User Interface

For a long time, the ease with which humans and computers interacted was not a primary area of focus. The earliest computers relied on interfaces that by modern standards were very primitive and cumbersome. As computing became a part of life for more than just a handful of scientists, academics, and businesspeople, it became necessary to devise user interfaces that were not terribly difficult to understand and use. The field of human-computer interaction evolved, leading to systems that were much easier for the average person to operate.

In general, the term user interface can apply to the many different means humans have for interacting with computer systems, applications, and networks. These include everything from physical tools like monitors, mice, light pens, keyboards, and microphones (for voice recognition commands and audio input) to elements that appear on screen, such as basic text characters used for writing programs and issuing commands, help modules in software applications, search tools, and the graphical user interfaces (GUI) characteristic of the Macintosh and Windows operating systems. The term user interface even applies to the ways in which Web sites, wireless devices, and e-commerce applications are set up for interaction with customers.

The earliest user interfaces were limited to only a few buttons on a computer device or punch cards that contained instructions. Text-based, on-screen interfaces, such as a list of menu choices, eventually became available. They evolved into the GUIs—containing toolbars, pointers, pop-up windows, virtual desktops, and icons—that were very pervasive across different computing platforms, systems, and devices in the early 2000s. Because GUIs rely heavily on visual elements, these interfaces became increasingly sophisticated and subjective, and were received and interpreted by a diverse population of computer users in different ways.

When users find a particular interface appealing and understandable, it becomes possible to take full advantage of all the capabilities the underlying system or application has to offer. Otherwise, a poor interface can limit the power and potential uses of the system or application. Although it was arguably easier to operate computers and operating systems in the early 2000s than it was at the beginning of the computer age, poorly designed user interfaces were an issue for many software programs. Making matters worse was the fact that bad interface precedents set by leading software companies were sometimes followed by other players throughout the industry. Isys Information Architects Inc. was one company specializing in information systems design during the early 2000s. According to Isys, among the leading roadblocks to effective interfaces were hard-to-understand terminology, improperly used metaphors and visual element design, unclear or incorrect error messages, and the misuse of color.

The degree to which a user finds an interface easy to understand and use not only affects the extent to which he or she can take advantage of what the system has to offer, it also may impact how often the user operates a system. For companies engaging in e-commerce, this can have serious implications. Even if a company has a product or service that consumers want, and at a price that is competitive, a frustrating or confusing online experience can kill a potentially lucrative sale. Therefore, it is necessary for e-commerce Web sites and their underlying systems to be well designed.

In the early 2000s, personal digital assistants (PDAs) like the Palm Pilot, and various kinds of handheld computers and wireless Internet-enabled phones were exploding in popularity. These devices held great promise for e-commerce. The development of user interfaces for these devices was an emerging area that presented a variety of challenges. Among them was the issue of getting modern wireless devices to not only communicate with older legacy systems (common at many companies), but to then present the data in a format that was easy to understand and navigate.