Making It Work

This chapter summarizes the main points of the communicative approach to user interface and documentation design. The term “designer” is used here to refer to anyone who designs and develops a user interface or writes user documentation. As stated at the beginning, the main ambition of this book is to further our understanding of the nature of the problems observed and to establish the language concepts (rather than guidelines) that will help designers when thinking about solutions to problems. Of course, the practical side is very important and must be further developed by those whose job it is to create design methodologies, standards, and guidelines. The present chapter highlights elements of practical advice given in earlier chapters and states the implications of what has been said. Accordingly, the style of presentation is different: everything is contained in bullet lists. It is assumed that previous chapters have been read, or will be read, as the supporting arguments are not developed here. The view expressed by Smith (1990) seems fitting: . . . Guidelines cannot replace task analysis. Indeed many guidelines, when considered along with their associated commentary, imply the need for careful task analysis to determine design requirements. Guidelines will not necessarily save work in user interface design, but in fact may entail extra work, at least in the initial stage of establishing design rules. If that initial work is well done, however, then subsequent software design should be more efficient and, of course, should produce a better user interface. . . . What needs to be added is that the initial stage that comprises audience and task analysis [e.g., as described by Bradford (1988) and Brockmann (1986)] must include language requirements analysis if successful communication with users is envisaged in the interface. • The concept of computer literacy creates a barrier to effective communication— people literacy and language literacy are much better concepts to work with. • Communication is language in action: Both spoken and written language must be seen in this light. • Communication involves people, which means that its cultural, social, and psychological contexts must be considered.