Abstract
The graphical user interface was brought into existence with an intend to expand the access of computer systems to the masses by making its interface simple to the users, thereby enabling them to familiarize themselves with it quickly. At the initial stage of the development, the visual components of the graphical user interface were designed considering the technical constraints of the available computer systems. However, with technological advancements, the operating system manufacturers attempted to experiment with the respective visual elements of their interface in order to understand and find the most optimal settings throughout the screen, resulting in the evolution of graphical user interface by making the visual interface streamlined across all platforms taking into account the convenience of the mainstream userbase having most basic requirements. With operating system manufacturers focusing more towards the overall appearance of the computer interface instead of individual visual elements, a little research is conducted to cater the requirements of extreme user categories, making the evolution of the visual elements of the graphical user interface stagnant. This paper studies the visual ergonomics of one such fundamental visual element of the graphical user interface, considering left-handed computer users as an extreme user category with an objective to develop and propose a universal design solution to include left-handers as a mainstream user category in a computer interface.
Presenters
Abhinav BasakPh.D, Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, Uttar Pradesh, India Shatarupa Thakurta Roy
Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Universal Design, Visual Ergonomics, Graphical User Interface, Mouse Pointer, Left-handers
