This weeks reading discusses the design of interfaces as well as the different types of interfaces. Don Norman’s execution-evaluation cycle is based upon seven stages and helps to understand what happens when interacting with a user interface. The reading goes on to explain the cycle in a linear fashion. First the user must create a goal. After that goal has been created, the goal must then become more precise by turning it into an intention. This intention will help the user to better identify what actions need to be taken in order to meet the goal. After the action/actions have taken place, the user must perceive the new system. If the system is in the state that matches the user goal, then the task has been completed.
After reading this chapter, I realized how often I do this in my day-to-day activity. Don Norman explains that even turning on a light switch while reading a book requires all of these steps in the execution-evaluation cycle. This gives more insight to how goals, intentions, and actions must work together in order to complete any task.
One of the interfaces I found most interesting to read about was the WIMP interface. The WIMP interface is the interface used on PC’s and MAC’s. The WIMP interface consists of windows, pointers, icons, menus, toolbars, and much more. Out of all of these WIMP interface attributes, I find the menus to be most interesting. When a menu is clicked, it becomes its own interface. The menu also contains information-cues which helps the user distinguish between meaningful options found on the menu.
Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G., & Russell, R. (n.d.). Human-computer interaction. Retrieved from http://is303.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/hci-ch3.pdf