The Communication Studio LLC

A visual interface is based on visual patterns.

Allen Cooper

 

A circle is a round straight line with a hole in the middle.

Mark Twain

 

The goal of all software users is to be more effective.

Allen Cooper

Interaction Patterns and Use Cases

Capturing the common “interaction pattern” in a Behavioral Use Case ensures consistency across all applications and reduces redundant documentation.   

The Use Case Guideline ensures that similar information is presented consistently and eases redundant documentation.

The Best Practices“standards” document captures the bottom-line operational attributes of the system from a UI perspective.  Much of this behavior can be described as “patterns” that recur again and again.

UxP is in a unique position to identify interaction patterns.

By identifying and capturing the commonly recurring “patterns” we can reduce the workload, increase effectiveness and ensure consistency.

Such a Behavioral Use Case (BUC) is “global” in the sense that it is re-used throughout the site. 

Laboriously redefining the Behavioral Use Case again and again is inefficient and inconsistent: the BUC should be defined as a unique Use Case.  Once this has been done it can be easily referenced when appropriate.

Behavioral Use Case Patterns

Here are some of the use case interaction patterns that we see regularly throughout our sites:

Behavioral Use Case Basic Pattern

Search by Criteria

Example: Search
  1. Choose search criteria
  2. Run the search
  3. Display the results
  4. Select a record

Select from a List

Similar to Search, but without search tool

  1. Display the List
  2. Select a Record

Run a Report

  1. Choose report (Uses Search by Criteria)
  2. Choose parameters
  3. Set display/output format
  4. Run a report
  5. Display Results

Edit a Form

Example: Edit
  1. Fill in the blanks
  2. Save (check validation)
  • Reset
  • Cancel

System-generated Message

  • Alert
  • Notification
  • Error
  • Confirmation

Describe a commonly used pattern as a guideline by writing a use case for that particular workflow “pattern” of interaction.  The Behavioral Use Case Guideline demonstrates the “best practices” for writing a use case for a similar pattern of interaction. 

The use case guideline that describes a pattern of behavior should always

  • use consistent terminology
  • identify specific, relevant information
  • describe process in a predictable order