For this assignment I will be producing an outline design for the user interface, for an application for a garden advice system The Outline design of the system is very important.

The user interface would compromise of a VDU, Keyboard, 9 Input buttons (GARDEN LAYOUTS / PLANT TYPES / PLANT DISEASES / SOIL TYPES / QUESTIONS / NEXT / BACK / PRINT / EXIT ).  All mentioned, will be installed in the ‘advice centre’, which has already been designed.

Once the users are in their selected area of the system, which would contain relevant information, diagrams, and photo’s they can print the details that they require off for reference.  They can return to the main menu and go into another sub section should they wish to.  

Input/Output Devices

At each ‘advice centre’ a number of input/output devices will be required.  They are as follow:

        7 x VDU (Visual Display Unit)                = OUTPUT TO USER

        7 x Keyboards – Weather film protected        = INPUT FROM USER

        7 x [Garden Layouts] buttons                        = INPUT FROM USER

7 x [Plant Types] buttons                               = INPUT FROM USER

7 x [Plant Diseases] buttons                           = INPUT FROM USER

7 x [Soil Types] buttons                                 = INPUT FROM USER

7 x [Print] buttons                                = INPUT FROM USER

        7 x [Next] buttons                                = INPUT FROM USER

        7 x [Back] buttons                                = INPUT FROM USER

        7 x [Question] buttons                                    = INPUT FROM USER

        7 x [Exit] buttons                                = INPUT FROM USER

        1 x Laser printer                                = OUTPUT FOR USER

Systems Image

The way in which the system will look is represented below.

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Users Mental Model

The User will expect the system to be simple to use and expect the system to do everything for them.  The System will include a good GUI (graphical user interface) linked to the main database held on the central server.  The GUI could be created with Macromedia’s Director.  The user with the use of the GUI created in director could navigate through the whole advice centre with the use of the keyboard and buttons provided.  The user may want help on horticultural topics; the advice centre will be able to answer queries such as simple plant identification, the best plant for a particular location, plant diseases and garden layouts.  The option to gain a printout of the Answers or any displayed page will be available, and all printouts will be ready for collection at the front desk, having been printed off on the Laser printer connected to the central server.  Displayed on the advice centre would have to be a clause stating that staff help is also available at Manures R Us, but if the store is busy the staff will have to pay all attention to shop floor duties.  Help may not be given, in these circumstances we, Manures R Us apologise.  All that is mentioned would be required for the mental model

The system overall to be fair is sufficient for the needs of Manures R Us, in the real world money is involved and with money a greater User friendly system could be created, e.g. Touch screens and microphones & speakers so that staff and users can communicate if a query arise, this would be a great advantage for people who have difficulty reading or whom are short sighted, a disadvantage would be that operators would have to be employed to respond to questions and queries in real time.