Interfaces, what do?

What is an interface?

The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the machine which aids the operator in making operational decisions. Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy machinery operator controls, and process controls. The design considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface

General interfaces

An interface isn't only restricted to computers and machinery, it can also apply to everyday objects and interactions. For everyday objects, washing machines have an interface that involves buttons and knobs, pepper grinders require twisting in order to sprinkle, and toasters use a sliding button to put the toast in. Pubs are an interface for human interaction and so restaurants or cafes.

Game interfaces

Below are some screen caps of Internet games and their interfaces.

The last castle

This is a strategy defense game in which you control a wizard, ranger and a warrior. You have to defend the castle from all sorts of nasty. The image above is at the start of the game where you assign skill points to your team. the UI is very easy to understand thanks to the image representations of commands instead of text which complements the art style.

Ultimate Down

Aside from the hilarious grammar, this game has a terrible interface. There is barely anything there besides the health bar and everything else is just text and numbers all in default font. 


Below is my re-working of the health bar i made in flash. it is a lot smoother looking than the original and it includes an icon resembling a first-aid symbol. i also added text such as percentage of health left.

Weather interfaces research

For this project i have to create an interface to display weather information received from an Ecoid device. An Ecoid is a small transmitter which broadcasts raw information to a receiver. It is set-up at a Primary School in Devon and is recording temperature, humidity, light, and basic wind speed, information is transmitted every 20 minutes. 

http://www.i-dat.org/eco-os-workshop-ecoid-prototype/

These are weather interfaces i have researched.

This is from the Sky News website.

This is where the ecoid is stationed.

Iterative Design

Ubiquitous Computing and the internet of things


Ubiquitous computing is a method of human-computer interaction that allows the user to interact with objects  or activities that are in-built with an information processor. In other words, it is machines that fit into the human environments such as the home, cafes and other places that are, intuitive to use and can be activated without the user noticing.

The internet of things refers to objects and their representative copies in an internet structure, this term was used by Kevin Ashton in 1999.  Its basic meaning is objects that can all be fitted with small pieces of technology to be identified through computers, just like the internet.

History of GUI


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_graphical_user_interface#Apple_Lisa_and_Macintosh_.28and_later.2C_the_Apple_IIgs.29

Mind map

Current design

This is the current design of my ecoid interface. The panels from left to right represents the light, heat, wind speed and humidity. They change according to the readings given from the ecoid receiver.