[Cortes, 1997] opines that a good screen layout has its tools and information where the user expects them to be.
[Sutton, 2004] states that the entire screen should fit on the monitor, that larger items are considered more significant than smaller items and that items "above" are more important than items "below". .
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Color.
[Chalmers, 2003] describes the use of color as a delicate balance between interest and distraction. The guidelines for determining color usage are many and varied. Some of the more commonly used principles are: use only three to seven colors, use color to group related items, do not use similar shades of the same color and avoid using red and green. .
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"Properly used, color can be a powerful tool to improve the usefulness of an .
information display system. The inappropriate use of color can seriously reduce .
the performance of such a system." .
[Gerald Murch, 1984; as cited in Mandel, 1997; pg.299] .
Irene Ballard 2002522.
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Text, Fonts.
Typefaces, formatting, upper or lower case, and size are all concerns with choosing appropriate text. [Cortes, 1997] argues that an interface should contain a maximum of three different typefaces with a maximum of three different sizes. She also states that users are better able to read mixed case text than all capitals. Lines of text should be limited to between 40 and 60 characters and appropriate formatting (text - flush left, numbers - flush right) should be incorporated. .
Images.
As visual representations, images provide cues and reminders that help users understand roles, remember relationships and recognize what the computer is doing. [IBM's Design Principles cited in Stasko, 1997a] Images (especially if used as icons) should be meaningful and easy for the user to recognize, learn, remember and perform. [Cortes, 1997] .
Animation (blinking, scrolling, etc.).
Animation should be used only to give the user an indication of "something happening".