The Core Functionalities of Windows 10

Feature List

The core functionality of windows 10 is to provide a touch enabled graphical operating system which uses GUIs and keyboard functions to enable the user to effectively communicate with a computer. Some of the main features include its voice assistant, “Cortana”, which helps the user navigate the operating system (Nield, 2015), and tablet mode which helps hybrid devices like 2-in-1 PCs behave like a tablet when it’s standalone and like a PC when connected to a keyboard. (Chacos, 2015)

User errors are prevented in Windows 10 with the use of the updated search function. This function provides recommendations for possible search results when the user enters letters into the search bar. This prevents the user from opening undesired files, applications etc. and consequently reduces the time it takes to complete a desired task. Additionally, in many instances if the user attempts to change system settings or any sensitive data the operating system warns that this task requires administrative access which protects the user from potentially destructive actions. The user is not entirely safe from user errors as Windows cannot fully predict the user’s intentions, but Windows does a fair job of preventing user errors.

Windows has many shortcuts that allow you to perform repetitive functions with ease such as switching between tasks using alt+tab which speeds up workflow. In windows 10 functions like copy and paste are enabled in the command line adding continuity and a consistent workflow through the OS. (Capati, 2014) When the user first loads windows they are prompted to sign into their Microsoft account which stores system preferences and user data making for a more convenient user experience in the long term. Windows 10 also comes with a game mode for hardware accelerations that makes gaming performance better by cutting back on background processes that could instead be used to speed up a game. (Chacos, 2017) These optimizations provided by Windows do a very good job of optimising user operations and help make the user’s experience fluent and seamless when working with multiple tasks at once.

To give the perception that the user has a great degree of control Windows 10 gives the user options for when a program is not responding by offering to kill a task through the task manager. Choosing the button to cancel on waiting for a program to respond kills the program immediately and every time it’s clicked. Windows 10 puts a great deal of control in the user’s hands when they know an action can always be taken to get a desired outcome. Having full control over the outcomes of their actions on windows gives the user a good impression of the interface and offers simplicity when they are navigating through the operating system.

To keep things simple in windows 10 the user is offered a functional user interface that limits it from performing actions that are not useful for the general user such as changing the inner workings of the OS. Features that may clutter a user’s work environment are out of view for a cleaner interface. In Microsoft Edge, the new browser that comes with Windows 10, the user is given an interface showing only what is pertinent to what the user may find useful. This offers a simple UI that helps the user effectively achieve what they intended to do on the browser.

Windows 10 offers customization for many features of the operating system that accommodate the user and does a good job of keeping the interaction with the computer simple.6. In interaction design, to account for human memory limitations, information that the user would otherwise forget is stored and recalled when necessary. Usability guidelines recommend giving the user frequent closure on tasks. This is because humans tend to be overwhelmed by overlapping tasks such as taking a phone call while writing out an email.

Small subtasks are given to the user to complete and achieve closure. When windows 10 handles an installation, the user is only given pertinent information at each screen to handle one task at a time. This ensures that the user is not overwhelmed with information and is exempted from having to remember information that they input in previous stages. Having this convenience enables the user to efficiently navigate through the installation and get more tasks completed. However, in terms of users who are unfamiliar with Windows human memory limitations are not well accounted for as tasks are not closed until explicitly cancelled by the user.

In Windows 10 cognitive directness is used in many areas of the OS such as when a button on a screen is highlighted in blue meaning that a simple enter keystroke would progress through the current process. Additionally, when a user hovers over an icon the name of the icon pops up as expected which also utilizes cognitive directness. Having these intuitive features allow for an effective user experience with little to no cognitive effort. The operating system does a fair job of cognitive directness by sharing many of the same features users would recognize in previous windows versions.

Some ways in which Windows 10 draws on various real-world analogies are through the use of the recycle bin for when you want to dispose of a file but be able to reuse it later unless permanently removed. This draws on the reusability aspect of recycling in the real world. The windows voice assistant behaves much like a real-world assistant would in the sense that they display personality. If prompted for a subjective answer, Cortana would give its opinion in a human-like manner. This helps the user build a better connection with the voice assistant as they can relate to it. Windows 10 offers many real-world analogies that are great at offering an intuitive user experience.Windows 10 OS uses the metaphor of a desktop where objects such as files and folders can be placed on it much like on a real desktop.

Additionally, the files in the folders such as txt and pdf files can be viewed as a paper and edited or marked up like on a real paper document. All these real-world analogies contribute to the effective interaction between the user and the computer by drawing on familiar concepts that they are already aware of.9. Informative feedback is present in Windows 10 when the user presses on the windows key and a menu appears giving a quick overview of the apps installed, photos and other potentially useful information. All these features allow the user to interact with the computer with minimal confusion over whether a desired action was successful. The windows environment is good at providing informative feedback to veteran users but may prove confusing to unfamiliar users.

Windows 10 caters to the typical individual user who often represents a mix of experience levels by offering a very bare bones interface with basic commands initially and progressively increasing the complexity as the user’s needs becomes more sophisticated. The Windows 10 OS has development kits for experienced users and a windows assistant for users who are just starting out to accommodate diverse experience levels. This ensures that the user gets a great level of interactivity based on their experience level making Windows 10 very capable of accommodating user experience levels.

The combination of all these guidelines mentioned in the paragraphs above contributes to the usability of an interface addressing its core functionality and providing an exceptional user experience. The Windows 10 OS addresses the needs of every user keeping attention to user expectations and convenience. These guidelines are not simply rules to be followed precisely but rather serve as suggestions for how to produce a good interface with good user interactions in mind. These guidelines are optimal in UI design when they are specific in ambiguous cases and offer leeway in cases where various actions would suffice. This ensures that the user is able to effectively and efficiently communicate with the computer.

References

1. Nield, D. (2015). 14 Things You Can Do in Windows 10 That You Couldn't Do in Windows 8. [online] Fieldguide.gizmodo.com. Available at: https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/14-things-you-can-do-in-windows-10-that-you-couldnt-do-1721271379 [Accessed 24 Jul. 2018].
2. Capati, M. (2014). Windows 10: Core Features of Technical Preview. [online] Make Tech Easier. Available at: https://www.maketecheasier.com/windows-10-technical-preview/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2018].
3. Chacos, B. (2015). 10 things Windows 10 does better than Windows 8. [online] PCWorld. Available at: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2950014/windows/10-things-windows-10-does-better-than-windows-8.html [Accessed 24 Jul. 2018].
4. Chacos, B. (2017). Tested: Windows 10's Game Mode makes unplayable games playable—sometimes. [online] PCWorld. Available at: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3187171/windows/tested-windows-10s-game-mode-makes-unplayable-games-playable-sometimes.html [Accessed 24 Jul. 2018].