Abstract: Because of the increasing complexity and size of systems for which user interfaces must be designed, manual analysis of user and system requirements are inadequate. Methods for employing database tools in top down design strategies have been developed to manage design information in the development of user interfaces for large and complex systems. These methods have been useful in the design of user interfaces that are internally consistent with the user's model of the system and that are consistent across related software applications.

Keywords: Analysis; Complex systems; Database, tools and techniques; Design; Hypermedia/Information systems; Keyboard input; Screen output; Software development; Survey

Originally published: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 33rd Annual Meeting, 1989, pp. 254-258

Republished: G. Perlman, G. K. Green, & M. S. Wogalter (Eds.) Human Factors Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction: Selections from Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meetings, 1983-1994, Santa Monica, CA: HFES, 1995, pp. 162-166.