SYS364
OUTPUT DESIGN INTRO
OUTPUT DESIGN OBJECTIVES: not just Content!
1)
Design output to serve the intended purpose:
2)
Design output to fit the user:
3)
Deliver the appropriate quantity of output:
4)
Assure that the output is where it is needed:
5)
Provide the output on time:
6)
Choose the right output method:
page 1 of 2
Assure purposeful output!
Make meaningful to the user!
Provide appropriate amount, detail!
Provide suitable distribution!
Assure timeliness, currency!
Choose effective output method!
Answer these Questions:
Why?
Who?
How much?
Where?
When?
How?
Most of our initial discussion will focus on "How?" but "Why?" and "Who?" are the most important questions! The
designer must know: Whom is this output going to help? How will it help him/her to decide or to do something?
USER PROFILES:
Since output for users is usually the entire raison d'être for the system design, the user's nature is a primary consideration:
education (vocabulary level), position (interests and experience), rank on organization chart (strategic vs. tactical vs.
immediate), frequency (on the "dedicated" to "casual" spectrum--use it every day as part of job vs. use it once or only
occasionally), other user characteristics, such as age, education, familiarity with the subject matter (and its jargon),
familiarity with similar reports or screens.
RELATING CONTENT TO OUTPUT METHOD -- THE MEDIUM QUESTION
We tend to think of documents as the primary form of output, but they are not the only form of output! As for documents,
some of the more important considerations are:
•
Internal vs. External Documents: informal vs. formal, dedicated vs. casual users
•
Turn Around Documents (Output for re-Input)
•
FORMS OF OUTPUT
SENSE
├─── SIGHT
│
├───── TEXT
│
│
├──── PROSE
│
│
├──── POINT FORM
│
│
└──── TABULATION
│
├───── IMAGE
│
│
├──── STILL
│
│
│
├──── GRAPHIC
│
│
│
├──── REALISTIC
│
│
│
└──── IMPRESSIONISTIC
│
│
└──── MOVING
│
│
├──── VIDEO
│
│
└──── ANIMATION
│
│
├──── 2-D
│
│
└──── 3-D
│
└───── CHART
│
├──── BAR
│
├──── LINE
│
├──── GRAPHIC
│
└──── 3-D
├─── SOUND
│
├───── SPEECH
│
├───── MUSIC
│
└───── SOUND EFFECTS
└─── TOUCH
└───── BRAILLE
• MACHINE CONTROL
├─── CONTINUOUS
├─── SPORADIC
└─── OCCASIONAL
SYS364
OUTPUT DESIGN INTRO
page 2 of 2
NOTES TO ADD TO THE FOLLOWING CHART:
Some distinguishing characteristics to note (to be ready for next test and life in IT):
•
speed, in cps, lpm, pph and how to compare them
•
cost, both investment (production and viewing devices) and operating costs (paper, ink)
•
noise-level
•
width (characters per line)
•
colour capability
•
fonts, fixed- and variable-width
•
output storage: volume, weight, special facilities, archive duration
•
VISUAL OUTPUT DEVICES
├─── SCREEN
│
├───── P.C.
│
├───── TERMINAL
│
└───── PROJECTOR
├─── PLOTTER
│
├───── INCREMENTAL
│
│
├───── DRUM
│
│
└───── FLATBED
│
└───── LINE
└─── PRINTER
├───── SPECIAL-PURPOSE (or embedded)
│
├───── LABEL
│
├───── CALCULATOR
│
└───── REGISTER
└───── GENERAL-PURPOSE
├───── IMPACT
│
├───── LINE
│
│
├───── DRUM
│
│
└───── CHAIN
│
├───── CHARACTER
│
│
├───── SOLID
│
│
└───── DOT-MATRIX
│
│
└───── INK (ribbon)
│
└───── PRINTING PRESS
└───── NON-IMPACT
├───── PAGE
│
├───── LASER/LED
│
└───── INK-JET
├───── ROLL
│
└───── THERMAL
└───── MICRO
├───── FILM
└───── FICHE
SOME CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO TEXT:
Specialty Printers - note add-on devices, such as calculators, cash registers, etc.
VDT(CRT) - colour - ease of update - timeliness - combined input/output - credibility (video, audio)
Audio - individual or broadcast! – when to use spoken text instead of readable, when to use music, sound effects
Microform - needs special equipment for viewing as well as for printing
CD-ROM - easy mailing for wide distribution - low storage costs
Electronic - WWW and intranets and extranets
- multimedia, especially interactive multimedia
The Pen – mightier than the sword. Your own personal output device