Choose the interactive style for information or controls that the operators do not use often, such as in troubleshooting and in emergency operation.Interactive search helps operators to find information and commands by guiding them through options. Interaction search helps the operators cope with the limited capacity of short-term memory.
We cope with the limited-memory capacity by using sorting, filtering and drill-down:
Sorting enables search through indices
Filtering reduces the amount of information on screen by segmentation using categories or by keyword
Drill-down facilitates the user control (divide and rule) by allowing gradual access using a hierarchy of filters.
The interactive search is suited to the limitations of the working memory. It is safe to use because the demand for the user mental resources does not exceed the capacity of the user’s working memory.
The interactive search is inconvenient for frequently used procedures because it does not present all the items on the same screen display, meaning that the users need to search for the desired item.
Out of sight is out of mind
In particular, it is inconvenient when the user does not remember the keyword or group to which the item belongs.
Choose the interactive style for information or controls that the operators do not use often, such as in troubleshooting and in emergency operation.
In screens using the interactive style, use distracting items (graphical items, images, animation or video) only for the single items which the operators are most likely to choose.
Enable the operators to clear all
distracting items, to facilitate orientation
Updated on 19 Jul 2016.