Man-Machine Interface principle: Creating Excellent user interfaces

Good user interfaces should follow some human-machine interface design principles, which come from the way people-that is, users-think and work, rather than the capabilities of devices. Unappealing, hard-to-understand, or non-logical user interfaces make an originally outstandingProgramBeing a spam, beautiful, intuitive, and attractive user interface can not only improve the functions of the program, but also stimulate the user's positive dependence.

 

 

Even if you have an understanding of the basic design principles, this chapter is worth reading, as this chapter focuses on how these principles are applied to iPhone applications.

Metaphor

Try to model the objects and operations in your program based on the objects and operations in the real world. This helps users, especially new users, quickly understand how your applications work. Folder is a typical software metaphor. In the real world, people put files in folders, so people can quickly understand the concept of putting data into folders on computers.

The metaphor in iPhone OS includes iPod playback controls, click controls to trigger events, slide switches, and data on the color palette.

Although the metaphor implies the meaning of objects and operations on the iPhone OS user interface, it does not limit its software implementation. Back to the folder example, the size of the folder object implemented by the software has nothing to do with the physical capacity of the folder corresponding to the real world.

When designing a program, pay attention to the existing metaphor in the iPhone OS to avoid repeated definitions. At the same time, check whether your program functions have a corresponding natural metaphor available. Remember, even so, the use of standard controls and operations is more appropriate than the metaphor for barely using objects or actions in the real world to adapt to your application user interface. Unless the metaphor you select can be recognized by most users, including those that will increase rather than reduce user confusion.

Intuitive operation

Intuitive operations mean that people feel that they are physically controlling something rather than being abstract. The advantage is that users can better understand the results of their behaviors on the operation objects.

Thanks to the multi-touch user interface, iPhone OS users enjoy a high degree of intuitive control. The use of gestures makes people feel that the objects displayed on the screen have a greater affinity and a stronger sense of control, because they do not need to manipulate them with any intermediate device (such as a mouse.

To improve the control of your iPhone application, make sure that:

These objects are visible when you operate on objects on the screen.

The user operation results are clear at a glance.

Instant View

IPhone applications are better at remembering options, commands, data, and so on than people. You can easily browse and select options in the form of a list. Minimize the need for text input, so that users do not have to spend a lot of time entering commands, and your program does not need to perform a large number of error checks.

Allow users to make choices, rather than asking them to make open input, so that users can focus on completing tasks through your program, rather than memorizing how to operate.

Feedback

In addition to viewing the operation results, you also need to receive timely feedback on the operation and status reports during long periods of operation. Your program should respond to each operation of the user through some visual changes. For example, when a user clicks a list item, make sure it is highlighted. Sound prompts are equally valid, but they cannot be the primary or only feedback mechanism. Because people may use iPhone OS devices in environments where they cannot hear the sound or must turn off the sound. In addition, you cannot use the iPhone OS system sound because they are already associated with system warnings.

When the iPhone OS is busy, activity indicators are displayed to automatically provide feedback. Your application should display the progress of completion during operations lasting for more than a few seconds, and the explanatory message should also be displayed as appropriate.

Fine and meaningful animation is a good way to provide feedback to users. Animation runs throughout the iPhone OS, even in non-immersive programs. As a way to provide feedback, animation is only used to enhance the user experience, but not the focus of the user experience.

User Control

Allow users to trigger and control operations, rather than your applications. Keep operations simple and direct, so that users can easily understand and remember them. Try to use standard controls and actions that you are already familiar.

Prior to the start of the operation, sufficient opportunities should be provided to cancel the operation and operation confirmation should be obtained when the user triggers potentially destructive operations. Try to enable the user to terminate ongoing operations normally.

Aesthetic integrity

Although the primary purpose of a program is to complete a task, even if the task is just a game, we should not underestimate the importance of the program appearance. This is because the appearance has a profound impact on functions: a program that looks messy or lacks logic is hard to understand and use.

Aesthetic integrity is not a measure of how beautiful your program is, but of how well your program looks and functions are combined. For example, an efficiency-type application should try to streamline decorative elements and place them in the background while using standard controls and actions to highlight tasks.

Immersive programs are another extreme, and users expect interesting and elegant appearances that require some exploration. Although the program tends to provide entertainment, its appearance still needs to be combined with its tasks. Carefully design the user interface of such programs to provide users with consistent internal user experience.

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