Computer Providing Data, Services, and Analytics: The Role of User Interface

Attraction of the Message: The Cases Many-to-One, One-to-Many, and Many-to-Many

The informing process in the cases of one-to-many and many-to-many topologies has one initial phase – attraction. The user must be attracted to explore the provided message. The initial contact with the system must generate an emotional impact on the user by the visuals provided. Pictures and graphics are essential, not data provided in textual form. Attraction doesn’t seem so important in other topologies. In any case when the receiver has options to choose, attraction plays the key role. It includes two stages – first to grab attention, otherwise the receiver will ignore the message even without considering it; and second to allow immediate mapping to the user’s needs – to preserve the attention in a way to decide whether to continue considering the message. These two steps must not expect any efforts on behalf of the users.

Overemphasizing the attraction is beyond these first stages is contra-productive from point of view of misinforming risk. Making the decision solely by emotions increases the risk of making mistakes. Without addressing attraction, the message will become unnoticed, relying only on attraction, the message will lead to mistake. Good balance is the key for sustainable user interface that pays attention to long-term positive user-experience.