peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (09/01/83)
In my recent article "Learning considered fun", the quote should, of course,
be "avoidable complexity should be, indeed, avoided".
- - -
An addition to Gary Perlman's interesting set of principles:
THE USER INTERFACE SHOULD ENCOURAGE LEARNING METHODS OF USING THE
INTERFACE MORE EFFICIENTLY
or, to put it another way, it should encourage people using slower access
methods (e.g. menus) to move to faster ones (e.g. commands). To continue this
example, one might want to design menus with actions that are invoked by the
first letter of the associated command, as opposed to using a digit or function
key. Or if that's not convenient, flash the name of the command when, e.g.,
the associated function key is pressed.
A slight generalization:
Many methods can be used to inform users about resources and how to use
them, including videotape/disk, and programs set up exclusively for training
(essentially CAI) possibly including drill, together with the integrated
methods already discussed (menus, help). Using CAI techniques can be
useful in general, such as keeping track of the user's progress to decide
how verbose to be.
peter rowley, University of Toronto, utcsrgv!peterr