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Common Input Devices

Biometric Input Devices

Barcodes

Optical Mark Reader

Skunk MarksData Scanning

Fields

Smart Card Technology

Active Reading Machine

Interface Sim

ilarities A

cross Applications

Menu Structure and Sequence

Toolbar positioning and Icon Style

User-Configurable Desktop and Work Area

Context-Sensitive HelpTooltip

Hotspot Popup

Combination of Text and Graphics for End User feedback

Dialog Boxes

Data Entry Screen FunctionsCapability Category Examples

Cursor Control

• Moving the cursor forward or backward to allowable data fields.• Directly moving the cursor to the first or last field on the screen.• Move the cursor forward or backward by one character within a data

field. 

Editing

• Delete the previous character.• Delete the current character.• Delete the entire field entry.• Clear the entire form of data. 

Exiting

• Commit the data on the screen to the database or application program.

• Navigate to a new screen or form.• Confirm recent data entry before moving to another screen or form. 

End User Help

• Obtain help with a particular data field definition or entry.• Obtain help on the purpose and limitation associated with a particular

data entry screen. 

Guidelines for Input Screen DesignData Entry Activity Guideline for Effective Design

Data Entry Avoid requiring entry of data that can be computed, derived, or retrieved from an existing on-line source. 

Field Defaults Provide relevant field value defaults where appropriate. (i.e. assume current date for invoice date field) 

Required Units Clearly indicate the desired unit values for data entry fields. (i.e. pounds, inches, dollars, tons, etc.) 

Data Replacement Provide “intelligent character replacement functions by suggesting a completed entry after the user has typed the first few characters. 

Field Captions Provide information field captions such that the end user can determine the appropriate data to enter. 

Field Formatting Provide explicit formatting examples where relevant to indicate the proper method for entering data with required embedded symbols or a specific sequence. (i.e. social security number, 999-99-9999 or date, mm/dd/yyyy) Data Alignment Provide automatic alignment for data entries using left justification for text and right-justification or decimal justification for numbers. 

End User Help Wherever possible, provide context-sensitive help mechanisms and hot-key access to help facilities. 

Guidelines for HCI Dialogue DesignDialogue Guideline Explanation

Be consistent 

All dialogues should be consistent in action, sequence, required keystrokes, and terminology. 

Enable user shortcuts 

End users should be allowed to take advantage of shortcut keys or macro commands wherever possible and appropriate. 

Provide relevant feedback 

Feedback should be provided to the end user for every data entry action.

Allow for closure 

All dialogues should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Provide error-handling guidance 

All possible errors should be captured by the system and reported back to the end user in a manner that allows for correction or provides suggestions as to how to proceed. Allow reversal of action

 Wherever possible, end user actions should be reversible and data deletion should not occur without explicit confirmation from the end user. 

Provide user control 

The dialogue should allow experienced users to feel in control of the system and should facilitate inexperienced end users by allowing the user to take greater control of the process as experience develops. Reduce cognitive load

  Dialogues must be simple to use and must provide for a minimum cognitive load on the end user. 

Input Validation ControlsInput Control Mechanism Explanation

Data Typing Data should be checked for proper type (numeric, alphabetic, or alphanumeric) 

Reasonableness Data should be tested for reasonableness of value given the situation (negative interest rates not allowed, appropriate rate of pay for specific employee category)  

Expected Value Data should be checked against some expected value where appropriate (model of automobile should match make of automobile)

Missing or Required Data Fields should be checked and flagged for missing data that is deemed necessary to complete the data entry process ( has a quantity been provided for every item on the purchase order?) 

Check-Digit Calculation Check digit calculation should be conducted upon appropriate field entry to insure proper account number or other numerical data accuracy. 

Data Format Data should be checked against any required format or template to insure proper entry (999-99-9999, (999) 999-9999, 99AAXX9AX) 

Value Range Data should be checked against any known or established value range (two-letter state codes should come from acceptable list of codes) 

Entry Size The number of expected characters should be checked where appropriate (is the social security number exactly nine digits?) 

Allowable Entry Data should be limited to a range of allowable entries and this range of choices should be provided to the end user, where appropriate) 

Check Digit CalculationProcess Example

 Number each digit of a numeric entry according to place value from either right or left beginning with 2.

 Assume account number of 34763: 3476323456

  Multiply each digit in the numeric entry by its assigned place value.

3 4 7 6 3x 2 3 4 5 6 6 12 28 30 18

  Sum the result of the multiplications.

 

 6 + 12 + 28 + 30 + 12 = 94

 Divide the sum by the modulus number (usually 10 or 11)

 Assume a modulus number of 11: 94 / 11 = 8 remainder 6

  Subtract remainder from modulus number and append check digit to numerical entry.

 

 11 – 6 = 5 (check digit) 347635