Fundamentals of Designing User Interaction - General Interaction Techniques

General Interaction Techniques

This chapter covers basic interaction techniques, such as navigating, selecting, viewing, editing, and creating. Many of these techniques are based on an object-action paradigm in which a user identifies an object and an action to apply to that object. By using these techniques consistently, you enable users to transfer their skills to new tasks.

Where applicable, support the basic interaction techniques for the mouse and keyboard. When you add to or extend these basic techniques, consider how the feature or function can be supported across input devices. Techniques used for one device need not be used for all other devices. Instead, tailor techniques to optimize the strengths of a particular device. For example, Windows supports direct keyboard access to menus and controls using access keys rather than requiring the user to use arrow keys to mimic how the mouse moves the pointer. In addition, make it easy for the user to switch between devices so that an interaction started with one device can be completed with another.

Navigation

Selection

Common Conventions for Supporting Operations

Editing Operations

Transfer Operations

Creation Operations

Fundamentals of Designing User Interaction

Windows Interface Components

Design Specifications and Guidelines

Appendixes and References