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Symmetry for successful interactive systems

Published: 11 July 2002 Publication History

Abstract

HCI has some rich and suggestive ideas, like affordance and direct manipulation. Abstract (not just geometrical) symmetry is a powerful explanation of why these concepts work, and it can be generalised to guide new design for more effective user interfaces. Symmetry makes user interfaces easier to learn, easier to use, and easier to program --- and hence more reliable. Symmetry raises in very clear ways many design trade-offs. In particular, symmetry can be abused when it used to design only superficially symmetric systems, which may look good but are deceptive.

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Cited By

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  • (2016)SwipeKeyProceedings of the 18th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services10.1145/2935334.2935336(60-71)Online publication date: 6-Sep-2016
  • (2003)Cognitive, physical, sensory, and functional affordances in interaction designBehaviour & Information Technology10.1080/0144929031000159258722:5(315-338)Online publication date: Sep-2003
  1. Symmetry for successful interactive systems

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    CHINZ '02: Proceedings of the SIGCHI-NZ Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction
    July 2002
    111 pages
    ISBN:0473085003
    DOI:10.1145/2181216
    Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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    Publication History

    Published: 11 July 2002

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    Author Tags

    1. affordance
    2. ambiguity
    3. direct manipulation
    4. illusion
    5. objects
    6. symmetry
    7. user interface design
    8. virtual reality

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    View all
    • (2016)SwipeKeyProceedings of the 18th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services10.1145/2935334.2935336(60-71)Online publication date: 6-Sep-2016
    • (2003)Cognitive, physical, sensory, and functional affordances in interaction designBehaviour & Information Technology10.1080/0144929031000159258722:5(315-338)Online publication date: Sep-2003

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