Software Design and Development - Assignment Example

 Software Design and Development a. Input Screen Design for the Program i. Input screen for paint Output screen for itemized bill i. Data Flow Diagrams Selects Provides Provides Settles for Has Generates Chooses Has Generates Requests for Supplies dimensions Justification of Software Structures and Data Types The proposed software design presented in this paper is intended to provide a user centered interface for the customers that not only engage users but can also enable them to carry out various tasks with minimal assistance. First and foremost, with regard to its aesthetics, the entire design provides a visual appeal that provides an amazing feel when using. Additionally, the input structures have been minimized as much as possible to make it easier to use the product and improve the user experience. This is particularly important because individuals are normally naturally drawn to attractive things. According to Seffah and Metzker (2008, p.54), likeability of a product user interface is critically important particularly if the developed software is intended to be used for commercial related activities. Generally, the design of software products takes place in a multi-step process entailing phases from initiation, analysis, design and implementation, maintenance and disposal. It is the wish of the stakeholders in every software project that the final product leaves all members of the involved team satisfied. For example, when people like a particular product, they are more likely to continue using it and even recommend it to others. Drop Down Lists One of the graphical control elements that has been widely used in the design is drop down lists which will enable user to select one value from a given list of options. The inclusion of drop down lists will not only simplify the contents of the user program but is also likely to provide a great way of reducing clutter as well as a dynamic navigation structure. In addition, the use of drop down lists in the graphical user interface (GIU) of the program will make it easier to display options in such a manner that customers will have easy time tracing the exact options that they could be interested in. For example, an arrow is displayed in the drop down list box and users only need to click the arrow to make the list of items active and select their chosen values/items as shown below: Hyperlinks A number of hyperlink buttons as well as hypertexts have been used in the design of the programs user interface to enhance the navigation of the system and allow users to automatically jump to another place within the system. For example, the hyperlink integrated in the “HELP” button found in the lower section of the input screen provides a reference mechanism whereby the users will be able to access additional information or guides by simply clicking the button. Similarly, the (click here) hypertext found in the two input screens for paint and wall paper also serves the same purpose. Generally, the hyperlinks enhance clarity and also help customers to navigate to the preparation treatment window of the AIDCP with ease. Besides, presence of the clause “if in need” accompanying the hyperlink will assert to the customers that only fellows interested in preparation treatment will click on these hyperlinks. Input Text Fields Text fields are also one of the important input controls that have been used to allow users enter a single line of text into the application. This is critically important in the sections where there is no multiple choice selections. For example, the text field used in the paints screen allows users to enter the number of tins they require. Similarly, another input text field has been used in the Wall paper screen section to allow users enter the number of wall paper rolls they need. These text fields will be filled on-the-fly depending on the choice that the customer makes. This helps to improve the efficiency while customers interact with the graphical user interface. Finally, there is a common pattern in the text field or button sizes as well as the fonts that are used in different user interfaces of AIDCP. This measure helps in attaining consistency which Seffah & Metzker (2008) consider as a crucial aspect of usability engineering. Radio Buttons In the design of the wall paper screen, a radio button has been used to allow users choose an optional preparation treatment of walls which costs higher by an additional £0.50 per every square metre. Additionally, as shown in the design of the output screen, the presence of print or close buttons will leave the customers less stranded about the way forward after an itemized bill has been presented to them. In essence, this screen helps attain one the purposes of interface design which is to allow end users to communicate meaning plus function thus enhancing clarity. Other Features There are a number of other important features that have been included in the design of the program to enhance its functionality, likability as well as usability. One way of attaining this satisfaction is to have an organized and documented set of practices and rules for use in exploring available design choices so that the participating team chooses on best design possible to do the implementation of a software product (Seffah & Metzker 2008). . Another important feature related to aesthetics of the program interface is that the notifications are presented in screaming colors as shown in screen diagrams. This is to reduce the possibilities of the customers disregarding them. The buttons used are labeled using suggestive names to enhance simplicity of the user interfaces. For instance, a customer who sees a button labeled “VIEW BILL” will instinctively understand and comprehend that pressing this button will lead to display of the itemized bill. On the other hand, lengths and heights of walls are to be in float format. This will help in catering for dimensions that could be containing decimal value. Going by fig 1.5, it will be in order for names, categories and userid to use string variables for the reason that names will typically contain a set of characters. Dimensions such as length and height will use float to cater for lengths or heights that are specified with decimal points. Coverage will be specified in float because it entails a product of two floats which will always result into a float. Going by fig 1.6, the coverage of a tin of point will be given in floats because the area covered will involve multiplication of a length and a width and this is bound to result into a float especially if the dimensions used in the calculation have decimal values. As per figure 1.7, the dimensions will be represented using a string variable for the reason that the description of the dimension will be done by specifying the length by the width like 45m by 34.5m. Finally, the use of the “CANCEL” as shown in the last screen diagram will help customers to recover from mistakes that may arise while they feed information to AIDCP. Support for recoverability from mistakes or errors will make customers deem AIDCP as a user-friendly facility. The “OK” button shown in the screen button is made active by default for the reason that end users of computer software systems will more often than not click on “OK”. Pseudo Code Algorithms The algorithm that can be used for developing the AIDCP is as shown here below:- Input: height, lengths, wall design option Output: itemized bill Enter height If (! height >=2 or height Read More