Question

The goal of designing a direct manipulation interface is to make use of the system intuitive to the end user. Direct-manipulation interfaces are now being used for a wide range of purposes.

Describe how direct manipulation interfaces are designed in the following applications.

1. Checkbook maintenance and checkbook searching interface

2. Airline reservation system

Answer 1

1) Direct Manipulation interface is actually human-computer interaction using graphical user interface. It is very effective as user can see effects of his actions directly on screen as a graphical representation. Below is description for design of direct manipulation interface in case of Checkbook maintenance and checkbook searching interface

a) Checkbook maintenance and checkbook searching interface :

For checkbook maintenance and checkbook searching interface , we will design a user interface where user can keep track of checks issued by him with with the check number , it would have detail regarding the person to whom he has issued it. For checkbook searching interface , user can type few digits of check number and based on that user interface would be updated for matching check numbers .

b) Airline Reservation System :

For Airline reservation system First thing is user will type the source city code or name and destination city code or name then user will click on a Calender control where he can see all dates of month and it would show typical cost of ticket . Then he can select some date and based on that all flights would be displayed with corresponding price of tickets. User would be given few controls to sort flights based on arrival time , fastest flight or cheapest flight . Here we see , this type of direct manipulation interfaces makes Airline reservation system so easy for user because he can see changes immediately.