Overview
Even something as simple as a dropdown menu or a bar graph can introduce usability problems; from a slide-out menu disappearing when a user’s mouse moves a few pixels too far, to requiring NASA-like levels of precision to mouse over the right element, there are algorithms already implemented in JavaScript to help us overcome these problems.
If an algorithm is defined as “a step-by-step procedure for calculations”, Mark DiMarco wants to visually break down those steps for 2 different non-trivial algorithms and explore how these algorithms are applied to some standard & everyday user interface patterns. In this session, Mark will first look at an algorithm for predicting a user’s intentions by calculating mouse speed and direction, and then tackle determining hit state for hundreds of non-uniformed, variably sized and placed UI elements.
Objective
Demonstrate the intersection between Computer Science academics and some common UI problems.
Target Audience
UI/UX developers and designers. Data visualization enthusiasts.
Assumed Audience Knowledge
Basic UI Development
Five things audience members will learn
- How to optimize hit state regions
- Solving common usability problems
- Using Computer Science algorithms in common UIs
- History of some common UI problems
- Improving data visualization interactions
