Introduction
Over a period, the global technological
system has experienced tremendous changes that have resulted in the
establishment of sophisticated machines. With the growth in technological
advancement, the world has witnessed the emergence of personal computers and
the emergence of global networking system using internet. Historically, the use
of computers was restricted to the technological researchers who had the
technological knowledge of using the machines.
However, because of invention and innovation, smaller computers with
enhanced interactive interfaces have been developed. These smaller machines are
readily accessible and available to all parties. Various organizations have
ventured in the provision in the provision of computer machines to the global
population. With the rise in the number of organizations providing computers,
the consumers with are presented with a wide choice and variety of products in
the market (Ben Shneiderman, 2010, 57).
Therefore, the choice is based on the amount of satisfaction derived from the
component. In this regard, various organizations have emerged to manufacture
and provide computer devices to the global population. These organizations have
developed web site through which they interact with their prospective buyers.
Psychological findings have explained that the sales made through the
organization’s web site largely depend on the instructiveness of the web site
that enables consumers to stay long and interact with the organization (Andrew Sears, 2005, 231). Therefore, there
are key features to consider when constructing an interactive web site. These
features include cognitive dimensions and interactive designs among others.
These features constitute the essentialities considered by the consumers when
determining the choice of products. These features also stipulate the ease of
use and accessibility of the web site.
The
choice of website
After critical analysis of dell and
apple websites, the website that manifests high use interactivity is dell
website. The choice of dell as the preferred website is because the site is
more users interactive and designed to take limited to extract the desired
information. The programmers of the website have considerably emphasized the
use of colors, font, imagery and decorations to captivate the attention of the
users (Ben Shneiderman, 2010, 128). On
the contrary, the apple web site has not employed appropriate use colors and
fonts in the interface widow. The design of user interfaces needs to observe
simplicity because most users do not understand the complexities of the
programming language. This feature has been extensively used by the developers
of the dell website in the implementation of simple and direct interface that
users can view all the details at a glance.
Attributes
of the website
The goal of human computer interface is
to provide interaction between the computer and the human being using the
machine. In most cases, the designs of the user interface hiders the
communication between the machine and the individual (Ghaoui, 2005, 162). Hence, there is the need to conduct research
aimed at establishing the best interface that eases communication. Of
importance is the establishment of cognitive aspect of the interface.
Cognitive user interface aspects denote
the mental processes of analyzing the interface. This mental analysis considers
the strength of the website in establishing the content of the site and
remembering its attributes (Ghaoui, 2005, 48).
It also considers the understanding of the languages used and their vitality in
decision-making. In this regard, dell website has succeeded in the creation of
mental picture that is reliable because of the presentability of the website.
The website has efficiently employed the use of simple language to communicate
about their products. The use of simple language of communication is beneficial
it enables the success of communication and enhances understanding between the
users and the organization. Another key cognitive attribute is the use of fonts
and colors that captures the attention of the readers (Ghaoui, 2005). The analysis of the website reveals that dell
programmers have employed the use of different fonts and colors to captivate
and entertain the attention of the users. This is extremely beneficial for the
organization because the prospective buyers and customers are captivated when
making their choices (Ben Shneiderman, 2010).
Finally, cognitive aspect has been extensively used in the website using
marquee photo images. These images are highly beneficial to the website because
of the enhancement of admiration and the removal of boredom. With the use of
various images in the website, the developers have enhanced the development of
mental pictures that encouraged the user to maintain usage of the site. This
particular feature is absent in the apple website.
Affective
interactive designs
The official dell website is
characterized by affective and interactive designs that portray positive
aspects of the company. It is vital that website designers establish designs
that influence the user’s emotional response. Research findings have stipulated
that peoples’ use of the website is based on the emotional and pleasure
theories (Ben Shneiderman, 2010). This
theory of pleasure and emotion has been extensively in the development of the
official user interface. This website has employed the use of attributes that
excites emotional response. Some of the attributes that triggers emotional
response with the use of this interface is the use of colors, images and
design. The user of expressive interface and animations is highly beneficial in
the creation of affective interactive designs (Andrew
Sears, 2005, 92). In this regard, dell website has succeeded in the
creation of affective and interactive designs because of their expansive of
colors, marquee images and organized website. The images portrayed in the
website triggers emotional response because of the inspiration they provide to
the users (Ghaoui, 2005). The affective
design of the website is portrayed by the inclusion of contacts and the
provision of headlines that captivates the events taking place in the
organization.
Positive
and negative aspects of the website
With the development of technology
leading to the establishment of websites, various organizations have increased
their sales margin by significant margins. In order to increase their sales,
dell has employed the use of the website to reach global customers. The
development of the dell website has positive attributes that has enhanced
increased sales. These positive attributes of the website includes the
development of affective and interactive user interface (Ghaoui, 2005). The website has also employed the use of cognitive
dimensions that have resulted in user captivation. The website has also
succeeded in attaining user interface instructiveness by implementing the
feedback from customers and enacting the respective changes to enhance
usability.
Despite the development of the interactive
user interface, dell website has not been vibrant in persona development.
Website persona development requires the establishment and identification of
customers. The designers of the website have identified that there are various
customers from ranging from individuals to organizations (Ben Shneiderman, 2010). However, the website should identify
themselves with the provision of goods and services aimed for the satisfaction
of the identified persona.
Friends’
analysis of the website
In a bid to provide quality analysis of
the website, I invited both family members and friends to provide their views
about the website. The people chosen for the analysis were male with ages
ranging between 20years to 30years. In order to provide specialized analysis, the
people chosen for the task were an accountant and an economics master’s
student.
The consideration of their analysis
reveals that they choice of the most user-friendly interface concur with the
choice I made. In their view, they collectively agree that the developers of
dell websites considered the cognitive dimensions. They state that their choice
of the website is based on the effective use of color and fonts to captivate
the mental process of the users. The use of colorful images is beneficial to
the user interface because of the provision of entertainment to the users while
they navigate through the website. However, contrary to my view regarding the
development of persona, they argue that dell website has effectively identified
its persona. In their argument, they state that the website has strategic
development of the persona by highlighting that their machines are simpler to
use. Persona development is emphasized by the use of simple language that all
users can understand and the use of images that virtually all users are
familiar with.
Recommendation
The critical analysis of the website
considers the use of colors in the website to enhance effectivity of the user
interface. Color has been cited to be extremely vital in capturing the user’s
mental processes (Andrew Sears, 2005, 152).
The use of color in the website has significant influence in developing user
affectivity of the interface. In this regard, dell website should consider
replacing the blue colors in the site with pink color or orange that captivates
the attention of users and help increase the cognitive dimension of the
interface design. Furthermore, the website should portray the diversity in the
range of products provided. The provision of extra product range will increase
user interactivity and enhance cognitive dimensions (Ben Shneiderman, 2010). The use extra images of product range
will enhance the image of the website and portray is a goal-oriented website.
Conclusion
The global technological advancement has
enhanced the development of computer technologies. In order to reach out the
customers, the designers of these technologies must design user-friendly
computer interface that captivates the users. Human computer interface is an
extremely important aspect view of the technological development because of the
rise in the number of computers that requires simple instructions. HCI
stipulates the use of cognitive and affective dimensions to enhance user
satisfaction and ease of accessibility.
References
Andrew Sears, J.
A. (2005). Designing for Diverse Users and Domains. Human-Computer
Interaction , 265.
Derek Hansen, B.
S. (2010). Analyzing Social Media
Networks with NodeXL. Maryland:
Morgan Kaufmann publishers.
Ghaoui, C.
(2005). Encyclopedia of Human Computer
Interaction. Singapore: Idea Group.
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