USER-ORIENTED OPTIMIZATION OF THE GUI OF A FINITE ELEMENT PROGRAMME TO ENHANCE THE USABILITY OF SIMULATION TOOLS

摘要

To ensure global competitiveness, organizations need software tools with high usability which are open even to non-expert users. This is referred to as democratization of simulations. By means of usability engineering and both quantitative and qualitative customer surveys, a Finite-Element software tool was analyzed systematically. The subsequent requirement analysis provided the basis for a conceptual and visual redesign of the software's current user interface, which was implemented in a digital mock-up. The focus of the redesign was a user-friendly and human-centred interface, made possible -among others - through a novel ribbon menu.