Design Guidelines and the Human Factors of Interface Design

Abstract

The proliferation of computer systems in recent years has prompted a growing concern about the human factors of interface design. Industrial and military organizations have responded by supporting studies in user-computer interaction and, more recently, products which might aid in the design of interfaces. One type of design aid which attempts to make findings of user-computer interface (UCI) research available to the system designer is the interface design guidelines document. This paper reviews literature about the design process and how design guidelines or standards might fit into that activity. Suggestions are offered about where future research and development might be directed in order to enhance the use of guidelines in the interface design process and so enhance the final product as well.