Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
area for that matter, involves more than simply deciding on the layout for buttons and check boxes
on a display.
User Interface Components
Even the simplest user interface can be viewed as a complex, multi-tiered structure that supports a
dialogue or a communications channel between the user and the computer and between the user and
the concepts presented by the software executing on the computer. The user interface minimally
consists of a physical interface between the user and the computer. The user interface may also
include graphical, logical, emotional, or intelligent interface components, as illustrated in
Figure 5-16
.
Figure 5-16. User Interface Hierarchy. The typical user interface consists of
four basic components: the physical, graphical, logical, and intelligent
interfaces. Higher-level components may be intentionally left out of the
user interface in some systems.
This hierarchical model is especially relevant when discussing multimedia interfaces, which may
incorporate graphics, video, and tactile feedback. A user interface may support sound, but sound has
limited applicability in making molecular biology data more understandable. The model reflects our
heavy reliance on visual information for communications, and most user interface work is graphical in
nature. The hierarchical interface model also highlights the tactical aspects of human-computer
interfaces, which may be critical in virtual reality presentation of data. Many concepts, such as
energy wells, Van der Waals forces, and structural stability can be perceived more naturally through
haptic devices, negating the need for the user to interpret graphics and colors used to represent
physical forces.
