Isys Information Architects Inc. Home Design Announcements Hall of Shame Isys Information Architects Inc. specializes in the design and development of New Entries robust, highly usable information systems. Isys focuses on ease of use, recognizing Controls that software should assist the user in the performance of some task rather than Stupidity becoming a task in itself. Isys was founded by Brian Hayes, a former professor of Visual Color Industrial Engineering, and system design consultant whose clients have included Terminology AT&T, General Electric, General Motors, Lucent Technologies, NASA, Siemens, Errors the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army. Tabs Metaphors We are a full-service Our software development Globalization provider of user interface department specializes in the In-Depth design and usability design and development of engineering services. Our careful robust, highly usable information Books systems for the Windows operating Links attention to the user interface can system. We provide custom Index reduce system development time, Feedback increase user satisfaction, and reduce programming, database, and training costs. application development services. Hall of Fame Contact Us The Interface Hall of Shame The Interface Hall of is an irreverent look at Fame is a collection of ineffective interface design. images that demonstrate The site includes a collection of interface design solutions that are images from commercial, corporate, both creative and effective. and shareware applications that illustrate how software should not be designed. Isys Information Architects Inc. 5401 McNairy Drive, Suite 100 Greensboro, NC 27455 [email protected] © 1996-1999 Isys Information Architects Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. http://www.iarchitect.com/index.htm [14-02-2001 5:43:57 PM] Isys Interface Design and Usability Engineering Home Design Announcements Hall of Shame New Entries Controls Interface Design and Usability Stupidity Visual Engineering Color Terminology Overview Errors The look and feel of the application can be the single most important determinant of Tabs its value to the user. Isys Information Architects specializes in the design of highly Metaphors Globalization usable interfaces that are easily learned, minimize user frustration and maximize In-Depth user productivity. Books We begin with the system requirements and a few basic rules: Links Index ● Software must assist the user perform a task, not become a task in itself Feedback ● Software must not make the user feel stupid Hall of Fame ● Software must not make the computer appear to be stupid Contact Us Our overiding goal is to delight the user, which we accomplish by anticipating needs and exceeding expectations. Benefits Due to our careful attention to the user interface, Isys Information Architects can reduce system development time, increase end-user productivity, and reduce training costs. Background Isys Information Architects designers have provided design consultations, design seminars, and usability engineering services to a wide variety of national and multi-national companies. Isys Information Architects president, Brian C. Hayes, has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in human factors engineering and user interface design, and has conducted extensive research into GUI design and adaptive assistance software. List of Publications Our staff has provided design services in the following types of applications: http://www.iarchitect.com/mdesign.htm (1 of 2) [14-02-2001 5:44:12 PM] Isys Interface Design and Usability Engineering ● CMMS Applications ● Human Resource Management ● Computer Assisted Design ● Industrial Automation ● Computer-Assisted Instruction ● International Applications ● Customer Support ● Military Tactical Systems ● Database Reporting Systems ● Order-entry Retail Systems ● Facilities Layout and Design ● Telephony Systems ● Financial Applications Services Isys Information Architects serves as a facilitator between the users and developers of the application. We can help you attain the highest user satisfaction with your products by providing: ● User interface design specifications for new or legacy applications ● Evaluation of existing or proposed interface designs ● Analysis of existing task procedures and workflow ● Assistance with eliciting requirements from intended users ● Prioritization of user requirements ● Rapid and iterative prototyping of user requirements ● Usability evaluations and laboratory testing ● Tools and techniques for assessing usability ● Seminars in user interface design and usability engineering Isys Information Architects is a full-service provider of user interface design and usability engineering services. We will tailor our services to meet your specific needs. Contact us for further information, or to arrange a consultation to discuss your needs. Home - Design - Develop - Shame - Fame © 1996-1999 Isys Information Architects Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. [email protected] http://www.iarchitect.com/mdesign.htm (2 of 2) [14-02-2001 5:44:12 PM] Interface Hall of Shame - Announcements Interface Hall of Shame - Announcements - February 3, 2000 CALL FOR PARTICIPATION Second International Workshop on Internationalisation of Products and Systems (IWIPS2000). 13-15 July 2000, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. A previously announced deadline for submission of papers to IWIPS2000 has been extended to March 1, 2000. The revised call for papers is available at http://www.acm.org/~perlman/IWIPS2000.html. For details of last year's IWIPS workshop, visit http://webctr.net/IWIPS99/. January 17, 2000 Isys Information Architects has expanded its staff. Thomas Harrison Hayes, shown here being welcomed by Isys President Brian Hayes, was brought on board January 13, 2000, with the expectation that he will eventually assume an executive position within the company. During the next few months, the entire staff will be devoted to Thomas' transition to the company, which will likely contribute to delays in site updates and the staff's ability to respond to email in a timely manner. Additional images can be seen at Thomas' homepage, but be forewarned: I'm a new dad with a new digital camera and a cable modem. November 27, 1999 http://www.iarchitect.com/announce.htm (1 of 2) [14-02-2001 5:47:45 PM] Interface Hall of Shame - Announcements Bad GUI in the News J. Peter Mugaas send in a link to a press release describing a recent lawsuit filed against America Online on behalf of the National Federation for the Blind. A copy of the complaint is available at http://www.nfb.org/aolcompl.htm. The lawsuit alleges that AOL specifically designed its service and proprietary browser to be incompatible with screen access programs used by persons with visual impairments. The following features of the user interface were cited in the complaint as barriers to persons with visual impairments: the use of unlabeled graphics in place of text, the lack of keyboard access to controls and functionality, and the use of custom controls painted on the screen instead of the use of standard operating system controls. The suit alleges that as a result, the information on the screen cannot be converted by screen access programs such as screen readers and refreshable Braille displays. Hopefully, the implications of the lawsuit will be recognizable to those developers who emphasize "pretty" over good design. Home - Design - Shame - Fame © 2000 Isys Information Architects Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. [email protected] http://www.iarchitect.com/announce.htm (2 of 2) [14-02-2001 5:47:45 PM] Interface Hall of Shame Interface Hall of Shame The Interface Hall of Shame is an irreverent collection of common interface design mistakes. Our hope is that by highlighting these problems, we can help developers avoid making similar mistakes. We are constantly searching for examples of design practices that are worthy of extinction, and those worthy of emulation (see the Interface Hall of Fame). Submit your own nominations for potential entries into either hall to [email protected], and we'll try to add it to the collection. Our review of the new GUI in New Entries Apple's QuickTime 4.0 Player. 4-June-2000 Users of all operating systems should be concerned. Selecting the wrong control for a Nobody likes a stupid computer. task or changing the way controls However, many applications interrupt operate can often result in an the user to ask stupid questions, inefficient and frustrating provide meaningless information, or require the application. user to make what should be an obvious selection. Improper design of the visual elements The improper use color in an in an application can often result in application can seriously impede the applications that are difficult to read and usability of the application. difficult to use. The terminology used in many Error messages are the antithesis of applications often leads the user to proper application design. They are feel that the interface has been written often ambiguous, rude, and all too in a foreign language. We provide a number of often, incorrect, blaming the user for failures of examples of these 'programmerisms'. the programmer. Tabbed Dialogs can be a Metaphors can greatly enhance the wonderful solution for complex