Multimedia Interface Design

We’re pleased to host special contributor Kimberly Hyde, Instructional Technologist for Galaxy Scientific.com. We discovered Kimberly through the Letters column and she graciously agreed to share some this article with us. Thank you Kimberly!

AS A TEAM MEMBER of an interactive multimedia company that concentrates on computer-based training applications and technologies, part of my job is creating many different graphical user interfaces (GUIs). This task encompasses many creative problem solving factors. It must be intuitive, easy to use for the targeted skill level, contain the necessary elements like buttons and menu items, conform to the palette requirements, etc. . . .And finally, when all the hard requirements have been met, the GUI must have an updated look and feel. By that I mean that GUIs, just like other styles like clothing for example, come and go. If the GUI is not up-to-date it can convey a negative impression immediately. . . . I'm constantly trying to stay abreast of GUI trends in order for my companies products to remain fresh. I receive trade journals, purchase off-the-shelf books, and surf the Web whenever free time exists. I think it would be useful for creative professionals to be able to share trend information in a visual format. The Web could make that possibility a reality. . . . At left is an Army Radio Troubleshooting and Maintenance CBT for the technicians that I designed and developed in Photoshop. As you can see, I kept the "khaki" color range for obvious reasons. The button suite is curved with a dimensional feel. (click to see more detail) . . . The second is a prototype I developed as a graduate student project. The trainer is for Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) personnel basic familiarization. The interface was modeled after the actual ready room that the fire fighters prepare before an incident. This provided a less "technology-oriented" user with a comfortable familiar feeling as soon as they entered the program. . . . This topic is of great interest to me. I wanted to share this small piece of my job in order to facilitate feedback from my peers. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me. Kimberly Hyde Instructional Technologist, http://www.galaxyscientific.com

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