Software Design and Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Software Design and Development - Assignment Example 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. One of the graphical control elements that have been widely used in the design is drop-down lists which will enable the 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 (GUI) 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: 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 with the â€Å"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.