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Keep Interfaces Natural


You can extend the concepts of giving the user control and using real-world metaphors to arrange your application so that tasks flow naturally. Users need to be able to anticipate the natural progression of each task; through this anticipation, they are able to complete tasks more quickly.

Each screen object needs to have a distinct appearance that the user can easily recognize and quickly understand. At the same time, the style of the interface needs to graphically unify these elements and ensure a consistent and attractive appearance at any screen resolution.

Make Navigation Easy

Make navigation easy by providing a straightforward presentation of the overall work area and the mechanisms for moving through it. Moving easily and quickly within the work area gives the user a sense of mastery over the application. For example, ScrollBars are an effective way to indicate the position of the current view in relation to an area as a whole. In addition to providing positional feedback, ScrollBars allow the user to move through the area.

Arrange elements on the screen according to their use; an optimal arrangement assists the user's decision-making processes and reduces the possibility of errors. The best approach for arranging screen elements according to use is to involve users in the arrangement process. Present screen objects in an orderly, simple, and uncluttered manner.

Reduce mouse movement to simplify the actions of the user. For example, place secondary DialogBoxes near their parent DialogBox so that when the secondary DialogBox appears, the mouse pointer is over the default PushButton, unless the user needs to see the contents of the original DialogBox. Reducing mouse movement helps make an interface natural because, from the user's point of view, work involves a stream of thoughts, intentions, and tasks (some predefined and some that become apparent during the process) that all relate to some desired outcome or accomplishment. This stream of thought is disrupted when the user has to make unnecessary mouse movements, open and close DialogBoxes, or search for commands.

Provide Natural Shades and Colors

Minimize the contrast between screen objects in order to direct the user's attention. Appropriate use of contrast helps the user distinguish screen objects against the background of a window. Very dark screen objects on a light background, very bright objects on a dark background, and bright colors all command the user's attention. If there are many objects with strong contrast or bright colors on the screen, the user will have difficulty knowing where to look first because all these objects compete equally for attention.

Use color as a redundant aspect of the interface; that is, use it to provide additional differentiation among screen objects. Differentiation also comes from the shape and size of the screen objects. For example, in many parts of the world, stop signs are red octagons. You recognize the stop sign by both its shape and color.