Using technology to achieve ease of use

The user interface is a critical determiner of the success of AT&T's products and services. Customers demand interfaces that are attractive, entertaining, and easy to use. New technologies promise significant improvements in the interfaces between people and systems. However, care is needed to ensure that these technologies produce results that are in fact easy to use. The articles in this issue describe ways to achieve high quality user interfaces in AT&T products and services. These include a user-centered approach to design and development, the use of standard interfaces to provide a common look and feel across products, and the use of software tools that promote good design principles.