Wednesday 23 January 2013

Chapter 13: Designing the Human Interface




True-False Questions

1.      Key-indicator reports highlight data outside the normal operating ranges.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  366                         Difficulty:  Moderate

2.      Coding sheets are the predominant method of designing forms and reports.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  367                         Difficulty:  Moderate

3.      Form design specifications include narrative overviews, use case diagrams, sample designs, and formal usability assessment.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  367-368                  Difficulty:  Moderate


4.      Internet sites are usually configured for PDAs.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  371                         Difficulty:  Moderate


5.      When designing form layouts, it is generally best to conserve space by avoiding labels for data entry fields.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  371-372                  Difficulty:  Moderate


6.      Text displays are easiest to read when the right margin is ragged.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  374                         Difficulty:  Moderate


7.      Reliance on formatting for meaning and context is greater in tables and lists than in textual displays.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  374                         Difficulty:  Moderate


8.      To enhance readability, each page of a form or report should have a different typeface.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  375                         Difficulty:  Moderate


9.      Reports that print on impact printers allow a wider variety of fonts and typefaces than those that print on laser printers.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  376                         Difficulty:  Moderate
10.  You should avoid using nonstandard link colors when designing Web pages.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  378                         Difficulty:  Moderate


11.  You should avoid grouping fields by categories when designing form layouts.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  381                         Difficulty:  Moderate


12.  For verification purposes, it is best that users be required to re-enter information stored in company databases.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  383                         Difficulty:  Moderate


13.  Data entered into numeric data fields should automatically be right justified.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  383                         Difficulty:  Moderate


14.  Transcripting is a technique for recognizing and preventing data input errors.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  384                         Difficulty:  Moderate


15.  Data error correction is easier if it is done after the data has been entered into and stored on the system.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  384                         Difficulty:  Moderate


16.  Data input errors can be tracked using audit trails.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  385                         Difficulty:  Moderate


17.  Prompting cues are used primarily when data has been entered in error.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  386                         Difficulty:  Moderate


18.  When designing Web pages, it is best for most links to open new browser windows.

Answer:    False                Page Reference:  390                         Difficulty:  Moderate


19.  The Ctrl key should be used to provide shortcuts during dialogue navigation.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  391                         Difficulty:  Moderate


20.  Dialogue diagrams can represent sequence, selection, and iteration.

Answer:    True                 Page Reference:  392                         Difficulty:  Moderate




Multiple-Choice Questions


21.  Unlike forms, reports are ____________ documents.

a.       active
b.      passive
c.       input
d.      paper

Answer: b                         Page Reference:  366                         Difficulty:  Moderate


22.  ____________ reports contain summary information on a recurring basis.

a.       Key-indicator
b.      Adhoc
c.       Drill-down
d.      Exception

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  366                         Difficulty:  Moderate


23.  Creation of forms and reports is typically done using a ____________ design approach.

a.       sequential
b.      adhoc
c.       drill-down
d.      prototyping

Answer: d                         Page Reference:  365-366                  Difficulty:  Moderate


24.  Prior to the advent of graphic user interfaces and rapid application development tools, design of user input forms was accomplished using:

a.       Visual Basic.
b.      HTML.
c.       coding sheets.
d.      spreadsheet packages.

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  367-368                  Difficulty:  Moderate
25.  The section of a form design specification that indicates the task supported by the form and the characteristics of the form’s user is called the:

a.       narrative overview.
b.      sample design.
c.       testing and usability assessment.
d.      user interface.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  367-368                  Difficulty:  Moderate


26.  PDA Web browsers are smart in that they:

a.       select Web sites specifically geared for PDAs.
b.      adjust screen images to smaller size.
c.       convert graphic features to text form.
d.      eliminate hot links from Web pages.

Answer: b                         Page Reference:  371                         Difficulty:  Moderate


27.  Which of the following is a technique to highlight information in a computerized business form?

a.       Manipulate spacing and margins
b.      Include buttons for navigation
c.       Use different fonts and colors
d.      Labeling data entry fields

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  371-372                  Difficulty:  Moderate


28.  Which of the following should be avoided when displaying text in forms or reports?

a.       Double spacing between lines or paragraphs
b.      Left-justifying text and leaving ragged right margins
c.       Using conventional punctuation and mixing upper and lower cases
d.      Hyphenating words between lines

Answer: d                         Page Reference:  374                         Difficulty:  Moderate


29.  Whereas the context and meaning of textual information is mainly derived through reading, the context and meaning of tables and lists are mostly derived by the information:

a.       format and layout.
b.      color and font.
c.       widgets and scrolls.
d.      narrative and prose.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  374-375                  Difficulty:  Moderate
30.  When designing forms or reports, a table’s ____________ data should be right-justified.

a.       text
b.      numeric
c.       graphical
d.      alphanumeric

Answer: b                         Page Reference:  375                         Difficulty:  Moderate


31.  In general, line and bar graphs are the preferred display medium when the user’s task involves:

a.       finding an individual data item from a larger data set.
b.      obtaining a narrative of data interpretation.
c.       analyzing data changes over time.
d.      conducting a question-and-answer dialogue with the system.

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  376                         Difficulty:  Moderate


32.  The number of Web sites currently existing on the Internet ____________ the number of available work hours of trained user interface professionals.

a.       is less than
b.      is about the same as
c.       slightly exceeds
d.      far exceeds

Answer: d                         Page Reference:  378                         Difficulty:  Easy


33.  Left-to-right and top-to-bottom is a rule of thumb for designing a form’s:

a.       key selection.
b.      between-field navigation.
c.       page numbering.
d.      button layout.

Answer: b                         Page Reference:  381-382                  Difficulty:  Easy


34.  When designing user interfaces for business forms, it is important to maximize:

a.       consistency and flexibility.
b.      uniqueness and aesthetics.
c.       color contrast and imagery.
d.      animation and sound.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  381-382                  Difficulty:  Moderate


35.  Entering invalid data into a field is known as:

a.       appending.
b.      truncating.
c.       transcripting.
d.      transposing.

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  384                         Difficulty:  Moderate


36.  It is a characteristic of batch systems to handle data input errors:

a.       as the user types them in.
b.      after storing them to the databases.
c.       by storing them in log files.
d.      as soon as the submit button is pushed.

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  384                         Difficulty:  Moderate


37.  The type of data input validation test that involves checking to ensure that the values of two or more different fields are appropriate together is called a ____________ test.

a.       range
b.      combination
c.       values
d.      composition

Answer: b                         Page Reference:  384                         Difficulty:  Moderate


38.  A(n) ____________ is a technique for validating that numeric data entries were sent to the database without transmission errors.

a.       self check digit.
b.      composition test.
c.       transmission test.
d.      audit trail.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  385                         Difficulty:  Moderate


39.  A record of the sequence of data entries and the date of those entries is called a(n):

a.       transcription.
b.      batch file.
c.       entry record.
d.      audit trail.

Answer: d                         Page Reference:  385                         Difficulty:  Moderate


40.  A “please wait” message is a common type of:

a.       error message.
b.      prompting cue.
c.       warning message.
d.      status information.

Answer: d                         Page Reference:  386                         Difficulty:  Moderate


41.  A prompting cue is a type of:

a.       feedback.
b.      validation test.
c.       design strategy.
d.      input field.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  386                         Difficulty:  Moderate


42.  A Help question of the form “How do I update a record?” is of which type?

a.       Help on help
b.      Help on concepts
c.       Help on procedures
d.      Help on commands

Answer: c                          Page Reference:  387                         Difficulty:  Moderate


43.  The sequence in which information is displayed to and obtained from the user is called a(n):

a.       dialogue.
b.      field navigation.
c.       audit trail.
d.      control flow.

Answer: a                          Page Reference:  378-379                  Difficulty:  Moderate






Essay and Problem-Solving Questions


44.  What is a report? Define five types of reports. How are reports similar to and different from forms?

Answer:

A report is a business document containing and summarizing predefined data; it is a passive document for reading and viewing, often containing information related to many unrelated records. Business reports can be classified as scheduled reports, key-indicator reports, exception reports, drill-down reports, and ad hoc reports. Scheduled reports appear at periodic intervals. Key-indicator reports provide summarized critical information on a recurring basis. Exception reports are generated to identify potential problems, often identified by data outside normal ranges. Drill-down reports display summary data and allow users to see details of selected summary items. Ad hoc reports are reports created on demand for displaying information in support of to non-routine decisions. Reports are similar to forms in that both provide formatted data, sometimes in graphical form. However, whereas forms support user-input, reports present non-interactive, passive information. In addition, forms tend to pertain to single records, or at most a few related records, whereas reports often generate global summary displays.

                                          Page Reference:  366                         Difficulty:  Moderate


45.  Name and describe the three sections to the form or report design specifications as presented in the textbook.

Answer:

The first section of the design specifications is a narrative overview with a use case diagram. This provides a general overview of the target users, tasks, system and environmental factors in which the form or report is used. The second section is a sample design, usually created using CASE tools or GUI development environments. The third and last section is a testing and usability assessment, which provides results of user evaluations of the form or report prototype.


                                          Page Reference:  369-370                  Difficulty:  Moderate


46.  Discuss the recommended guidelines for form and report design. Consider this in terms of identification, content, layout, and navigation.

Answer:

When developing forms and reports, it is important to use meaningful titles, which describe the content and use of the form in question. Display of dates such as current date and the form/report’s revision date further helps to identify the form or report. In terms of content, only meaningful, useful information should be included, which should be fully usable without modification. The layout should be evenly balanced, with adequate spacing and margins, and all data entry fields should be clearly labeled. You should include a meaningful and concise navigation system, including information on moving forward or backward and current location information.

                                          Page Reference:  371-372                  Difficulty:  Moderate


47.  List and describe several methods of highlighting information in forms or reports. Which special types of information should be highlighted? What general guidelines should be followed regarding the use of highlighting?

Answer:

Information can be highlighted in several ways. Blinking and audible tones draw attention to certain information. Color, intensity, size, and font differences also make certain items stand out. Boxing and underlining are effective measures, as is the use of all upper-case as well as nonstandard spacing. These techniques should be used to call attention to data entry or processing errors, warning messages, keywords, and recently changed data displays. Combinations of highlighting techniques can be used, but highlighting should be used conservatively. In addition, highlighting techniques should be used consistently, with the type of highlighting indicating the type and priority of the information.

                                          Page Reference:  372-373                  Difficulty:  Moderate


48.  Name some text-oriented Internet applications currently in wide use. How does the popularity of these applications affect the importance of text-display design in forms and reports? Discuss several guidelines regarding text-output design.

Answer:

The most popular Internet applications using primarily text-mode displays are email, bulletin boards and newsgroups, and information services. This popularity of text-mode output adds to the importance of using sound text-display design practices. When designing text outputs, it is useful to keep the following guidelines in mind. Text should be primarily left-justified with ragged right margins, and sentences should be written in normal upper-case and lower-case mix, with adequate spacing between lines. Only familiar or well-defined acronyms or abbreviations should be used, and hyphenation of words at line boundaries should be avoided.

                                          Page Reference:  373-374                  Difficulty:  Moderate



49.  List and describe the main areas of a typical form layout, and discuss several guidelines for structuring data entry in forms.

Answer:

The typical form layout includes header information, sequence and time information, instructions or formatting information, body or data details, totals or data summaries, authorization or signatures, and comments. In general, structured data entry should be easy, require minimal keystrokes or mouse clicks, and operate in an intuitive sequence. To this end, data entry should not be required for values that can be obtained from a database or calculated, and default values should be available whenever possible. Automatic character replacement should be implemented to further reduce the need for keystrokes. Formatting and justification should correspond to the type and purpose of the input data fields, and online help should be readily available. Flow of control between fields on the form should follow a logical sequence, and it should be simple for a user to select fields non-sequentially on demand.

                                          Page Reference:  380-383                  Difficulty:  Moderate


50.  Describe at least four types of keyboard-oriented data entry errors. Then describe at least five techniques used by systems designers to detect data errors before saving or transmission.

Answer:

Data entry errors can be caused by appending, truncating, transcripting or transposing data. Appending means accidentally adding new characters to the data in a field. Truncating means losing characters from a field. Transcripting is entering invalid data, and transposing is entering characters in reverse sequence. There are many techniques used by systems designers to detect and correct input errors. One is a composition test, which verifies that the entered data is of the correct type. Another is a range test, which verifies that data fit within the designated bounds of allowable values. Reasonableness checks ensure that combinations of input values make sense together, and missing-data checks ensure that fields requiring data actually contain the required data. Self-checking digits are often applied to data fields prior to transmission, and then are checked afterward to ensure that no errors took place during data transmission.

                                          Page Reference:  383-385                  Difficulty:  Moderate


51.  Name and describe three types of system feedback.

Answer:

Three types of system feedback discussed in the textbook include status information, prompting cues, and error or warning messages. Status information keeps users appraised of what’s going on with the system. Status information includes the following types of information: the page number in the sequence, the title of the display, and “please wait” messages with status bars while background processing is taking place. Prompting dues are statements (usually popups) that alert the user when information is needed and provides a formatted means of entering the necessary information. Messages such as error or warning messages pop up under certain conditions, typically data input errors.

                                          Page Reference:  385-387                  Difficulty:  Moderate



52.  Describe each of the three steps involved in the process of designing a dialogue. Discuss several guidelines for dialog design.

Answer:

Dialogue design involves three main steps. The first step involves designing the dialogue sequence, which depicts the path of display that users will navigate through as the dialogue proceeds. The second step is to build a prototype, consisting of static form or display designs built from CASE tools or integrated development environments. The third step is to assess usability through user tests and feedback. When designing dialogues, it is important to include in your dialogue consistency, availability of shortcuts as well as forward and reverse sequential navigation, consistent feedback, logical groupings of displays that support closure, and error handling capabilities. In essence, the dialogue should be easy to use and should provide the user with a sense of control and understanding.

                                          Page Reference:  390-391                  Difficulty:  Moderate


53.  What is a dialogue? What is dialogue diagramming? Describe the symbols used in dialogue diagrams and fully discuss the different types of information depicted by these symbols. Briefly describe a typical dialogue diagram.

Answer:

A dialogue is the sequence of interactions between a user and the system. Dialogue diagramming is a formal method, using box and line diagrams, for designing and representing interaction sequences between users and computers. Each display in the dialogue is represented by a box symbol with three sections. The top section contains a unique identification number. The middle section gives a display name or description. The third section contains references of displays that can be accessed by the current display.  Lines connecting boxes are bidirectional and depict the forward/backward navigation through the dialogue. A typical dialogue between a user and a computer may begin with a login and introductory screen followed by a main menu. The main menu is at the root of a tree of options, where each option begins a subtree representing the subdialogue that fulfills the display requirements for that menu option. Thus a dialogue is often represented as a hierarchical organization of connected boxes. Dialogue diagrams can represent sequence, selection, and iteration.

                                          Page Reference:  391-393                  Difficulty:  Moderate


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