Specifications

9 | USER INTERFACE
DESIGN GUIDE
Design Methodology
Effective interface design is more than just following a set of rules. It requires a user-centered attitude and design
methodology. It also requires early planning of the interface and continued work throughout the development process.
Aesthetics
Visual design is an important part of an interface. Visual attributes provide valuable impressions and communicate important
cues to the interactive behavior of particular objects. At the same time, it is important to remember that every visual element
that appears on the screen potentially competes for the user’s attention. Provide a coherent interface that clearly contributes
to the user’s understanding of the tasks and information presented.
Understanding the End User
The design and usability techniques described in the previous sections are a standard for good interaction and interface
design. It is also important to consider the location and goals of end users as well as the location and position of the actual
touch panel. Vertical wall mounted panels will function differently than horizontal panels and tabletop or handheld panels
will have different needs all together.
The initial work on a design can be the most critical. During this phase, you decide the general shape of your interface. If
the foundation work is flawed, it is difficult to correct later. This part of the process involves not only defining your interface’s
objectives and features, but understanding who your users are and their tasks, intentions, and goals. For example, a
residential touch panel will have very different users and requirements than an auditorium or conference room. Designing for
your users involves understanding the following factors:
• Background—age,gender,expertise,experiencelevel,physicallimitationsandspecialneeds.
• Workenvironment—equipment,socialandculturalinuences,andphysicalsurroundings.
• Currenttaskorganization—stepsrequired,dependencies,redundantactivitiesandoutputobjective.
Begin defining the conceptual framework to represent your interface with the knowledge and experience of your target
audience. Consider the basic organization and different types of metaphors that can be used. Observing users at their
current tasks can provide ideas about effective metaphors. To develop for the widest audience, design for the most common
user. Consider the following examples: