People and ICT systems- design and purpose

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What should be considered when designing an ICT system?
Should be designed with a purpose in mind. Also, the client, end user and audience should be considered as they will have different requirements
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Name the 5 characteristics of users
Experience, physical characteristics, environment of use, task to be undertaken and age
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Give examples of characteristics of a poor system
Not cost effective, not properly tested, user requirements not met, bad time-scales/ project management
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How can level of experience affect a user?
Some users may be experts, others may be novices. Will have different hardware, interface and software preferences.
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How might the age of the user affect system design?
Older users react more slowly than younger users, and so the ability to adjust the speed of cursor movement and the rate at which they to double click an icon can improve their confidence. Also, may be less experienced/may require larger text/icons
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How can environmental factors affect a system?
Will affect sound/visual output. E.g. in a quiet office software sound will need to be played through headphones. A system in a loud factory will need visible rather than audible output.
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How will the task affect the user interface?
Will be adapted to best suit the task being completed e.g. a concept keyboard in a restaurant will help operatives better with orders. A graphic artist with a graphics tablet to better mimic movements of drawing aids
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How do users interact with ICT systems?
Most systems rely on keyboard, mouse and monitor for their interface, although many other output devices can be used to suit particular circumstances e.g. speakers
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What is GUI?
The most common type of interface (Graphical User Interface). Consists of Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers (WIMP). Easily used and understood
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Define menu driven interface
A menu-driven interface lists menu choices that a user can select to navigate from one place to another within a website or software program
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When can menu driven interfaces be useful?
Situations where the user needs to be restricted to a limited choice of actions e.g. ATMs, public information systems
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What are command line interfaces?
Used by expert users, because they are more difficult to learn than other types of interfaces. It relies on text based commands being inputted into the system. Do not make a heavy demand on system resources or memory
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How must interfaces be designed to allow effective communication?
Having a natural way of interfacing with computer system allows individuals to better operate computer systems
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How can sound improve interfaces?
Multimedia tools (e.g. sound and video) can be used to demonstrate features of software
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Why is help and support important features of interfaces?
Software training packages build on user’s responses. Search facility or context sensitive help may be provided to reduce stress for users and make software easier to use
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What are the advantages of GUIs?
It is user friendly so makes software more intuitive. Good for novices
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What are the negatives of GUIs?
May be frustrating for experienced users who need to access a command quickly but has to go through numerous levels of menus to get there. Uses a lot of system memory and resources
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What are the positives of command line interfaces?
Can be quicker to use than GUIs for expert users. Take up less system space/storage/resources
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What are the disadvantages of CLIs?
Need to know the commands/ considerable expert knowledge needed in order to use
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What are the benefits of menu driven interfaces?
Restricts options for user so good for public ICT systems (i.e. less time consuming/not difficult to use). Can be used effectively with touch screens
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Negatives of MDIs
Can slow you down. Can be frustrating due to lack of options
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Name the 5 characteristics of users

Back

Experience, physical characteristics, environment of use, task to be undertaken and age

Card 3

Front

Give examples of characteristics of a poor system

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How can level of experience affect a user?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How might the age of the user affect system design?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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