Apple Computer Network Router 2 User Manual download pdf (Page 33)

CHAPTER 1

Newton and Its Users

Observe Basic Human Interface Principles 1-9

Stability 1

Personal digital assistants introduce a new level of complexity for many

people. To cope with this complexity, people need some stable reference

points. The Newton interface is designed to provide an environment that is

understandable, familiar, and predictable. It deﬁnes a number of regular

interface elements to foster a perception of stability, including view borders,

view titles, folder tabs, standard buttons, and standard button locations.

Each of these elements has a speciﬁc look and a regular, predictable behavior.

In addition, the interface deﬁnes a clear, ﬁnite set of basic data objects—text,

ink text, shapes, and sketches—and a clear, ﬁnite set of editing commands

with which users can create and manipulate the objects. Your application can

share and enhance the stability by using the regular interface elements and

handling data objects in the customary manner.

Aesthetic Integrity 1

People primarily see software as a functional product, not a fashion product.

This means you want them to notice what your product does, not how it

looks. Don’t succumb to the temptation to load up with the latest interface

fads; they’ll quickly become dated. Since people will spend a lot of time with

your product, design it to be pleasant to look at for a long time. A spare,

clean interface will stand up to repeated viewing much better than a highly

decorative interface. For example, the built-in Setup application has lots of

non-functional decorative elements to make a user’s ﬁrst Newton experience

a friendly one, but the built-in applications that people use daily have none

of that decoration.

Make sure you follow the graphic language of the interface. Don’t invent

new interface elements to replace existing ones, and don’t change the

function of standard interface elements. If you change the look of standard

interface elements, people will actually try to make up functional reasons

for the differences. If you square off the corners of your buttons, use unique

view borders, or use a different symbol to designate a pop-up, people will

waste time trying to ﬁgure out what your custom elements do that the

standard ones don’t. It won’t occur to people that you merely have your own

notion of how the interface elements should look.

1 ... 32 33 34 ... 307

No comments

Apple Computer Network Router 2 User Manual Page 33