In the industrial design Industrial design is a combination of applied art and applied science, whereby the aesthetics, ergonomics and usability of mass-produced products may be improved for marketability and production. The role of an industrial designer is to create and execute design solutions towards problems of form, usability, user ergonomics, engineering, marketing, field of human-machine interaction Human–computer interaction is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both software and, the user interface is (a place) where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the machine which aids the operator in making operational decisions. Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems An operating system is the software on a computer that manages the way different programs use its hardware, and regulates the ways that a user controls the computer. Operating systems are found on almost any device that contains a computer with multiple programs—from cellular phones and video game consoles to supercomputers and web servers. Some, hand tools A tool is a device that can be used to produce or achieve something, but that is not consumed in the process. Colloquially a tool can also be a procedure or process used for a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such as Instrument, Utensil, Implement, Machine, Apparatus, heavy machinery operator controls. and process In chemical engineering and related fields, a unit operation is a basic step in a process. For example in milk processing, homogenization, pasteurization, chilling, and packaging are each unit operations which are connected to create the overall process. A process may have many unit operations to obtain the desired product controls. The design considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to or involve such disciplines as ergonomics Ergonomics is the science of designing jobs, equipment and workplaces to fit workers. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability and psychology Psychology is the study of human or animal mental functions and behaviors. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is a psychologist. Psychologists are classified as social or behavioral scientists. Psychological research can be considered either basic or applied. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in.

A user interface is the system by which people (users In computing, a user is a person who uses a computer or Internet service. A user may have a user account that identifies the user by a username , screen name (also screenname), or "handle", which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term. To log in to an account, a user is typically required to authenticate himself/herself/) interact Interaction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another. The idea of a two-way effect is essential in the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one-way causal effect. A closely related term is interconnectivity, which deals with the interactions of interactions within systems: combinations of many with a machine A machine is a device that uses energy to perform some activity. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work. A simple machine is a device that transforms the direction or magnitude of a force without consuming any energy. The word "machine" is derived from the Latin. The user interface includes hardware (physical) and software (logical) components. User interfaces exist for various systems System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities forming an integrated whole, and provide a means of:

• Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system, and/or
• Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation.

Generally, the goal of human-machine interaction Human–computer interaction is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both software and engineering is to produce a user interface which makes it easy, efficient, enjoyable to operate a machine in the way which produces the desired result. This generally means that the operator needs to provide minimal input to achieve the desired output, and also that the machine minimizes undesired outputs to the human.

Ever since the increased use of personal computers A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator. This is in contrast to the batch processing or time-sharing models which allowed large expensive mainframe and the relative decline in societal awareness of heavy machinery, the term user interface has taken on overtones of the (graphical) user interface A graphical user interface (sometimes pronounced gooey) is a type of user interface item that allows people to interact with programs in more ways than typing such as computers; hand-held devices such as MP3 Players, Portable Media Players or Gaming devices; household appliances and office equipment with images rather than text commands. A GUI, while industrial control panel and machinery control design discussions more commonly refer to human-machine interfaces In the industrial design field of human-machine interaction, the user interface is where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the machine which aids the operator in making operational decisions.

Other terms for user interface include human-computer interface (HCI) and man-machine interface (MMI).

Introduction

To work with a system, users have to be able to control and assess the state of the system. For example, when driving an automobile An automobile, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the, the driver uses the steering wheel to control the direction of the vehicle A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured (e.g. bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft), and the accelerator pedal, brake pedal and gearstick to control the speed of the vehicle. The driver perceives the position of the vehicle by looking through the windshield and exact speed of the vehicle by reading the speedometer Speedometers for other vehicles have specific names and use other means of sensing speed. For a boat, this is a pit log. For an aircraft, this is an airspeed indicator. The user interface of the automobile is on the whole composed of the instruments Vehicle instrument is an instrument that measures some parameters in the vehicle, often found on its control panel or dashboard the driver can use to accomplish the tasks of driving and maintaining the automobile.

Terminology

There is a distinct difference between User Interface versus Operator Interface or Human Machine Interface (HMI).

• The term user interface is often used in the context of (personal) computer systems and electronic devices Electronics is the branch of science and technology which makes use of the controlled motion of electrons through different media and vacuum. The ability to control electron flow is usually applied to information handling or device control. Electronics is distinct from electrical science and technology, which deals with the generation,
  • where a network of equipment or computers are interlinked through an MES (Manufacturing Execution System)-or Host.
  • An HMI is typically local to one machine or piece of equipment, and is the interface method between the human and the equipment/machine. An Operator interface is the interface method by which multiple equipment that are linked by a host control system is accessed or controlled.^{[clarification needed]}
  • The system may expose several user interfaces to serve different kinds of users. For example, a computerized An embedded system is a computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer , is designed to be flexible and to meet a wide library A library is a collection of sources, resources, and services, and the structure in which it is housed; it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. In the more traditional sense, a library is a collection of books. It can mean the collection, the building or room that houses such a collection, database A database consists of an organized collection of data for one or more uses, typically in digital form. One way of classifying databases involves the type of their contents, for example: bibliographic, document-text, statistical. Digital databases are managed using database management systems, which store database contents, allowing data creation might provide two user interfaces, one for library patrons (limited set of functions, optimized for ease of use) and the other for library personnel (wide set of functions, optimized for efficiency).^{[clarification needed]}
• The user interface of a mechanical A machine is a device that uses energy to perform some activity. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work. A simple machine is a device that transforms the direction or magnitude of a force without consuming any energy. The word "machine" is derived from the Latin system, a vehicle or an industrial Industry refers to the production of an economic good within an economy. There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction, and manufacturing; the tertiary sector, which deals with services (such as law installation is sometimes referred to as the human-machine interface (HMI). HMI is a modification of the original term MMI (man-machine interface). In practice, the abbreviation MMI is still frequently used although some may claim that MMI stands for something different now. Another abbreviation is HCI, but is more commonly used for than human-computer interface Human–computer interaction is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both software and. Other terms used are operator interface console (OIC) and operator interface terminal (OIT). However it is abbreviated, the terms refer to the 'layer' that separates a human that is operating a machine from the machine itself.

In science fiction Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature . Exploring the, HMI is sometimes used to refer to what is better described as direct neural interface A brain–computer interface , sometimes called a direct neural interface or a brain–machine interface, is a direct communication pathway between a brain and an external device. BCIs were aimed at assisting, augmenting or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. However, this latter usage is seeing increasing application in the real-life use of (medical) prostheses In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost by trauma, disease, or defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by—the artificial extension that replaces a missing body part (e.g., cochlear implants A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. The cochlear implant is often referred to as a bionic ear).

In some circumstance computers might observe the user, and react according to their actions without specific commands. A means of tracking parts of the body is required, and sensors noting the position of the head, direction of gaze and so on have been used experimentally. This is particularly relevant to immersive interfaces Immersion is the state of consciousness where an immersant's awareness of physical self is diminished or lost by being surrounded in an engrossing total environment; often artificial. This state is frequently accompanied by spatial excess, intense focus, a distorted sense of time, and effortless action. The term is widely used to describe.

Usability

User interfaces are considered by some authors to be a prime ingredient of Computer user satisfaction.

The design Interaction design is the study of devices with which a user can interact, in particular computer users. The practice typically centers on "embedding information technology into the ambient social complexities of the physical world." It can also apply to other types of non-electronic products and services, and even organizations of a user interface affects the amount of effort the user must expend to provide input for the system and to interpret the output of the system, and how much effort it takes to learn how to do this. Usability In design, usability is the study of the ease with which people can employ a particular tool or other human-made object in order to achieve a particular goal. This can include endeavors as varied as consumer electronics, communication, and knowledge transfer objects and mechanical objects such as a door handles or a hammer is the degree to which the design of a particular user interface takes into account the human psychology Psychology is the study of human or animal mental functions and behaviors. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is a psychologist. Psychologists are classified as social or behavioral scientists. Psychological research can be considered either basic or applied. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in and physiology Physiology is the science of the functioning of living systems. It is a subcategory of biology. In physiology, the scientific method is applied to determine how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells and biomolecules carry out the chemical or physical function that they have in a living system. The word physiology is from Ancient Greek: φύσις of the users, and makes the process of using the system effective, efficient and satisfying.

Usability is mainly a characteristic of the user interface, but is also associated with the functionalities of the product and the process to design it. It describes how well a product can be used for its intended purpose by its target users with efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction, also taking into account the requirements from its context of use.

See also: mental model A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process about how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about their own acts and their consequences. Our mental models help shape our behaviour and define our approach, human action cycle The human action cycle is a psychological model which describes the steps humans take when they interact with computer systems. The model was proposed by Donald A. Norman, a scholar in the discipline of human-computer interaction. The model can be used to help evaluate the efficiency of a user interface . Understanding the cycle requires an, usability testing Usability testing is a technique used to evaluate a product by testing it on users. This can be seen as an irreplaceable usability practice, since it gives direct input on how real users use the system. This is in contrast with usability inspection methods where experts use different methods to evaluate a user interface without involving users, and ergonomics Ergonomics is the science of designing jobs, equipment and workplaces to fit workers. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

List of human-computer interaction topics Categories: Human-computer interaction | Usability | Computer lists |

Consistency

A key property of a good user interface is consistency. There are three important aspects.^{[1][dubious – discuss]}

First, the controls for different features should be presented in a consistent manner so that users can find the controls easily.^{[clarification needed]} For example, users find it very difficult^{[citation needed]} to use software when some commands are available through menus, some through icons, and some through right-clicks. A good user interface might provide shortcuts or "synonyms" that provide parallel access to a feature, but users do not have to search multiple sources to find what they're looking for.^{[clarification needed]}

Second, the "principle of least astonishment The Principle of Least Astonishment applies to user interface design, software design, and ergonomics. It is also known as the rule- or law of least astonishment, or -of least surprise" is crucial.^{[citation needed]} Various features should work in similar ways. For example, some features in Adobe Acrobat are "select tool, then select text to which apply." Others are "select text, then apply action to selection."^{[citation needed]}

Third, user interfaces should not change version-to-version -- user interfaces must remain upward compatible.^{[citation needed]} For example, the change from the menu bars of Microsoft Office 2003 to the "ribbon" of Microsoft Office 2007 is universally hated by established users.^{[citation needed]} The "ribbon" could easily have been "better" in the mid-1990's than the menu interface if writing on a blank slate,^{[citation needed]} but once hundreds of millions of users are familiar with the old interface, the costs of change far exceed the benefit of improvement.^{[citation needed]} The vast majority of users viewed this forced change, without a backward-compatibility mode, as unfavorable; more than a few viewed it as verging on malevolence.^{[citation needed]}

Good user interface design is about setting and meeting user expectations.^{[citation needed]} Better (from a programmer's point of view) is not better.^{[citation needed]} The same (from a user's point of view) is better.^{[citation needed]}

User interfaces in computing

In computer science Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that create, describe, and transform information. Computer science and human-computer interaction Human–computer interaction is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both software and, the user interface (of a computer program) refers to the graphical, textual and auditory information the program presents to the user, and the control sequences (such as keystrokes with the computer keyboard In computing, a keyboard is an input device, partially modeled after the typewriter keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to, movements of the computer mouse In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons. (Although traditionally a button is typically round or square, modern mice have spring-loaded regions of their top, and selections with the touchscreen A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus. However, if the object sensed is active, as with a light pen, the) the user employs to control the program.

Show All>>

What Links Here:

Recently Viewed Pages:

• Home
• OPML: Blogs
• Spokeo: Blogs
• WebGUI: Blogs
• Computers: Internet: On the Web: Syndication and Feeds: RSS: FAQs, Help, And Tutorials: Directory
• Magnolia (CMS): Images
• EventsML-G2

Most Popular Pages:

• OPML: Blogs
• WebGUI: Blogs
• Magnolia (CMS): Images
• Computers: Internet: On the Web: Syndication and Feeds: RSS: FAQs, Help, And Tutorials: Directory
• EventsML-G2
• Spokeo: Blogs
• User Interface: Encyclopedia

Related 'User Interface' Searches: