The MAPS Caregiver Script Generator is a Visual Basic 6 application. The gui adheres to a number of user-interface design concepts.
User-interface Design
Visibility.
MAPS takes advantage of tool tips to tell the user about a lot of the functionality of the application.
The multiple views of scripts available to the user also provides ample visibility of the script-in-making.
Feedback.
MAPS provides visual queues as feedback to the user when they perform any time consuming actions. For example, when waiting to add pictures or load scripts, an hour glass will appear to indicate to the user that their action is being performed.
Tool tips also appear when the user has moused over an item.
Pop-up messages appear to notify when actions of saving and deleting scripts have been completed.
Constraints.
MAPS constrains the user from actions that are not allowed.
Errors.
MAPS notifies the user when an action will not be completed properly. For example, if the user tries to save a script that contains prompts that are incomplete, an error message will notify the user that the script did not save properly.
MAPS also makes sure that the user does not perform an irreversible action without double checking first. For example, if a user tries to overwrite a previously saved script, MAPS will make sure that this is what the user meant to do.
In case the user performs an action they didn't want to do, MAPS has Undo and Redo options available.
Consistency and Standards.
MAPS takes advantage of the user's existing knowledge and experience with standard Windows applications by using the same menus, buttons, and functions as many typical Windows applications. This gives MAPS a familiar look and makes it easy-to-use from the very first time.
