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INF3720 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2024 (602765)- DUE 2 August 2024
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- University Of South Africa
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INF3720Assignment 2
(COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
2024 (602765)-
DUE 2 August
2024
CONTACT: biwottcornelius@gmail.com
Question 1: 13 marks Question 1.1 Many software products suffer from
interaction design errors that are annoying to users because they do not
,follow fundamental design principles. As an interaction designer, how can you
ensure that software products are designed to provide a good user
experience? (2 marks)
To ensure that software products are designed to provide a good user experience, interaction
designers should focus on the following principles:
1. User-Centered Design (UCD): Always prioritize the needs, goals, and preferences of
the users throughout the design process. Conduct user research, gather feedback, and
iterate designs based on user testing to ensure the product aligns with user expectations.
2. Consistency: Maintain consistency in design elements such as layout, terminology, and
interactions across the software. This helps users develop patterns and expectations,
making the software more intuitive and easier to navigate.
3. Feedback: Provide clear and timely feedback to users for their actions. This includes
visual cues, notifications, and messages that inform users about the outcome of their
interactions with the software.
4. Visibility: Ensure that relevant information and actions are clearly visible and easily
accessible to users when needed. Avoid clutter and prioritize essential elements to reduce
cognitive load.
5. Learnability: Design the software so that users can quickly learn how to use it
effectively. Use familiar metaphors, intuitive navigation structures, and progressive
disclosure of features to facilitate learning without overwhelming users.
6. Accessibility: Consider the needs of diverse users, including those with disabilities.
Ensure the software is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all potential
users.
7. Error Prevention and Handling: Anticipate potential user errors and design the
software to prevent them where possible. Provide meaningful error messages that are
easy to understand and guidance on how to recover from errors gracefully.
8. Efficiency: Design interactions and workflows to be efficient, minimizing the steps
required to accomplish tasks. Streamline processes and eliminate unnecessary barriers
that may impede user productivity.
By adhering to these fundamental design principles, interaction designers can significantly
enhance the user experience of software products, making them more enjoyable, efficient, and
user-friendly.
Question 1.2 There is a fine line between an interaction that works and one
that is usable. Designing interactions that work and are usable is achievable if
design principles are appropriately applied. Discuss the design principles that
guide interaction design. (5 marks)
, Design principles play a crucial role in guiding interaction design to ensure that interactions not
only work but are also usable and effective. Here are some key design principles that influence
interaction design:
1. Affordances: Affordances refer to the perceived actions that users understand they can
take with an object or interface. Design should make these affordances clear and
intuitive. For example, buttons should look clickable, and interactive elements should
suggest their function through visual cues.
2. Feedback: Feedback is essential to inform users of the outcome of their actions. It
confirms to users that their input has been received and understood by the system.
Feedback can be visual (e.g., changes in color or shape), auditory (e.g., sounds or tones),
or haptic (e.g., vibrations on touch screens).
3. Consistency: Consistency ensures that similar actions or elements are expressed in
similar ways throughout the interface. This principle reduces cognitive load on users, as
they can rely on past experiences to understand how new interactions work. Consistency
applies to visual design, terminology, navigation patterns, and interaction behaviors.
4. Learnability: Interfaces should be easy for new users to understand and use effectively
without extensive learning. Designers achieve this by leveraging familiar metaphors,
providing clear instructions, and offering progressive disclosure of features.
5. Visibility: Important elements and actions should be easily discoverable. Users should
not have to hunt for essential functions or information. Visibility is enhanced through
effective use of visual hierarchy, contrast, and appropriate use of space.
6. Hierarchy: Information and actions should be organized hierarchically, with more
important or frequently used elements more prominent and accessible. This helps users
navigate and prioritize their interactions efficiently.
7. Error Handling: Errors are inevitable in interaction design, but good design can prevent
them where possible and guide users to recover gracefully when errors do occur. Clear
error messages, undo capabilities, and proactive error prevention strategies all contribute
to a positive user experience.
8. Accessibility: Design should be inclusive, ensuring that all users, including those with
disabilities, can interact with the software effectively. This involves considerations such
as providing alternative text for images, keyboard accessibility, and compatibility with
assistive technologies.
9. User Control: Users should feel in control of the interface and their interactions. Design
should allow users to easily navigate, adjust settings, and undo actions without feeling
trapped or frustrated.
By applying these design principles systematically, interaction designers can create interfaces
that not only function correctly but also provide a smooth, intuitive, and satisfying user
experience. Balancing these principles effectively ensures that interactions are not only "usable"
but also delightful and efficient for users.
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