A good web interface design is an important factor that helps users “interact” with computers. In the present, web interfaces need to be presented and designed in a way in which it can be easily received by the user. In the design field, the elements users see on a computer screen such as the text, graphics and icons etc. make up the interface of a web page (Dabbs, 2002) . Users rely on the interface to complete online tasks and interact with computers and maintaining consistency is an arguably important principle to follow in order to design a good interface. Designers, handbooks and guidelines from the late 20th century to the present stress the importance of consistency, especially physical consistency, the graphical appearance and the visual characteristics of an interface. With many previous studies and experiments, there has long been the question of whether physical consistency in user interface design, in this case, web interface design is an important factor within Human-Computer Interaction (Axelsson, 2012) . The aim of this essay is to explore whether the physical consistency of web interface design is important in terms of user performance and satisfaction.
In 1998, computer-scientist Ben Schneidermann wrote a seminar book that outlined the “Eight Golden Rules of Interface Design” and “Strive for consistency” was the first rule in the list (Geest, 2005) . Interface consistency has always been a widely debated principle and a hard term to define. There are many definitions for the term, but no widely accepted one. While Interface consistency in itself has no clear definition, according to researchers and professionals, consistency is generally the design principle that enforces the importance of uniformity (Stone, Jar...
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Web sites are just like magazines, newspapers, brochures, menus, or even directions on how to make nitroglycerin from house-hold goods, in that they all have to be put together in such a manner that whoever is reading or browsing over it will be able to clearly distinguish this from that. In this sense, a critique of any particular web site will have justification, while carefully considering also that this is an altogether new medium of information exchange. Now, all of this talk of togetherness is actually a general reference to basic design principles, such as color coordination, if color is used, text size, font choice/ style, art integration, accessibility, and just plain and simple design of the page. For example, it wouldn't be all that appealing to the eyeball if a page being viewed had all the text jumbled up in a corner, so small your eyes were bleeding by the time you figured out that it wasn't even worth the trouble. Darn. It's important to rememeber, especially these days, that what you read is as important as how it looks. Have you ever tried reading an interview in a Raygun magazine? Kinda hard, right? Design totally for its own sake is nice, as art that is, and admittedly it looks cool. However, it's two in the morning and you're standing in line at the corner 7-11 trying to pay for your 40 ounce bottle of Kool-Aid, and you happen to see that your favorite MTV Pearl Crap-clone band is on the cover of this hip magazine and you go to read it, but you can't. It's not because to you failed elementary school three times in two years, but because the maestro in charge decided to get fancy with it and thought it'd be cool if he hid the text under a black box or likewise photograph. I like to loo...
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As indicated, usability is the ability of a user to find the information he/she seeks, process the information, and perform whatever functions as needed (Eccher, 2015, p. 7). The use of a navigation menu allows the user to peruse the website. There exist four primary pathways by which users are able to navigate a website: use of hyperlinks, streamline the navigation bar, keep sidebars separate, and include footers. Hyperlinks will be examined initially.
...introduced to all these facts, it is clearly visible that graphical user interfaces played a major role in the development of modern society, and its relations with computing, and IT. Introducing the GUI in the early 1980s did in fact make computers and digital devices more accessible to people, often with no knowledge of computers, and revolutionized the way, in which media and information function today. The GUI has further made the abstract Information Technology more friendly towards a regular user, by allowing user customization of the work environment, and hence, made computers an integrated part of our lifestyle, work and leisure. Finally, because GUI is an inseparable of the most common computer work environments, it has become an element of our compulsory education, which just concretes its role as both facilitator, and prompter of social and life changes.
According to Ahmed et al., 2007, user interface design has received a limited attention from IR researchers. There is a need for adopting human-computer interaction (HCI) techniques into IR interface designs, but this is an issue that has not yet been fully recognised by the commercial database vendors and distributors.
Within this essay I will be writing about interaction design I will cover my chosen subject in detail via the extensive research I have gathered. I will define and analyse interaction design using key examples of this design practise both histor ical and contemporary.
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