Looking at modern electronics and/or SW applications we can notice that design is a very important aspect of the product’s success at market. We can highlight products like iPod and iPhone, but also SW developers are not staying behindhand. Just compare design of the former operation system MS Windows 3.11 with the current MS Vista. Even if we count with the fact, how fast the modern hectic life-style is, it’s still the difference of several generations. Similarly, or maybe even more remarkably, we can observe the development of Internet applications.

I dare to say, that success of a SW application relies not only on its functionality (because it is very often designed to clients as a tailored application), but also on its accessibility, orientation, intuitive control, and last but not least on its “look”. Simply said, the success relies on everything what makes the present world go round most of all: emotions and time.

Standard design of SW applications tries to eliminate user errors (and/or behavior) and at the same time, it anticipates user expectations of what happens next. On the other side, such a design does not too much focus on visual site and ergonomics which directly influence user reactions and behavior. If these aspects would be applied (and met) then the application should be more utilizable as well as successful, in my opinion.

User Experience, mostly often abbreviated as UX, is a branch dealing with visual and ergonomics aspects. It comprehends ideas of sciences, such as psychology, ergonomics, and human factor in practice. Actually, that is a way how to look upon a group of entities as one object while the behavior of the object is being mapped and consequently, having completely comprehended it, to analyze how shall people work with it. One of the results could be an application in which you should be able to do intuitively and quickly all steps needed for meeting your goals and the work with such an application would be pleasant at the same time.

People often think that UX is the same as UI (User Interface). But that is not the case. An UI application has no relevance with UX. Actually, UX applied in SW application has to do with everything that the user takes into account in regard to the application – whether it works appropriately, what added value it provides, whether the work is intuitive and easy, as well whether the user meets his goals by graphical tools. Briefly said, what is the degree of the application effectiveness (or ineffectiveness).

Here are main points on which the UX is oriented in regard to SW application design:

• Arrangement of objects (components) on the screen
• Visibility of control components
• Intuitive control
• Simplicity
• Understandability (excl. texts e.g. using examples and clues in forms)
• Setup into logical units
• Extent limitation of logical units (human perception is limited)
• Screen flow is clearly defined and readable (with the possibility to backstep)

Plus two items from Web 2.0 design standards (though they are defined for web environment they can be applicable in general, from our point of view):

• Sufficiently big fonts
• Application of contrasting colors

Maybe it might sound too general, but let’s concretize it by the following example.

Imagine that you have a screen with a form in which you enter personal and contact data, data on education, work experience, skills, and other specific data, or e. g. subject data (contract, purchase, insurance, etc.). The extent of the form may grow to such a size that user/client having a brief look at it may spook and escape the application immediately.

And here come psychology and ergonomics of UX which help us to compose a simple and well arranged questionnaire which, in addition, could be completed in very short time…

• Data going logically together should be grouped together and clearly separated from other ones (graphically within the screen, or they should be placed on another screen).
• Required data should be limited to the really necessary ones. If we are interested in other data in marketing terms we mark them as “Optional” not “Required”.
• Control components should be well visible (apparent on the page) and they should be placed where intuitively expected by the user.
  All operations and sections should be clearly named to express their real meaning.
• In case of a multi-screen form “a navigation tool” (e. g. tabs) should be applied to keep track with the part (step) of the form just being filled in.
• Error notes should be written clearly and aptly.

Someone may say, “Well, that’s clear.” But on the other side, many people do not pay too much attention to such “soft issues”. They think it is sufficient when the application works appropriately. But that is not sufficient at all and we hope that the above words will be taken on board at least by some “traditionalists”.

What should be added as last? Just that UX is a very complex approach how to control an application as simply and intuitively as possible. This matter cannot be conceived in one article. It is simply a “User Experience” and as every experience it requires not only time, but also and mainly practice.

The author – Mr. Petr Lipovy works with Softec CZ and participates in projects of design and implementation of internet application trying to apply the above mentioned UX approach.