Enhancing User Experience- Strategies and Advantages of Menu-Driven Interfaces in Modern Computing

Enhancing User Experience- Strategies and Advantages of Menu-Driven Interfaces in Modern Computing

User interfaces facilitate the interaction between human beings and an automated system. Interfaces that allow users to select their preferred action or option from a list are identified as menu-driven interfaces (Iftikhar et al., 2018). This means that users navigate an application by selecting options. This is different from graphical user interfaces and command-line interfaces. In graphical user interfaces, users click on objects or icons to navigate an application. While in command-line interfaces, users type commands and execute them to navigate an application. Examples of menu-driven interfaces are applications used for banking, such as mobile banking and automatic teller machines. Menu drive interfaces are preferred for small-sized screens because they fit on a small screen, unlike graphical user interfaces (Iftikhar et al., 2018). For example, mobile banking applications are mostly used on mobile phones, and mobile phones have smaller screens as compared to PCs and laptops. This makes graphical user interfaces suitable for PCs and laptops and not mobile phones. Command-line interfaces also fit on a small-sized screen, but they require some technical skills to operate (Iftikhar et al., 2018). This leaves menu-driven interfaces as the most suitable for mobile phones as they do not require much technical skills to use.

To communicate with the user, menu-driven interfaces are designed with consistency. Meaning, all the screens in an application look similar to enable the user to use the application with ease. This includes using the same colors on all screens, similar displays of lists, and commands. Menu-driven interfaces are also designed to accommodate instruction messages. For example, text is displayed to ask the user to select an option. The user then selects an option that suits the action that the user would like to perform. An example would be an ATM interface where after inserting the correct PIN, a screen is displayed, prompting the user to select a service (Iftikhar et al., 2018).  The list of options would include withdrawal, deposit, request account balance, etcetera.

Menu-driven interfaces are popular because they can be used on various screens, including small-sized ones (Iftikhar et al., 2018). Such interfaces are also easy to use because they require minimum technical skills. Most small-sized screens are fitted on small-sized smart devices such as mobile phones and tablets. Small-sized smart devices are portable, making it convenient for users to use them regardless of their physical position. For example, a mobile banking application could be used on the phone anytime the user requires mobile banking. Other applications that use menu-driven interfaces include tour and vacation bookings as well as placing orders for food. Menu-driven interfaces are also easy to learn and use as compared to command-line interfaces. Developers also find it easier to design menu-driven interfaces as compared to graphical user interfaces. Menu-driven interfaces are popular in customer support because they provide options describing the user’s issue and possible solutions (Rehman, 2018). This function is best done in menu-driven interfaces, unlike in command line or graphical user interfaces. Command-line interfaces would require a user to have technical skills and remember some useful or most used commands (Rehman, 2018). Most users do not have technical skills and would not want to remember commands every time they require to use an application.

To make menu-driven interfaces appealing, they can be used on smart devices that are of LCD type. Such screens are found on fridges, washing machines, freezers, and thermostats. Frequency generators and oscilloscopes can also work with menu-driven interfaces. The common factors would be that the menu-driven interfaces are implemented for smart devices that are LCD. Soft grab-able nobs could also be used with menu-driven interfaces to make systems more appealing. For example, the use of control nob applications with a menu-driven interface is proving to be appealing to users (OKW Enclosures, 2021). An ergonomic design by OKW Enclosures (2021) consists of a control nob and a menu-driven interface. The control nob illuminates and is easy to grab without slipping. This is used in heat and air conditioning systems, smart factories, health care, and communication. Such designs make menu-driven interfaces appealing to use, rendering them popular.

The evolution of interfaces followed a sequence of command-line interfaces, menu-driven interfaces, and graphic user interfaces. Some decades ago, most interfaces used command-line interfaces that had a minimal design but were complicated to use because they required some technical skills (Andreyev, 2013). Then later, the menu-driven interfaces were designed and were easier to use. However, in 1984, Macintosh launched a graphical user interface, followed by Microsoft in 1985. The GUI interface was found useful in large screen smart devices such as PCs. Users had an easy time understanding and using GUI interfaces as compared to command-line interfaces (Andreyev, 2013). As a result, GUI Macintosh and Microsoft applications became popular. GUI interfaces were a modification of menu-driven interfaces (Andreyev, 2013). However, GUI interfaces could not be implemented on smart devices with small-sized screens. Therefore, GUI could not replace menu-driven interfaces in all smart devices. Menu-driven interfaces remain popular in mobile banking, ATMs, food orders, and vacation booking applications. This is because the simplicity of menu-driven interfaces allows users to install and use applications in small-sized smart devices that are portable, therefore, usable from any location. It is the convenience of portability that makes menu-driven interfaces popular.

Menu-driven interfaces would work better or be more appealing if users were able to redefine, resize, and move lists (Andreyev, 2013). For example, users could redefine the list of options provided on the menu by maybe typing what they prefer. Users would also prefer to be allowed to resize the lists and screen size. This would improve visibility, hence, better usability and convenience. Users do not prefer a long list of options as it makes them tired of scrolling and reading through (Iftikhar et al., 2018). Moving lists to make reading and scrolling easier would be a good feature on menu-driven interfaces. For example, a user should be able to drag a list and position it at a convenient spot.

In conclusion, menu-driven interfaces are useful in small-sized screens. Therefore, making them popular among users who prefer small smart devices for portability. Notably, all three interfaces; command line, menu-driven, and graphical user interfaces, are useful in different areas. With a bit of redesigning each interface based on the application and purpose, all three could be popular. Based on research, interfaces should be tuned to meet user requirements of being easy to understand, use, and convenient.

References

Andreyev, S. (2013). User-Driven Applications—New Paradigm for Interface Design. Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, 6(8), 379-389. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276044350_User-Driven_Applications-New_Paradigm_for_Interface_Design

Iftikhar, W., Malik, M. S., Tariq, S., Anwar, M., Ahmad, J., & Sultan, M. S. (2018). User Interface Design Issues In HCI. Retrieved from http://paper.ijcsns.org/07_book/201808/20180824.pdf#:~:text=Menu-driven%20interfaces%20are%20the%20interfaces%20which%20are%20also,the%20devices%20that%20uses%20the%20menu%20based%20interface

OKW Enclosures. (2021, May). Advanced rotary/Click potentiometer tuning knobs | OKW news. Retrieved from https://www.okwenclosures.com/en/news/press-releases/PRG2105-control-knobs.htm

Rehman, J. (2018, July). Advantages and disadvantages of menu driven interface. Retrieved from https://www.itrelease.com/2018/07/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-menu-driven-interface/

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Despite being a fairly old technology, menu-driven interfaces are very common in user interface design. Menu-driven interfaces consist of a series of screens which are navigated by choosing options from lists.

Write a four- to five-page paper in which you:

Evaluate the user dialog strategies used by a menu-driven interface.

Enhancing User Experience- Strategies and Advantages of Menu-Driven Interfaces in Modern Computing

Determine why menu-driven interfaces continue to be popular in the modern computing age.
Suggest at least three strategies for making menu-driven interfaces visually appealing in the modern computing environment.
Suggest alternatives for menu-driven interface design and explain how these alternatives can be designed to eventually replace all menu-driven interfaces.
Use at least three quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.

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The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

Determine the strengths and alternatives of menu-driven interfaces.