Evaluation of the Perceptibility of Window Design in a GUI Environment

抄録

 Hospital information systems based on object technology and graphical user interfaces are becoming common. Use of a set of basic components with particular functions such as icons, buttons and controls has enabled flexibility of layout and a wide variety of visual designs of the window. Optimizing the visual design of the window seems to be important to improve the end-user environment. In this study, objective methods to evaluate the visual design of the window in terms of perceptibility of the window were considered and applied to early and later versions of the order entry system of our hospital information system. Relative size of data display area, relative size of components, font faces used in the window, adequacy of grouping of components and positional consistency of components were quantified as indices of perceptibility. These indices could depict differences in window design between versions indicating applicability for quantitative evaluation of the visual design of the window. Factors affecting perceptibility of the window were discussed and the importance of the consistency of the window design was emphasized. It seems important to consider these factors in developing and refining user interface design and layout of the window.