1. 4.3.1 USER INTERFACE PRINCIPLES

2. Learning outcomes :
 State user interface principles.
 Apply suitable user interface principles in a
project.

3. USER INTERFACE PRINCIPLES
 USER INTERFACE IS A
WAY A COMPUTER
PROGRAM
COMMUNICATES WITH
THE PERSON WHO IS
USING IT.

4. EIGHT MAIN PRINCIPLES OF THE
USER INTERFACE
 CONSISTENCY
 CLARITY
 CONTEXT
 NAVIGATION
 SEARCH
 PERSONALISATION
 LEARNABILITY
 FLEXIBILTY

5. CONSISTENCY
 THE INTERFACE DESIGN IS IN
HARMONY AND THE SAME
APPLIES TO ALL SCREEN IN A
SOFTWARE.
 Every user interface uses the same
words or commands perform the
same functions.

6. CLARITY
 CLEARNESS OF LABELS ON ALL
ICONS TO MAKE THE SYSTEM EASY
TO UNDERSTAND
 Developer should use relevant icons or
graphics to indicate the information.
 Icons, word or commands should be
clearly labeled so that users can
understand them easily.

7. CONTEXT
 EVERY PART OF A LESSON
SHOULD BE RELEVANT TO
A PARTICULAR TITLE.
 Ideas presented need to
relate to the title.

8. NAVIGATION
 USERS CAN MOVE AROUND THE
MENUS, HELP FILES OR OTHER
SCREENS IN A SYSTEM.
 It should be clear on how to exit or
proceed from screen to screen in a
program

9. SEARCH
 THE SYSTEM ENABLES USERS TO
SEARCH KEYWORDS OR
GLOSSARY. IT SHOULD PROVIDE
MULTIPLE WAYS FOR USERS TO
MAKE QUERIES BY GROUPING OR
SORTING.
 The system should provide users a
preview in order to get a word in the
correct page.

10. PERSONALISATION
 THE USERS CAN MAKE THEIR
OWN PERSONAL OR
INDIVIDUAL LEARNING
 Users can choose their display
options.

11. LEARNABILITY
 THE SYSTEM PROVIDES
SUPPORT INFORMATION AND
HELP FILES TO MAKE THE
SYSTEM EASY TO
UNDERSTAND.
 Support information is important,
especially in helping the user to
use the system.

12. FLEXIBILITY
 A USER HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL
THE SECTIONS WITHOUT ANY
LIMITATIONS
 For example, the user is allowed
to access any of the lessons,
sections and pages of the
program.

13. EXERCISES
1. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
•“Every user interface uses the same words or commands to perform the
same functions.”
A . Search
B. Context
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation
2. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
•“It should be clear on how to exit or proceed from screen to screen in a
program.”
•Clarity
•Search
•Navigation
•Personalisation

14. 3. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
“It should provide multiple ways for users to make queries by
grouping or sorting.”
A. Search
B. Navigation
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation
4. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following statement?
“Users can define their display options.”
A. Clarity
B. Search
C. Context
D. Personalisation

15. 5. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Icons, words or commands should be clearly labelled so that the
users can understand them easily.”
A. Clarity
B. Search
C. Context
D. Personalisation
6. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
"A user has the authority to navigate through the program without
any limitation.“
A. Search
B. Context
C. Flexibility
D. Personalisation

16. 7. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Support information is important, especially in training and
educational applications.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation
8. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Every part of a lesson should be relevant to a particular title
and ideas presented need to be related.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Consistency
D. Personalisation

17. 9. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the
following statement?
“The system enables users to find keywords or
glossary.”
A. Search
B. Context
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation
10. Which criteria of user interface is fulfilled by the following
statement?
“Links should be clearly indicated to users.”
A. Search
B. Navigation
C. Learnability
D. Personalisation

18. ANSWERS
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. B