Desktop Application Desktop Application UI Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which UI principle ensures that frequently used features are easily accessible in a desktop application?
- Proximity
- Affordance
- Fitts's Law (Correct answer)
- Gestalt
Correct answer: Fitts's Law
Fitts's Law states that the time to reach a target depends on its size and distance, so frequently used controls should be large and close to common cursor positions.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a modal dialog in a desktop application?
- Display background notifications
- Force user interaction before continuing (Correct answer)
- Show tooltips on hover
- Render splash screens
Correct answer: Force user interaction before continuing
Modal dialogs block the rest of the application until the user responds, ensuring critical decisions or inputs are handled before proceeding.
Question 3: Which layout pattern places a navigation panel on the left side of a desktop window?
- Ribbon layout
- Tab bar layout
- Navigation pane layout (Correct answer)
- Toolbar layout
Correct answer: Navigation pane layout
The navigation pane layout features a left-side panel listing sections or categories, common in file managers and email clients.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum touch target size for interactive elements on a desktop UI?
- 16×16 px
- 24×24 px (Correct answer)
- 32×32 px
- 48×48 px
Correct answer: 24×24 px
While 48×48 px is recommended for touch devices, desktop UIs typically follow 24×24 px as the minimum for clickable elements to ensure usability.
Question 5: In desktop UI design, what does the term 'affordance' refer to?
- The cost to license a UI framework
- A visual cue that suggests how a control is used (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of menu items allowed
- The color contrast ratio of text
Correct answer: A visual cue that suggests how a control is used
Affordance is the perceived property of a UI element that signals how it should be used, such as a button that looks pressable.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'progressive disclosure' in desktop UI design?
- Showing all features at once to power users
- Hiding advanced options until the user requests them (Correct answer)
- Animating transitions between screens
- Displaying error messages inline
Correct answer: Hiding advanced options until the user requests them
Progressive disclosure presents only essential controls initially and reveals advanced options on demand, reducing interface complexity for new users.
Desktop Application Desktop Application UI Design 1
Which UI principle ensures that frequently used features are easily accessible in a desktop application?