Character level ambiguity: consequences for user interface design

✍ Scribed by Harold Thimbleby

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1982
• Weight: 921 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-7373
• DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7373(82)80057-6

✦ Synopsis

Certain user interface functions require single-or few-character interactions and in some systems the number of functions which is made available exceeds the number of suitable key combinations. Hence modes are introduced; keys can be given different interpretations in different modes. But this is a source of user interface ambiguity; if there are too many frequently-used modes then the user can make errors all too easily. Definite user interface techniques, which are discussed, can be chosen to increase ease of use/user satisfaction: for instance, by reducing the number of necessary modes or the consequences of user typing errors. To make an interface consistent and predictable requires considerable effort, even if only at this level of single character semantics.