Ecological Interface Design delivers the techniques and examples that provide you with a foundation to succeed in designing advanced display graphics. The opening chapters introduce the "art" of interface design by exposing the analytical methods behind designs, the most common graphical forms, and how these methods and forms are pulled together to create a complete design.

The book then incorporates case studies that further emphasize techniques and results. Each example exemplifies a solution to a certain part of the EID puzzle. Some of the examples demonstrate the analysis phase, while others apply more scrutiny to graphical design. Each is unique, allowing allowing you to use them in the development of your own designs.

The volume concludes with an analysis that connects ecological interface design with other common interface design methods, enabling you to better understand how to combine approaches in the creation of design solutions.

Table of Contents:
Introduction and Overview
Scope of this Book
Types of Design Problems
The Ecological Part of EID
Outline
Motivation for EID
History

Work Domain Analysis
Defining the System of Interest
What Is an Abstraction Hierarchy?
Level by Level, Working through an Abstraction Hierarchy
Part-Whole Hierarchies
Models with Social Constraints
Techniques for Managing Large Models
Models of Multiple Domains
Testing Your Model for Completeness
Summary: Double-Checking Your Work Domain Model - Rules to Use
as You Actually Build It

The Language of Interface Design
Interface Description
Forms of Reference
A Visual Thesaurus for Data Relationships
How to Develop a New Visual Form
Summary: Visual Thesaurus Review Sheet

Using a Work Domain Model in Design
Information Requirements
Information Availability Analysis: What to Do if You Can't Measure It
Using Information Requirements in Design
Example Design Process
Functional Information Profiles: Working with Existing Designs
Summary: From Information and Constraints to Design

Transportation Systems
Challenges with Transportation Systems
Analysis for Command and Control of a Frigate
Analysis for Command and Control of a Destroyer
A Display for an Aircraft
A Display for Balancing Fuel in an Aircraft
Handling the Challenges

Process Control Systems
Challenges with Process Control Systems
Design for Thermal Power Generation System
Design for a Nuclear Power Simulation
Design for a Pasteurizer
Design for an Acetylene Hydrogenation Reactor
Design for a Large Refinery
Handling the Challenges

Telecommunications Systems
Challenges with Telecommunications Systems
Analysis for Network Management
An Alternative Design: Design for Scalability
Analysis for Radio Communications
Handling the Challenges

Medical Systems
Challenges
Design for Oxygenation Monitoring in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit
Patient Monitoring in the Operating Room
Analysis for Diabetes Management
Handling the Challenges

Social Systems
Challenges
Casino Gambling
Handling the Challenges

Using EID with Other Methods
A Design Framework: Defining Opportunities to Use EID with Other
Methods
EID and Other Methods
Summary

Conclusion
References
Index