COMMON GROUND:

Preface:  The Case for HCI Design Patterns

Introduction

• How to Use This Pattern Language
• Example:  Order Entry
• Sublanguages

• What is the basic shape of the content?
• Narrative
• High-density Information Display
• Status Display
• What is the basic shape of the actions taken with the artifact?
• Form
• Control Panel
• WYSIWYG Editor
• Composed Command
• Social Space  (unwritten)
• How does the content or available actions unfold before the user?
• Navigable Spaces
• Overview Beside Detail
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Small Groups of Related Things
• Series of Small Multiples  (unwritten)
• Hierarchical Set
• Tabular Set
• Chart or Graph
• Optional Detail On Demand
• Disabled Irrelevant Things
• Pointer Shows Affordance
• Short Description
• How does the artifact generally use space and the user's attention?
• Sovereign Posture
• Helper Posture
• Background Posture
• How is the content or action organized into working surfaces?
• Central Working Surface
• Tiled Working Surfaces
• Stack of Working Surfaces
• Pile of Working Surfaces
• How can the user navigate through the artifact?
• Map of Navigable Spaces
• Clear Entry Points
• Color-Coded Sections
• Go Back One Step
• Go Back to a Safe Place
• What specific actions should the user take?
• Convenient Environment Actions
• Localized Object Actions
• Actions for Multiple Objects
• Choice from a Small Set
• Choice from a Large Set
• Sliding Scale
• Editable Collection
• Forgiving Text Entry
• Structured Text Entry
• Toolbox
• How can the user modify the artifact?
• User Preferences
• Personal Object Space
• Scripted Action Sequence
• User's Annotations
• Bookmarks
• How can the artifact be made visually clear and attractive?
• Iconic Reference  (unwritten)
• Calm Grid  (unwritten)
• Repeated Framework
• Few Hues, Many Values  (unwritten)
• How else can the artifact actively support the user?
• Good Defaults
• Remembered State
• Interaction History
• Progress Indicator
• Important Message
• Reality Check
• Demonstration
• Quick Access  (unwritten)
• Familiar Quantity  (unwritten)

Pattern Language as One File (283K)
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Copyright (c) 1999 by Jenifer Tidwell.  All rights reserved.