DonRiver develops new GUI solution

DonRiver, an Operational Support System provider that serves the telecommunications industry, recently developed a new graphical user interface design intended to help customers use its tools more effectively.

With the telecommunications industry experiencing rapid service model changes in response to shifting consumer demands, the need to develop a better user interface for support applications had become severe. DonRiver had been using an out-of-the-box solution in the past, but it was not up to the task of meeting the unique requirements of the industry. Instead, a customized solution proved necessary.

John McVey, global managing director of DonRiver, said the time for a better GUI was long past.

"Telcos have been requesting a better GUI for more than a decade," said McVey.

McVey added that many existing GUIs in the industry have gained a reputation as being click heavy and difficult to use. By developing a new interface system, the company is better able to meet user needs through its Operational Support System solution.

Importance of adequate GUI systems
This project emphasizes the importance of GUI design for operational success in just about any industry. Companies designing enterprise, consumer or industrial applications have to evaluate how the user interface will impact the experience of the target audience. For example, an engineer installing advanced telecommunications equipment will need a user interface that concisely displays data in a readable manner. A consumer using an application to get directions to a hotel, on the other hand, has completely different needs. Designing GUIs for the specific needs of users is, however, only the first step in a technology world faced with device diversity.

Once developers have evaluated how they need to design the GUI for their specific user base, it is vital that it is customized for different types of devices. The interface needs of a user running a desktop PC are different than those of a tablet or smartphone user. Each different type of device has to deal with screen size and data selection limitations that the GUI has to overcome. Furthermore, each of these computing systems is used differently. Therefore, data has to be presented intuitively based on how systems are generally deployed. Making a GUI work from a user and device-specific perspective can enable companies to optimize the experience.