CHAPTER FOUR
INTERACTION
INTERACTION
Interaction
It is communication b/n
user and system
Interaction model:- translations between user and
system
INTERACTION
an interaction is a kind of action which
occurs when two or more objects have an
effect on each other.
In communication, interaction communication
occurs when sources take turns in
transmitting messages between one another.
INTERACTION
Windows
A window is an area of the screen that
contains a particular view of some area of the
computer or some portion of a person’s
dialog with the computer.
The application program in Windows
operating system is opened in rectangular
area on the desktop.
This rectangular area is known as window.
INTERACTION
Window Characteristics
◦ A name or title, allowing it to be identified.
◦ A size in height and width (which can vary).
◦ Only active windows can have their contents
altered.
◦ A window may be partially or fully hidden behind
another window.
◦ Information within a window may extend beyond
window’s display area.
◦ Presentation is arranged in relation to other
windows (tiled, overlapping, or cascading).
INTERACTION
Windows are useful in the following
◦ Presentation of Different Levels of Information
◦
◦ Presentation of Multiple Kinds of Information
◦ Sequential Presentation of Levels or Kinds of Information
◦ Access to Different Sources of Information
◦
◦ Combining Multiple Sources of Information
◦ Perform More Than One Task
◦ Reminding
◦ Monitoring
INTERACTION
Components of window:
The application program in Windows operating system
is opened in rectangular area on the desktop.
This rectangular area is known as window.
In Windows operating system multiple programs can be
simultaneously opened in multiple windows.
Title bar
Control icon
Control button
Status bar
Scroll bars
Menu bar
Window Presentation Styles
Tiled Windows
◦ They are easier, according to studies, for novice or
inexperienced people to learn.
◦ Yield better user performance for tasks where the
data requires little window manipulation to
complete the task.
◦ Only a limited number can be displayed in the
screen area available.
◦ As windows are opened or closed, existing windows
change in size. This can be annoying.
◦ As the number of displayed windows increases,
each window can get very tiny.
Window Presentation Styles
Overlapped Windows
◦ Visually, their look is 3-D, resembling the desktop
that is familiar to the user.
◦ Windows can maintain larger sizes.
◦ Windows can maintain consistent sizes, position.
◦ They are operationally much more complex than
tiled windows. More control functions require
greater user attention and manipulation.
◦ Windows themselves can be lost behind other
windows and be resumed not to exist.
Window Presentation Styles
Cascading Windows (Special type of
overlapping window)
◦ No window is ever completely hidden.
◦ Bringing any window to the front is easier.
◦ it provides simplicity in visual presentation and
cleanness.
Type of Windows
Primary Window
◦ Should represent an independent function or
application
◦ Use to present constantly used window components
and controls
◦ Use for presenting information that is continually
updated (Date and time)
◦ Often called main window or application window
◦ Do not divide independent function into two or
more primary windows
Type of Windows
Secondary Windows
◦ A dependent secondary
◦ It can only be displayed from a command on the interface of
its primary window.
◦ An independent secondary
◦ Can be opened independently of a primary window (property
sheet).
◦ Microsoft Windows possesses several types of secondary
type of secondary windows called
◦ Dialog boxes
◦ Property sheet
◦ Property inspectors
◦ Message boxes
◦ Palette windows
◦ Pop-up windows
Property sheets
Property Inspectors
Use for displaying only the most common or frequently accessed
object properties
Palette and Pop-Up Windows
Iconic Menu
Radio buttons
INTERACTION STYLES
• command line interface : better for expert users than novices
offers direct access to system functionality
• Menus: Set of options displayed on the screen
• natural language : Familiar to user speech recognition or typed natural language
Problems with Natural language is it vague/ambigous for the system
• question/answer and query dialogue
Query languages (e.g. SQL) :- used to retrieve information from database requires
understanding of database structure and language syntax, hence requires some
expertise
Assignment2
Read and discuss about Ergonomics