Designing input forms and displays is a critical aspect of creating efficient and user-friendly business systems and web interfaces. The quality of system input directly impacts the quality of output. To ensure effectiveness, accuracy, and ease of use, designers must adhere to specific objectives and principles. This article outlines the key objectives of input design, form design best practices, GUI controls, event-response charts, and considerations for intranet, internet, and e-commerce applications.
Input Design Objectives: To achieve the desired outcomes, input design should prioritize the following objectives:
- Effectiveness: The input should have a clear purpose, tailored to the specific needs of the system or user.
- Accuracy: Design forms and displays to facilitate correct and precise data entry.
- Ease of Use: Keep forms and displays straightforward and user-friendly.
- Consistency: Group similar data together consistently to aid comprehension and navigation.
- Simplicity: Avoid clutter and complexity to make the design easy to follow.
- Attractiveness: Engaging and artistic forms can encourage user participation and enjoyment.
Good Form Design: Creating user-friendly forms requires careful consideration of several factors:
- Easy to Fill in: Form flow and proper organization of seven sections (Heading, Identification, Instructions, Body, Signature, Totals, and Comments) ensure seamless completion.
- Meeting the Intended Purpose: Specialty forms like multiple-part, continuous-feed, and perforated forms cater to different data collection needs.
- Ensuring Accurate Completion: Design forms that guide users to provide correct information.
- Keeping Forms Attractive: Uncluttered and visually appealing forms improve user engagement.
- Computer-Assisted Form Design: Various form design packages can simplify the creation process.
Good Display and Web Forms Design: Designing engaging and user-friendly web forms involves the following principles:
- Keeping the Display Simple: Divide information into headings, body, and instructions for clear presentation.
- Keeping the Display Consistent: Organize information consistently to aid user orientation.
- Facilitating Movement: Follow the three-clicks rule to allow users to access the required information quickly.
- Designing an Attractive and Pleasing Display: Logical flows, color usage, and visual elements enhance the appeal of the interface.
GUI Controls: Graphical User Interface (GUI) components offer flexibility in designing input screens. Key components include text boxes, check boxes, option buttons, list and drop-down list boxes, sliders, spin buttons, image maps, text areas, and message boxes. Proper use of these controls ensures seamless data entry and interaction.
Event-Response Charts: Event-response charts help designers understand user interactions and create web forms that require minimal effort from users. These charts are beneficial in controlling navigation and facilitating choices.
Intranet and Internet Page Design: For intranets and internet pages, it is essential to provide clear instructions, logical entry sequences, and a variety of GUI features. Considerations for lengthy forms include dividing them into simpler sections on separate pages and including a feedback screen to address errors.
E-commerce Applications: E-commerce applications involve not only well-designed websites but also ensuring customer confidence and a smooth shopping experience. A reliable shopping cart and secure payment processing are crucial aspects of successful e-commerce.
Designing effective input forms and displays is vital to ensure the accuracy, efficiency, and user-friendliness of business systems and web interfaces. By adhering to the objectives of effectiveness, accuracy, ease of use, consistency, simplicity, and attractiveness, designers can create engaging and efficient input designs. GUI controls, event-response charts, and thoughtful considerations for intranet, internet, and e-commerce applications further enhance user experience and satisfaction.
