Apple Newton 2.0 User Manual

Newton 2.0 User Interface Guidelines

Addison-Wesley Publishing Company

Reading, Massachusetts Menlo Park, California New York Don Mills, Ontario Wokingham, England Amsterdam Bonn Sydney Singapore Tokyo Madrid San Juan Paris Seoul Milan Mexico City Taipei



Apple Computer, Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Apple Computer, Inc., except to make a backup copy of any documentation provided on CD-ROM. Printed in the United States of America.

No licenses, express or implied, are granted with respect to any of the technology described in this book. Apple retains all intellectual property rights associated with the technology described in this book. This book is intended to assist application developers to develop applications only for Apple-labeled or Apple-licensed computers.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors.

Apple Computer, Inc. 1 Inﬁnite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014 408-996-1010

Apple, the Apple logo, APDA, AppleLink, AppleTalk, LaserWriter, Macintosh, and Newton are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.

Balloon Help, Espy, Geneva, the light bulb logo, MessagePad, NewtonScript, Newton Toolkit, New York, QuickDraw, and System 7 are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

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Simultaneously published in the United States and Canada.

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Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you speciﬁc legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

ISBN 0-201-48838-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9-MA-0099989796 First Printing, May 1996

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Newton 2.0 user interface guidelines / Apple Computer, Inc.

p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-201-48838-8

1. User interfaces (Computer systems) I. Apple Computer, Inc.

QA76.9.U83N49 1996

005.265—dc20 96-20168 CIP

Contents

Figures xiii

Preface

Chapter 1

About This Book

Who Should Read This Book xxi What’s in This Book xxii Related Books xxii Visual Cues Used in This Book xxiii Developer Products and Support xxiii

Newton and Its Users

Understand Newton 1-1 Know Your Audience 1-2

What People Do With Newton 1-3 Accessibility 1-3

Observe Basic Human Interface Principles 1-4

Metaphors 1-4 Direct Manipulation 1-6 Feedback 1-7 See and Point 1-7 Consistency 1-7 User Control 1-8 Forgiveness 1-8 Stability 1-9 Aesthetic Integrity 1-9

Design for the Newton System 1-10

Observe the Built-In Applications 1-10 Use the Common Pool of Data 1-10 Keep Applications Simple 1-11

xxi

1-1

iii

Use Screen Space Wisely 1-11 Check the Screen Size 1-11

Involve Users in the Design Process 1-13

Deﬁne Your Audience 1-13 Analyze Tasks 1-13 Build Prototypes 1-14 Observe Users 1-14 Ten Steps for Conducting a User Observation 1-15

Chapter 2

Container Views

How Views Look 2-3

View Controls 2-3 View Title 2-4 View Border 2-6

Matte Border 2-6 Striped Border 2-7 Wavy Border 2-7 Plain Border 2-8 Drop Shadows 2-8

View Fill 2-9

Main Views 2-9

Title or Folder Tab 2-10 Primary Controls and Status Bar 2-11 Separator Bars 2-11 The Main View’s Border 2-13

Auxiliary Views 2-14

Slips 2-15 Notiﬁcation Alerts 2-17 Conﬁrmation Alerts 2-18 Status Slips 2-20

Title and Message 2-21 Progress Indicator 2-22

2-1

Close, Stop, or Cancel 2-23 User Decision 2-24

Palettes 2-24 Drawers 2-26 Roll Views 2-27 How Views Work 2-28

Opening Container Views 2-28

View Display Order 2-28

The Backdrop 2-29

What Is Active 2-29

View Position 2-30

Position of a Main View 2-30 Position of Auxiliary Views 2-31

Closing a View 2-32

Closing a Main View 2-32 Closing a Slip 2-33

Closing a Drawer 2-33 Moving a View 2-33 Changing a View’s Size 2-34 Scrolling 2-36

Scrolling With Scroll Arrows 2-37

Universal Scroll Arrows 2-38

Local Scroll Arrows 2-39

Four-way Scrolling 2-41

Automatic Scrolling 2-43

Scrolling Performance 2-44 Overview 2-44

Overview Contents 2-44

Overview Button 2-46

Switching to and from an Overview 2-47

Scroll and Overview in an Overview 2-48

Closing an Overview 2-49 Nonfunctional Scroll and Overview Controls 2-49

Chapter 3

Controls

Buttons 3-2

Text Buttons 3-2

Text Button Sizes 3-3 Naming Text Buttons 3-4 Naming Take-Action Buttons 3-4 Naming Cancel- and Stop-Action Buttons 3-5

Picture Buttons 3-7

Designing Picture Buttons 3-8

Button Behavior 3-9

Button Feedback 3-9 Button States 3-10

Button Placement 3-11

Button Spacing 3-12

Large Buttons 3-14

Close Boxes 3-14

Where to Use a Regular Close Box 3-15

Where to Use a Large Close Box 3-15 Radio Buttons 3-16 Checkboxes 3-18 Sliders 3-20 Hot Spots 3-21 Standard Newton Buttons 3-22

Analog Clock Button 3-23

Info Button 3-23

Recognizer Button 3-24

Keyboard Button 3-25

New Button 3-26

Show Button 3-26

Filing Button 3-27

Action Button 3-28

Item Info Button 3-29

Rotate Button 3-30

3-1

Chapter 4

Pickers

List Pickers 4-2

Elements of List Pickers 4-2

Check Marks 4-3 Icons 4-3 Item Names 4-3 Table of Items 4-4

Unavailable Items 4-5 Organization of List Pickers 4-6 Sources of List Pickers 4-7 Position of List Pickers 4-8 Using a List Picker 4-9

Picking an Item 4-9

User Editing of Pickers 4-11

Scrolling 4-12

Index Tabs 4-13 Hierarchical List Pickers 4-14

Number Picker 4-16 Date and Time Pickers 4-17 Overview Pickers 4-19

Contents of Overview Pickers 4-19 Position of Overview Pickers 4-20 Using an Overview Picker 4-21

Picking Items 4-21

Scrolling Items 4-22

Creating New Items 4-23

Standard Newton Pickers 4-23

Info Picker 4-24 New Picker 4-25 Show Picker 4-26 Action Picker 4-26 People Picker 4-27

4-1

vii

Chapter 5

Icons

Designing Effective Icons 5-1

Thinking Up an Icon Image 5-2 Make Shapely Icons 5-3 Design for the Newton Display 5-3 Avoid Text in Icons 5-4 Make All Sizes of an Icon Look Alike 5-4 Use Icons Consistently 5-5 Think About Multicultural Compatibility 5-6

Extras Drawer Icons 5-6

Extras Drawer Icons Together 5-6 Extras Drawer Icon Size 5-8 Extras Drawer Icon Shape 5-9 Extras Drawer Icon Names 5-9

Animating an Extras Drawer Icon 5-9 Title Icons 5-11 Button Icons 5-12 Icons in a Picker 5-12

5-1

Chapter 6

viii

Data Input

Input Fields 6-1 Tapping 6-3

Pickers 6-3

Scrolling Lists and Tables 6-4

Radio Buttons 6-6

Checkboxes 6-7

Sliders 6-7 Writing, Drawing, and Editing 6-8

Text Input 6-8

Simple Input Line 6-9 Labeled Input Line 6-10 Text Input Lines that Expand 6-11 Paragraph Input 6-12 Structured List Input 6-12

6-1

Shape Input 6-13 General Input 6-14 Recognition 6-15

User Control of Recognition 6-16 Deferred Recognition 6-18 Forcing Recognition 6-19 Conﬁguring Recognition 6-19

Editing 6-21

Selecting Text and Shapes 6-22 Erasing Text or Shapes 6-24 Joining Words 6-26 Breaking Paragraphs 6-26 Inserting Space in Text 6-26 Inserting New Text 6-27 Replacing Text 6-29 Correcting Misrecognized Text 6-29 Changing Capitalization of Text 6-31 Changing Paragraph Margins 6-31 Removing Extra Space from Paragraphs 6-31 Duplicating Text or Shapes 6-31 Changing Shapes 6-31 Moving Objects 6-32

Typing 6-32

Displaying Keyboards 6-33 Keyboard Position 6-34 Keys 6-34

Character Keys 6-34 Return 6-35 Tab 6-35 Del 6-35 Shift 6-35 Caps 6-35 Option 6-36 Arrow Keys 6-36

Type-Ahead and Auto-Repeat 6-36

Error Handling 6-37

Error Correction 6-37

Error Detection 6-38

Chapter 7

Routing and Communications

The In/Out Box 7-2

The In Box 7-3

The Out Box 7-4

In/Out Box Items 7-4

Viewing Items in the In/Out Box 7-5

Viewing Routing Information 7-6 Routing Outgoing Items 7-7

Action Button and Picker 7-8

An Action Button’s Location 7-9 Action Picker Contents 7-10 Building an Action Picker 7-11

Routing Slips 7-12

Sender Picker 7-13 Recipient Pickers 7-15 Choosing a Printer 7-15 Choosing Fax or E-mail Recipients 7-16 Transport Picker 7-18 Send Button and Close Box 7-18 Other Routing Slip Elements 7-20 Format Picker 7-20 Preview Button 7-23

Sending Out Box Items 7-24 Routing Incoming Items 7-24

Receiving In Box Items 7-25

Receiving Remote In Box Items 7-26

Disposing of Received Items 7-26

Putting Away Received Items 7-27 Putting Away Items Automatically 7-28 Filing Items That Are Put Away 7-28 Extending the Tag Picker 7-29

7-1

Routing Status 7-29 Stopping a Send or Receive in Progress 7-31 Transport Preferences 7-32 Routing Alternatives 7-34

Routing by Intelligent Assistant 7-35 Programmed Sending 7-36

Chapter 8

Newton Services

Automatic Busy Cursor 8-2 Notify Button and Picker 8-2 Alarms 8-4

Unacknowledged Alarms 8-5

Alarm Etiquette 8-5 Sound 8-6 Find 8-6

Text Searches 8-7

Date Searches 8-8

The Scope of a Search 8-8

Customizing the Standard Find Slip 8-9

Initiating or Canceling a Search 8-11

Search Status 8-11

Search Results 8-11 Filing 8-13

Filing Button and Slip 8-14

A Filing Button’s Location 8-15 A Filing Slip’s Contents 8-16 Editing Folders 8-18

Folder Tab 8-19 Intelligent Assistant 8-22

Invoking the Assistant 8-22

Interpreting the Request Phrase 8-23

Assist Slip 8-24

Task Slips 8-27 Help 8-28

8-1

Preferences 8-30

System-wide Preferences 8-30 Application Preferences 8-31

Appendix

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Info Button A-1 New and Show Buttons A-1 Screen Size A-1 Tapping v. Writing A-1 Picker Placement and Alignment A-2 Field Alignment A-2 Close Box Size A-2 Button Location A-2 Button Spacing A-2 Button Size A-3 Capitalization A-3 Picker Icons A-3 Dismissing a Slip A-3 Take-Action Button A-3 Fonts A-4 Keyboard Button A-4 Punctuation to Avoid A-4 Extras Drawer Icons A-4 Storage A-5 Date and Time Input A-5

A-1

xii

Glossary

Index

GL-1

IN-1

Figures

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Newton and Its Users

Figure 1-1

Figure 1-2

Figure 1-3

Metaphors help people quickly grasp how software works 1-5

Users should feel they are directly controlling something tangible 1-6

An application adjusts its size, position, and layout to ﬁt the screen 1-12

Container Views

Figure 2-1 Figure 2-2 Figure 2-3 Figure 2-4 Figure 2-5 Figure 2-6 Figure 2-7

Figure 2-8 Figure 2-9 Figure 2-10

Figure 2-11

Figure 2-12

Figure 2-13 Figure 2-14 Figure 2-15 Figure 2-16

Figure 2-17

Examples of container views 2-2 Standard controls for manipulating views 2-4 Various title styles 2-5 A matte border indicates a movable view 2-6 A striped border suggests routing 2-7 An alert box has a thick wavy border 2-8 Some views need the simplicity of a

plain border 2-8 Sparing use of some types of shadows is OK 2-9 A title or a folder tab tops a main view 2-10 A status bar anchors primary controls at the bottom

of a main view 2-11 Separator bars separate multiple items in a

scrolling view 2-12 Main views have matte or plain borders with

rounded corners 2-13 Examples of auxiliary views 2-14 Users can move most slips 2-15 Dismissing slips that complete actions 2-16 A notiﬁcation alert tells the user something

important 2-17 A Snooze button enables a user to dismiss an alert

temporarily 2-18

1-1

2-1

xiii

Figure 2-18

Figure 2-19 Figure 2-20

Figure 2-21

Figure 2-22

Figure 2-23

Figure 2-24 Figure 2-25 Figure 2-26

Figure 2-27

Figure 2-28

Figure 2-29

Figure 2-30 Figure 2-31

Figure 2-32

Figure 2-33

Figure 2-34 Figure 2-35

Figure 2-36 Figure 2-37 Figure 2-38

Figure 2-39

A conﬁrmation alert tells the user about a grave situation 2-19

A status slip reports on a lengthy operation 2-20 A sequence of status messages traces the steps

of an operation 2-22 A gauge in a status slip measures elapsing

progress 2-23 A status slip can report a condition that demands

a user decision 2-24 A palette provides handy access to useful

settings 2-25 A drawer slides open and closed 2-26 Where to position a small auxiliary view 2-31 Dragging a view’s drag handle moves

the view 2-34 Dynamically adjust a view’s position, size, and layout

to ﬁt the screen 2-35 A view may change size in response to user

actions 2-35 Ready to scroll Notepad notes into view from

above or below 2-36 Scrolling by tapping a down arrow 2-37 The universal scroll arrows at the bottom of a

MessagePad screen 2-39 How scroll arrows work in the Date Book’s

Day view 2-40 Scroll arrow color may indicate what scrolling

will reveal 2-41 A control for scrolling in four directions 2-42 An alternate control for scrolling in four

directions 2-42 Automatic scrolling 2-43 How an overview relates to a detail view 2-45 The Overview button at the bottom of a

MessagePad screen 2-46 Getting an overview 2-47

xiv

Chapter 3

Controls

3-1

Figure 3-1 Figure 3-2

Figure 3-3

Figure 3-4 Figure 3-5 Figure 3-6 Figure 3-7 Figure 3-8

Figure 3-9 Figure 3-10 Figure 3-11 Figure 3-12 Figure 3-13

Figure 3-14 Figure 3-15 Figure 3-16 Figure 3-17

Figure 3-18 Figure 3-19 Figure 3-20 Figure 3-21

Figure 3-22 Figure 3-23 Figure 3-24 Figure 3-25

Figure 3-26 Figure 3-27 Figure 3-28 Figure 3-29 Figure 3-30

Tapping a button initiates an action 3-2 A text button’s name states what the

button does 3-2 Leave standard margins between a button’s name and

its borders 3-3 Name buttons distinctively wherever possible 3-5 Where to use a button named Cancel 3-6 A Stop button lets a user halt an operation 3-6 A picture button depicts what the button does 3-7 Where to use borders with small, self-bordered

picture buttons 3-8 Tapping a button highlights it 3-9 A button disappears when it isn’t available 3-10 Where to put buttons in a view 3-12 Group buttons by function 3-12 Regular spacing between buttons on a

MessagePad 3-13 A Close box compared to a large Close box 3-14 Where to use a regular Close box 3-15 Where to use a large Close box 3-16 Only one radio button in a cluster can

be selected 3-17 Each checkbox can be on or off 3-19 One checkbox vs. two radio buttons 3-20 A slider used for data input 3-21 Providing feedback for small, transparent

hot spots 3-22 How the Analog Clock button works 3-23 Where an Info button goes 3-24 Where a Recognizer button goes 3-24 The Recognizer button indicates the type of

recognition in effect 3-24 Where a Keyboard buttons goes 3-25 Where a New button goes 3-26 Where a Show button goes 3-26 Where a Filing button goes 3-27 A Filing button reports where a data item

is stored 3-28

Figure 3-31 Figure 3-32 Figure 3-33

Where an Action button goes 3-29 Seeing an Item Info slip 3-30 A Rotate button lets users change the screen

orientation 3-31

Chapter 4

Pickers

Figure 4-1 The parts of list pickers 4-2 Figure 4-2 A list picker can contain a two-dimensional table

Figure 4-3 Remove unavailable items from a list picker 4-5 Figure 4-4 Grouping items in list pickers 4-7 Figure 4-5 Pickers can pop up from buttons, labels, and

Figure 4-6 How a list picker should align with its label Figure 4-7 Using a list picker from a button 4-10

Figure 4-8 Using a list picker from a label 4-10 Figure 4-9 List pickers that are too long to display all at once

Figure 4-10 A lengthy picker can include scroll arrows and Figure 4-11 How a two-level hierarchy of list pickers works 4-15

Figure 4-12 A number picker simpliﬁes specifying a numerical Figure 4-13 Time pickers specify a time, a time range, or a Figure 4-14 Date pickers specify one date or a date range 4-18

Figure 4-15 The parts of overview pickers 4-20 Figure 4-16 Entering a new value in an overview picker 4-22 Figure 4-17 An Info picker lists information items 4-24 Figure 4-18 The New picker lists types of data items that users

Figure 4-19 The Show picker lists alternate ways to see an Figure 4-20 The Action picker lists commands for acting Figure 4-21 A People picker excerpts items from the Names File

4-1

of items 4-5

hot spots 4-8 or button 4-9

have scroll arrows 4-12 index tabs 4-13

value 4-16 time offset 4-17

can create 4-25 application’s data 4-26 on data 4-27 and Owner Info applications 4-28

xvi

Chapter 5 Icons 5-1

Figure 5-1 Distinctive icon shapes are easier to recognize than Figure 5-2 Avoid text in icons 5-4

Figure 5-3 Small icon resembles large icon 5-5 Figure 5-4 Use icon elements consistently 5-5 Figure 5-5 The good, the bad, and the ugly in Extras

Figure 5-6 Large icons crowd the Extras Drawer 5-8 Figure 5-7 An icon’s mask either highlights or animates

Figure 5-8 Combining an icon with its mask to animate Figure 5-9 An icon in a slip title should decorate Figure 5-10 An icon can label a button 5-12

Figure 5-11 Icons can help communicate picker item

Chapter 6 Data Input 6-1

Figure 6-1 Users enter and edit data in input ﬁelds 6-2 Figure 6-2 How a picker works for data input 6-4 Figure 6-3 Data input using scrolling lists with or without

Figure 6-4 With radio buttons, a user can select one value Figure 6-5 With checkboxes, a user can select more than one Figure 6-6 A slider used for data input 6-7

Figure 6-7 How an unlabeled text-input line works 6-9 Figure 6-8 How labeled text input lines work 6-10 Figure 6-9 How expandos work 6-11 Figure 6-10 Interface element for multiple-line or paragraph

Figure 6-11 A user can rearrange a structured list by dragging Figure 6-12 Interface element for shape input 6-14

Figure 6-13 Interface element for general input 6-15

rectangular icons 5-3

Drawer icons 5-7

the icon 5-10 the icon 5-11 and inform 5-11

functions 5-13

checkboxes 6-5 for a ﬁeld 6-6 value for a ﬁeld 6-7

text input 6-12 topic markers 6-13

xvii

Figure 6-14 The Recognizer button and picker give users control Figure 6-15 Users may need to control recognition separately Figure 6-16 In an Alpha Sorter picker, users select a sort key Figure 6-17 Selecting words and shapes 6-23

Figure 6-18 Orientations of the scrubbing gesture 6-24 Figure 6-19 Scrubbing a little or a lot 6-25 Figure 6-20 Joining two words 6-26 Figure 6-21 Breaking a paragraph into two paragraphs 6-26 Figure 6-22 Inserting space in text 6-27 Figure 6-23 A caret marks the text insertion point 6-27 Figure 6-24 The Caret picker lists 14 hard-to-write characters and

Figure 6-25 How a Correction picker works 6-29 Figure 6-26 How a Corrector view works 6-30 Figure 6-27 The four built-in keyboards 6-32 Figure 6-28 A Keyboard picker lists alternate on-screen

Figure 6-29 A keyboard can be embedded in a data-

over recognition 6-16 in a slip 6-17 for ink text 6-19

three actions 6-28

keyboards 6-33 input slip 6-34

Chapter 7 Routing and Communications 7-1

xviii

Figure 7-1 The In/Out Box application displays either the In Box

or the Out Box 7-3

Table 7-1 Meanings of status words in the In/Out Box

headers 7-5

Figure 7-2 A Show button provides access to alternative

views 7-6

Figure 7-3 Viewing routing information in an Item Info slip 7-7 Figure 7-4 An Action picker lists the transports available

for sending 7-8

Figure 7-5 An Action button at the bottom of a view affects the

entire view 7-9

Figure 7-6 An Action button above an item affects only

that item 7-10

Figure 7-7 An Action picker can include two kinds

of actions 7-11

Figure 7-8 A routing slip shows sender, recipient, and type Figure 7-9 Changing the sender’s name or location 7-14

Figure 7-10 Choosing a printer in a routing slip 7-16 Figure 7-11 Choosing fax or e-mail recipients in a

Figure 7-12 Switching to another transport in a group 7-18 Figure 7-13 Setting format and content options in a

Figure 7-14 Format choices vary by transport and class Figure 7-15 A format can get supplemental information in Figure 7-16 Previewing outgoing page images 7-23

Figure 7-17 The Out Box’s Send picker lets users send items to Figure 7-18 The Receive picker lists the transports available Figure 7-19 Connection setup varies by transport 7-26

Figure 7-20 The Tag picker disposes of currently selected Figure 7-21 Status slips apprise users of lengthy transport Figure 7-22 Accessing transport preferences from the In/Out Box’s Figure 7-23 Some common preference items for Figure 7-24 A Call routing slip sets up an outgoing Figure 7-25 Routing with the Intelligent Assistant 7-35

of transport 7-13

routing slip 7-17

routing slip 7-20 of data 7-21 an auxiliary view 7-22

output devices 7-24 for receiving 7-25

In Box items 7-27 activities 7-30 Info picker 7-32 transports 7-33 phone call 7-34

Chapter 8 Newton Services 8-1

Figure 8-1 A busy cursor indicates the system is temporarily

engaged 8-2

Figure 8-2 The Notify button signals an ongoing action or

deferred alert 8-3

Figure 8-3 The Notify picker lists ongoing actions and

deferred alerts 8-3

Figure 8-4 An alarm notiﬁcation alert’s Snooze button can

postpone the alarm 8-4

xix

Figure 8-5 A standard Find slip speciﬁes what to ﬁnd and where Figure 8-6 Specifying text or date searches in a Find slip 8-7

Figure 8-7 Specifying a date in a Find slip 8-8 Figure 8-8 Searching speciﬁed applications 8-9 Figure 8-9 A custom Find slip displays application-speciﬁc

Figure 8-10 A status slip shows the progress of a Find Figure 8-11 A Find overview lists items that match search Figure 8-12 The Find slip reports which found item is currently Figure 8-13 A Filing slip names available folders and storage Figure 8-14 A Filing button at the bottom of a view affects the Figure 8-15 A Filing button above an item affects only Figure 8-16 A Filing slip can include storage locations, folders, Table 8-1 Headings for radio button clusters in Figure 8-17 Slips for entering and editing folder names 8-19

Figure 8-18 A folder tab allows users to ﬁlter a view Figure 8-19 A Folder picker can list available storage Figure 8-20 A folder tab can include a digital clock and Figure 8-21 A folder tab can include a view title 8-21

Figure 8-22 The Assist button makes the Assistant try a written Figure 8-23 An Assist slip appears when the Assistant needs Figure 8-24 The Assistant’s Please picker lists known actions and Figure 8-25 Online help has a topical outline and concise Figure 8-26 The Prefs application shows system-wide Figure 8-27 A preferences slip contains application-speciﬁc

to look 8-7

criteria at the top 8-10 operation 8-11 criteria 8-12 displayed 8-13 locations 8-14 entire view 8-15 that item 8-16 or both 8-17 Filing slips 8-18

by folder 8-20 locations 8-20 calendar 8-21

action request 8-23 more information 8-25 recent phrases 8-26 instructions 8-28 preference settings 8-30 settings 8-31

PREFACE

About This Book

Newton 2.0 User Interface Guidelines describes how to create software products that optimize the interaction between people and devices that use Newton 2.0 software. The book explains the whys and hows of the Newton 2.0 interface in general terms and in speciﬁc details.

Newton 2.0 User Interface Guidelines helps you link the philosophy behind the Newton 2.0 interface to the actual implementation of the interface elements. Examples from a range of Newton software show good human interface design. These examples are augmented by descriptions and discussions of the reasoning behind the guidelines.

This book also contains examples of how not to design human interface; they are marked as such and appear with a discussion that points out what’s inappropriate and how to correct it.

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for people who design and develop software for Newton devices. If you are a designer, a human interface professional, or an engineer, this book contains information you need to design and create software that ﬁts the Newton model. It also provides background information to help you plan your software product’s design.

Even if you don’t design and develop software for Newton, reading this book will help you understand the Newton interface. This understanding is useful to managers and planners who are thinking about developing Newton software, as well as to people who are studying human interface design in general.

xxi

PREFACE

This book assumes you are familiar with the concepts and terminology used with Newton devices, and that you have used a Newton device and its standard applications.

What’s in This Book

This book begins with a chapter that describes Newton devices such as the Apple MessagePad, what people do with them, and how they differ from personal computers. The ﬁrst chapter also presents important principles you should keep in mind when designing Newton software, and explains how to involve users in designing the interface. The rest of the chapters deﬁne various parts of the Newton 2.0 interface. They describe each interface element in general language and show examples of how to use the elements correctly. For the more technical reader, the book speciﬁes dimensions, spacing, and other speciﬁc implementation details for the Apple MessagePad. The book concludes with a list of common interface mistakes and a glossary.

Related Books

xxii

This book does not explain how to create Newton software with Newton Toolkit, the Newton development environment. For that you’ll need to refer to these other books, all of which come with Newton Toolkit:

■ Newton Programmer’s Guide

guide and reference for Newton programming. This book explains how to write Newton programs and describes the system software routines that you can use to do so.

This set of books is the deﬁnitive

PREFACE

■ Newton Toolkit User’s Guide. This book introduces the Newton

Toolkit (NTK) development environment and shows how to develop Newton applications using Newton Toolkit. You should read this book ﬁrst if you are a new Newton application developer.

■ Newton Book Maker User’s Guide. This book describes how to use

Newton Book Maker and Newton Toolkit to make Newton digital books and to add online help to Newton applications. You have this book only if you purchased the Newton Toolkit package that includes Book Maker.

■ The NewtonScript Programming Language. This book describes

the NewtonScript programming language.

Visual Cues Used in This Book

Throughout this book you’ll see visual cues to certain types of information.

■ Boldfaced text indicates that a new term is being deﬁned and

that a deﬁnition of the word appears in the glossary.

■ This symbol indicates an example of the correct way to use a

Newton interface element.

■ This symbol indicates an example of the wrong way to

use a Newton interface element. It speciﬁcally calls out common mistakes.

Developer Products and Support

APDA is Apple’s worldwide source for hundreds of development tools, technical resources, training products, and information for anyone interested in developing applications for Apple computer platforms. Customers receive the Apple Developer Catalog, which

xxiii

PREFACE

features all current versions of Apple development tools, as well as popular third-party development tools. APDA offers convenient payment and shipping options, including site licensing.

To order product or to request a complimentary copy of the Apple Developer Catalog, use the following information:

APDA Apple Computer, Inc. P.O. Box 319 Buffalo, NY 14207-0319

Telephone 1-800-282-2732 (United States)

1-800-637-0029 (Canada)

716-871-6555 (International) Fax 716-871-6511 AppleLink APDA America Online APDAorder CompuServe 76666,2405 Internet APDA@applelink.apple.com

xxiv

If you provide commercial products and services, call 408-974-4897 for information on the developer support programs available from Apple.

Figure 1-0 Table 1-0

CHAPTER 1

Newton and Its Users 1

Before you can begin to design an application, it is crucial that you have a clear picture of what a Newton device can do and how people will use your Newton software. This chapter introduces some high-level concepts that will help you clarify that picture. In addition, this chapter presents some basic principles of user interface design that apply to all types of software. The chapter concludes by detailing how to conduct user tests of your product during its development.

Understand Newton 1

Newton is a software and hardware technology designed for a family of products in the category of personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as the Apple MessagePad. The goal of Newton technology is to help people and businesses become more productive by simplifying basic tasks and making it easier for people to manage bits and pieces of information while on the move. Information entered on a Newton device can be moved to a desktop machine or a mainframe computer, where it can be manipulated in powerful applications.

Understand Newton 1-1

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Newton and Its Users

Newton is not a small portable computer with another graphical user interface. There may be similarities between portable computers and Newton devices, but the differences summarized below are more important than the similarities when it comes to designing a user interface for an application.

Newton Portable Computers

Focused function General purpose New architecture optimized for

mobility and communications— use it anywhere, any time

Tapping, writing, and drawing with a pen

Intelligent assistant Scripting and macros New and custom applications Existing desktop applications It’s a communications assistant It’s a personal computer Simple Complex

Derived from desktop computer architecture, which is optimized for stationary operation

Typing, pointing, and clicking with mouse and keyboard

To take advantage of its distinguishing features and capabilities, Newton has distinctive user interface elements.

Know Your Audience 1

Identifying and understanding your target audience are among the most important ﬁrst steps when you start designing your product. To create a product that people can and will use, study the people who make up your target audience.

It’s useful to create scenarios that describe a typical day in the life of a person you think uses the type of product you’re designing. Think about the different work spaces, tools, and constraints and limitations that people deal with. You can also visit actual work places and study how people do their jobs.

Analyze the steps necessary to complete each task you anticipate people wanting to accomplish. Then design your product to facilitate those tasks,

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using a step-by-step approach by thinking of how a person might get from one place to the next in a logical fashion.

Involve users throughout the design process and observe them working in their environment. Use people who ﬁt your audience description to test your prototypes and development products. Listen to their feedback and try to address their needs in your product. Develop your product with people and their capabilities, not computers and their capabilities, in mind. For more information, see “Involve Users in the Design Process” on page 1-13.

What P eople Do With Newton 1

The features and capabilities that make Newton what it is also strongly inﬂuence what people want to do with Newton devices. These expectations indirectly affect the user interface of Newton software. An application must make it easy for people to accomplish the following tasks on demand:

■ Capture information fragments—write, sketch, pick from lists, specify

dates and times, and select options

■ Organize information—ﬁle, sort, schedule, prioritize, copy, delete,

and format

■ Retrieve information—ﬁnd, recall, browse, skim, read, and view

■ Send and in some cases receive information by various means—print, fax,

mail, and direct transfer

Accessibility 1

Your software needs to appeal to and be useful to people with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. There are likely to be members of your target audience who are different from the so-called average user that you envision. Users will undoubtedly vary in their ages, styles, and abilities. They may also have physical or cognitive limitations, linguistic differences, or other differences you need to consider. Identify how the individuals in your target audience differ and what special needs they may have.

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Make your application accessible to people around the world by including support for worldwide capabilities in your designs from the beginning of your development process. Take stock of the cultural and linguistic needs and expectations of your target audiences.

Observe Basic Human Interface Principles 1

Effective software adheres to certain basic principles no matter whether it runs on a Newton PDA, a personal computer, or a high-powered computer workstation. These principles are based on the capabilities and processes not of the machine but of the human operator—how people usually think, act, and work.

Metaphors 1

Wherever possible, model the actions and objects in your program on something from the real world. This trick especially helps inexperienced users quickly grasp how your program works. Folders are a classic metaphor. People ﬁle things in folders in the real world, so they immediately understand the concept of ﬁling data items in folders on a Newton. Other common metaphors include scrubbing to delete data, tapping buttons to make things happen, sending and receiving things through an in box and out box, setting dates and times on calendars and digital clocks, and homing in on information with alphabetic index tabs. Figure 1-1 illustrates some Newton metaphors.

Metaphors suggest a use for objects and actions in the Newton interface, but that use doesn’t deﬁne or limit the implementation of the metaphor. For example, a paper folder has a limited storage capacity, but a folder on a

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Folder button and

alendar for

pecifying a date

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Figure 1-1 Metaphors help people quickly grasp how software works

folder tab for ﬁling notes

Newton doesn’t have to be constrained by the same limitation. Newton folders can hold a limitless number of items (up to the storage capacity of the hardware), and this is an advantage that the Newton can offer. Try to strike a balance between the metaphor’s suggested use and the ability of the Newton to support and extend the metaphor.

Naturally you can’t ﬁnd a metaphor for everything. Be sure to use the established metaphors, but if you can’t come up with a solid metaphor for another object or action, then do without. Don’t distort the real world into a caricature in a slavish attempt to ﬁnd a metaphor.

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Direct Manipulation 1

Your product should let users feel that they are directly controlling something tangible, not abstract. Make sure objects on the screen remain visible while a user performs actions on them, and make the result of the user’s actions immediately visible. For example, a user can reschedule a meeting in the built-in Date Book application by dragging the meeting’s icon from one time to another. Figure 1-2 illustrates direct manipulation.

Figure 1-2 Users should feel they are directly controlling something tangible

1. User drags a meeting icon to a new time 2. Icon appears at new meeting time

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