| When engineers design new equipment they | | | | enjoyable interface has no directly measurable |
| focus on what the item does and create the user | | | | benefit. Users will feel better about doing their |
| interface as an afterthought. Often this results in | | | | jobs and more confident in the equipment even if |
| a device that only an engineer can understand. | | | | the device doesn't necessarily perform better. |
| Manufacturers who pay more attention to the | | | | Many factors contribute to the user's satisfaction. |
| design of controls such as custom keypads | | | | A reputable brand name in a clearly visible place |
| create a better experience for end users. | | | | makes users trust the equipment. Custom |
| Usability | | | | keypads use colors, shapes or tactile feedback to |
| Usability is easy to understand: the ability to use | | | | give users a pleasant sensory experience. The |
| something. Custom keypads should be designed | | | | indefinable "cool factor" of a design is a strong |
| with this concept in mind. It's not enough to | | | | element of user experience. |
| create controls. Those controls must be intuitive | | | | Backward Design |
| and easy to operate or users will be frustrated. | | | | One of the best ways to design an effective |
| Well-designed custom keypads allow users to | | | | control system is to start the design from the |
| operate the device with less training. Complex | | | | opposite end. The standard process is to decide |
| controls require a steep learning curve and some | | | | what the machine should do, design a machine |
| users may never become comfortable with the | | | | that does it, and then cobble together an |
| equipment. Sometimes complex controls are | | | | interface that allows users to operate the |
| required but more often they are not. | | | | machine. All ideas stem from the intended |
| Highly usable controls require less mental effort to | | | | purpose of the device. |
| operate. Users make fewer mistakes and can | | | | In backward design, engineers start with the |
| operate the device more efficiently. The tool can | | | | custom keypads and other controls. They |
| be used to do work faster than a competitor's | | | | consider the actions the user will need to take to |
| model with a poorly-designed interface or can use | | | | operate the device and design a control system |
| to perform tasks rival devices can't. | | | | to fit those actions. Once the control scheme is in |
| User Enjoyment | | | | place, they design a device to fit the controls. The |
| Usability of custom keypads isn't a foreign | | | | user's experience is the motivator for all design |
| concept to product design, although it is often | | | | ideas. The end result is equipment controls that |
| overlooked, but there is another factor to | | | | are integrated heavily into the function of the |
| consider: do users like to operate the device? | | | | machine. Operating such a device is more intuitive |
| Engineers may shy away from such nebulous | | | | and efficient. |
| concepts as user happiness because it's not | | | | Try backward design on your next project and |
| something easily measured. A usable interface | | | | you'll find it is a natural way to consider equipment |
| allows the user to perform a task faster. An | | | | design. |