Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

References:

1. Human Computer Interaction by Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory D.

Abowd, Russell Beale

2. The essence of Human Computer Interaction by Christine Faulkner

3. Designing Interfaces by Tidwell

4. GUI Bloopers 2.0 by Jeff Johnson

5. The elements of User Interface Design by Theo Mandel

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 What is HCI?

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 What is HCI?
Interaction between user and computer OR

Interaction

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 Parts of HCI

What is HCI?
Individual or a
group of users …
Three entities

Desktop computers, Human

Machines, Process
control & embedded Direct & Indirect
systems … Interaction

Computer Interaction

- Direct Interaction: Dialogs with feedback

5 - Indirection Interaction: Batch processing
 What is HCI?
HCI Terms interchangeably used:

HCI (Human Computer Interaction)

CHI (Computer Human Interaction)
MMI (Man Machine Interaction)
HMI (Human Machine Interaction)

Interaction and Interface words: Interchangeably used

Int
era Int
cti erf
on ace
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 What is HCI?

HCI deals with:

Design
Implementation and
Evaluation of Interactive systems

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 Relationship between user and computer

HCI

HUMAN / COMPUTER/
USER MACHINE

- Single / Group of Users / Organizations - Desktop computers, machines …

- Emphasis on user - Mobile phones, PDAs, etc.
- Highly complex organisms - Highly complex systems

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 What to study in this course?

- Interfaces
INTERACT - HCI Patterns
ION - Design
- Usability Evaluation etc.

USER COMPUTER
/ MACHINE

- Capabilities - You already know much

- Mental - New Input / Output devices etc.
- Physical
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 Objectives of HCI
Design for people

Design for tasks

Design for environments

 In which users live and operate e.g. an organization

How to make the user interaction with computer easier?

Design easy, natural and intuitive computer systems

 To save time
 To reduce costs
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 Objectives of HCI
Designing Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
 Learning those interfaces
 Efficient use of those interfaces
 Evaluate and compare interfaces

Designing web interfaces

Explore new paradigms/prototypes of interaction

Develop models and theories of interaction

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 Why study HCI? (Software Perspective)

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 Why study HCI? (Software Perspective)

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 Why study HCI? (Software Perspective)

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 Why study HCI? (Software Perspective)

In word processors / spreadsheets

Accidently selecting a command never wished for

For example:
 Selecting “delete” instead of “save” due to slip of mouse cursor

Why?
 Because two commands close to each other !

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 Why study HCI? (Non-Software Perspective)
- Push Pull trap !!
- How much it is easy to use the door?

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 Why study HCI? (Non-Software Perspective)

- Which side the door will open?

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 Why study HCI? (Non-Software Perspective)

Turning the radio knobs while driving

Are you sure you are changing:
Radio stations or
Volume
Similar knobs: Which knob for which task ??

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 Why study HCI? (Non-Software Perspective)

 How do humans interact with bicycle?

 You need:

Handle bar
Brake control
Seat
Foot pedals

 If bicycle is not properly designed, you may not be able to

use it !
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 Why study HCI? (Non-Software Perspective)

Setting alarm on digital watches?

Poorly written instructions on VCR

Difficult to operate

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 Why study HCI? (End Result)

User attempts few times

To use that product / software
If unable to use it
Looses hope and
Gives up !

Catastrophe:
Product unsold
Your company in loss
Competitors win !

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 Why study HCI? (End Result)

Thus we need to:

Design &
Develop

Usable / User-friendly / interactive systems

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 Why study HCI? (End Result)

 To develop products/interaction techniques that are:

Easy to use
Easy to learn
Easy to remember

 To design user-friendly computer systems

That support users to perform tasks easily and efficiently

 To avoid unnecessary complexity in the design of

computer systems
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 HCI-based Products

Software and non-software products

Output of resultant product (on which HCI techniques have

been used)

Useful: Accomplish what is required: play music, cook dinner,

format a document

Usable: Do it easily and naturally, without danger of error, etc

Make people want to use it, be attractive, engaging, fun, etc

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 - Means of building better GUIs
- User Interface Layout

Compute
Design r Science - Understanding users
- User behavior
- Memory
- Help facilities
Sociolo Psychol
- Groupware gy
HCI ogy

Linguist
ics A.I. - Users physical
capabilities

Philoso Physiol
- Language for commands
Error messages, labels etc. phy ogy
- Creating consistency

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