Standards versus guidelines for designing user interface software

There are significant differences between designing hardware and software for the user interface to computer-based information systems. Formal standards may improve hardware design but may prove ineffective for aiding software design. Our present knowledge supports development of flexible design guidelines for user interface software, but does not justify imposition of standards. Effective application of guidelines will require a process of translation into system-specific design rules, and/or future incorporation into computer-based design algorithms.