USER INTERFACES FOR OFFICE SYSTEMS

Abstract

This paper surveys recent developments in the "top-level" interface for interacting with office information systems. This is the level at which users initially make contact with the system, and from which they invoke subsystems for specific tasks such as text manipulation, mail, database access, and so on. Although the style of the top-level interface need not necessarily dictate that of the subsystems, it is generally agreed that they should share a similar nature in order to achieve the effect of an "integrated" system. Hence the top-level interface design has considerable influence in determining the character of subsystems. A number of top-level interfaces are described, providing a survey of different interaction styles. Numerous references are made to published accounts of commercial and research systems, with capsule descriptions of typical examples. Illustrations of their use are included. As these man/machine systems must match good design and user compatibility, an introduction of interface design principles is included, although no attempt is made to survey completely the myriad of published guidelines and related human factors research.