HUMAN

COMPUTER

INTERACTION

(HCI)

HCI
is a multidisciplinary field of study focusing on the design of

computer technology and, in particular, the interaction between

humans (the users) and computers. While initially concerned with

computers, HCI has since expanded to cover almost all forms of

information technology design.

HCI PRINCIPLES
Broader in scope than guidelines — “more fundamental, widely

applicable, and enduring”

• On the other hand, this greater generality results in the need for

more clarification, or individual interpretation by interaction

designers

• The upshot is — before applying HCI principles, get to know the

context of your users and applications very well first

• Many HCI gurus offer “their take” on design principles — frequently

overlapping, with individual highlights

KNOW THY USER UNDERSTAND THE TASK

• Corollary: if you think you know thy user, think again
The term task refers to the job to be
• Diversity across multiple dimensions: age, gender,

accomplished by the user through the use of the

physical and cognitive abilities, education, culture or

interactive system
ethnicity, training, motivation, goals, personality

REDUCE MEMORY LOAD

STRIVE FOR CONSISTENCY
This applies to (a) both within an application and

Keeping the user’s short-term memory load light is of

across different applications and (b) both the

particular importance with regard to the interface’s

interaction model and interface implementation.
role as a quick and easy guidance to the completion of

the task.

THE GOALS OF HCI

The goals of HCI are to produce usable and safe systems, as well as

functional systems. In order o produce computer systems with good usability,

developers must attempt to

understand the factors that determine how people use technology

develop tools and techniques to enable building suitable systems

achieve efficient, effective, and safe interaction

put people first

GROWTH

USABILITY
Usability is one of the key concepts in HCI. It is concerned

with making systems easy to learn and use. A usable system

is:

easy to learn

easy to remember how to use

effective to use

efficient to use

safe to use

enjoyable to use