Conceptual Model Design Informing the user what to do Lecture # 10 (a) Gabriel Spitz.
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Transcript of Conceptual Model Design Informing the user what to do Lecture # 10 (a) Gabriel Spitz.
Conceptual Model DesignInforming the user what to do
Lecture # 10 (a)
Gabriel Spitz
Interface elementsInterface aspects
Application Component
Info Space Control
Function/Scope Available functions Missing & superfluous functions
Completeness TBD
Framework Organizing principle (Posture)Segmentation into components
Segmentation into info spacesGrouping of itemsProximitySequencing items
TBD
Activity flow/Behavior Navigation schemaTask sequenceError recoveryAction reversalSystem state info
Action constraints (error avoidance) GuidanceSpatial workflowModes/temporal workflow Closure
FeedbackDefaultsShortcuts
Representation Metaphors / expressionsIdioms
Strategy (e.g.) FormWizardMessage content (error, warning, information)Maintaining context
Choice of controlLabels/terminologyIcon contentObject manipulation methodAffordance
Presentation Color Pallet TypographyPreferences
LayoutAlignmentRepetitionContrast
ColorFont styleGraphical clarity (of icons) Resolution (details) Manipulation dynamics
Interface Design SpaceGabriel Spitz
Exercise
Describe the route you take to get from home to UMB
Where is the description coming from
Gabriel Spitz
3
Helping the User Figure It Out
Our action is driven by what we see and how close is what we see to what we expect/know
What we see is the Conceptual Model of the interface
What we expect is our Mental Model of the interface
We as UI designers are responsible for selecting and implementing the conceptual model of our design
Gabriel Spitz
Conceptual Model VS. Mental Model
• Conceptual model is a mental representation of how an artifact works & how the interface controls affect it. It is the way the user will understand the interface
• Mental model is the idea a user has about an interface – Mental representation
• The closer a conceptual model is to the mental model the easier it is for a user to figure out how to operate a system
Me
Mental Model of a BicycleConceptual Model of a Design
A. Cooper’s Conceptual Models
Gabriel Spitz
Manifest Model = Conceptual Model or Framework
Mismatch Between Models
Mismatch between the users’ expectation – their mental model; and the conceptual model used by the UI designer will lead to: Error Poor performance Frustration
Gabriel Spitz
7
A Conceptual Model
Is the way the system will appear to users and therefore the way the user will understand it
It is the overall “big idea” of the UI For example this interface is like a desktop, a wending
machine, an ATM machine
It is also the context within which UI elements – actions & components – are anticipated and interpreted
Gabriel Spitz
Conceptual Models Examples
Two Panel Concept
Two panels side by
side. One shows the
set of items
user can select
from, the other
shows the content of
the selected
item
This is a learned
interaction, but very
common and quick to learn
Tabular Concept
List Concept
Content Group
Form Concept
Creating a Conceptual Model
Conceptual models are created by our choices for the interface Interaction styles – The Activity/Method we use for
the interaction The metaphor – The object we interact with
Keep in mind that the interface has to communicate how it should be used Help information can aid, but should not be
necessary
Gabriel Spitz
Interaction Styles
Interaction styles refers to the way we interacts with an application. These include: Instructing Conversing Manipulation Browsing & Navigating
Metaphor or the objects used in the the interaction such as Blank sheet of paper Spreadsheet Canvas
Gabriel Spitz
Instructing (activity)
Instruction is common conceptual model in user-interface and used by many applications Instructing is performed using keyboard commands,
function keys, menu items, etc.
Instructing refers to telling the system to perform specific tasks such as Print, save, delete, etc.
The main benefit of instruction is that it supports quick and efficient interaction Good for repetitive actions performed on multiple objects
Gabriel Spitz
Instructional Style Interaction
Gabriel Spitz
Conversation (activity) The underlying model of this interaction mode is a
conversation with another human
Users ask and the system responds
Examples include: Help Facilities Search Engines Interactive Voice Recognition –Siri
The benefit of this interaction style is that it allows users to interact with the system in a way that is familiar Makes them feel comfortable, at ease and less scared
The drawback is that misunderstandings can arise when the system does not know how to parse what the user says
Gabriel Spitz
Conversational Style Interaction
Gabriel Spitz
Direct Manipulating (activity)
Involves dragging, selecting, opening, closing and zooming actions on virtual objects
Exploit’s users’ knowledge of how they move and manipulate objects in the physical world what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) the direct manipulation approach (DM)
Shneiderman (1983) coined the term Direct manipulation
Gabriel Spitz
Core Principles of DM
Continuous representation of objects and actions of interest
Physical actions and button pressing instead of issuing commands with complex syntax
Rapid reversible actions with immediate feedback on object of interest
Gabriel Spitz
Benefits of DM Interfaces
Easy to learn basic functionality
Users can work rapidly to carry out a wide range of tasks
Easy to remember how to carry out tasks over time
Easy to detect errors
Gabriel Spitz
Disadvantages of DM
Some people take the metaphor of direct manipulation too literally
Not all tasks can be described by objects and not all actions can be done directly
Some tasks are better achieved through delegating • e.g. spell checking
Can waste extensive screen space
Moving a mouse around the screen can be slower than pressing function keys to do same actions
Gabriel Spitz
Direct Manipulation Interface
Gabriel Spitz
Exploring and Browsing
The way people browse information with existing media (e.g. newspapers, magazines, libraries, pamphlets)
Information is structured to allow flexibility in the way a user is able to search for information e.g. multimedia, web
Gabriel Spitz
Object Based Conceptual Models
Usually based on an analogy with something in the physical world
Examples
Gabriel Spitz