “Continuous feedback on the manipulated object means that changes or reversal in operations can be made quickly, without incurring error messages.”

REVIEW:

          It is very true to assume that the over-all success of system design is heavily influenced by the way and manner the end-users accept, involve, and interact with the system. To design an interface is simply considering yourself as a designer in the shoes of the user, whereby you think emphatically the state of the user in designing system interfaces that would give great significance to them.

In the current chapter (“Designing User Interfaces”), a couple of types of UIs were covered together along with a variety of examples of input devices. It further discussed the importance of interface design leaning towards the accessibility of inexperienced clients. Interface elements suitably appropriate for such sorts of users are question and answer, menus and forms, natural language, GUI (more particularly in Web), devices such as the mouse, stylus, touch-screen, lightpens, and audio recognition tools. On the other hand, common computer language is more apt for experienced users. The chapter moreover concludes the potential of the Internet cloud (websites and webpages) to be the most influential interface for the next generation advancements in application design.

     Noteworthy also is the generalization of combining elements of interface categories is significant in fostering efficiency in users and designers. Therefore, interface design must be anticipated by software developers to lay down the vital challenges in integrating software and programming language in creating user-friendly interfaces. With each passing decade, or each passing era in IT, newer challenges and opportunities arise for interface designers, more of being caused by the changes in user compatibility trends.

     The chapter expounds as well on the matter of feedbacks as system control mechanisms. System feedback is necessitated so as to provide appropriate information accordingly with as to user’s inputting. Users must be duly aware of the where’s and how’s of the manner their inputs are being processed, whether they are in the correct form, or whether they are accepted and processed. Feedbacks are generally presented in visual, text, auditory or graphic forms. To move along from feedbacks, the chapter built up its content by adding another topic - queries. By definition, queries permit system users to obtain, from the database, valuable information. There are six types of queries mentioned in the book and they can be powerfully integrated by Boolean logic to increase complexity.

       Another concept introduced in this chapter is Data mining, a terminology which denotes the involvement of Database Management Systems for the sole objective of targeting the users/customers. It is claimed to be a powerful tool but with an expense, it demands high-costs and maintenance, and it intrudes user privacy or human rights.

      In the latter part, the chapter discussed the link between office workplace environment and the user willingness. Furthermore, a discussion of workplace improvement is presented with basis of a list of principles to follow. To elucidate, there are certain aesthetic considerations in arranging hardware such as keyboard, monitor, computer tables and stands, and even seating apparatuses, to be versatile in individual workplace preferences.