PART ONE

GENERALITIES
 INTRODUCTION TO HCI
 INTERACTION AS FUSION OF SKILLS
 CHAP 1.
INTRODUCTION: FIELD OF HCI

 What does the discipline of Human

Computer Interaction cover?
 Why study HCI?

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Overview: Map of Human
Computer Interaction Use and Context

Social Organization and Work Human-Machine Fit and Adaptation

Application Areas
Human Computer
Dialogue Computer
Human Techniques Graphics
Information
Processing
Aa
Dialogue Dialogue
Language, Genre Architecture
Communication Input and
and Interaction Ergonomics Output Devices

Example Systems
Evaluation and Case Studies Implementation
Techniques Techniques and Tools
Design
Approaches
Development Process
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Use and context of computers
 Problems of fitting computers, their uses, and the context of use together
 Social organization and work
◦ humans are interacting social beings
◦ considers models of human activity:
 small groups, organizations, socio-technical systems
◦ quality of work life…
 Application areas
◦ characteristics of application domains, e.g. individual vs group work
◦ popular styles
 document production, communications, design, tutorials and help,
multi-media information kiosks, continuous control (cockpits, process
control), embedded systems (copiers, home appliances)
 Human-machine fit and adaptation
◦ improve the fit between the designed object and its use
 how systems are selected and adopted; how users improvise routine
systems; how systems adapt to the user (customization); how users
adapt to the system (training, ease of learning); user guidance (help,
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 Human characteristics
 To understand the human as an information-processing system,
how humans communicate, and
people’s physical and psychological requirements
 Human information processing
◦ characteristics of the human as a processor of information
 memory, perception, motor skills, attention, problem-solving, learning and
skill acquisition, motivation, conceptual models, diversity...
 Language, communication and interaction
◦ aspects of language
 syntax, semantics, pragmatics; conversational interaction, specialized languages
 Ergonomics
◦ anthropometric and physiological characteristics of people and their
relationship to workspace and the environment
 arrangement of displays and controls; cognitive and sensory limits; effects of
display technology; fatigue and health; furniture and lighting; design for
stressful and hazardous environments; design for the disabled...
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Ergonomics_ additional Definition
 Ergonomics (or human factors) is the
scientific discipline concerned with the
understanding of interactions among humans
and other elements of a system, and the
profession that applies theory, principles,
data and methods to design in order to
optimize human well-being and overall
system performance.
 Branch of engineering science in which
biological science is used to study the
relation between workers and their
environments

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Ergonomics & HCI (G. Z.Bedney,
2015)
 HCI is an interdisciplinary field that gained recognition as
one of the critically important fields in ergonomics. It is an
area of study that draws on ideas and theoretical concepts
from computer science, psychology, industrial design, and
other fields.
 For ergonomics, psychological aspects of HCI analysis are
specifically relevant.
 Presently, psychological aspects of HCI studies are based on
the application of the information processing branch of
cognitive psychology. However, there is no single, unified
approach in cognitive psychology for resolving basic issues of
software design. A general opinion is that scientists and
practitioners should pick the methods that they see fit in
each specific situation.
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 Computer system and interface
architecture
 The specialized components computers have for interacting with people
 Input and output devices
◦ mechanics and characteristics of particular hardware devices, performance
characteristics (human and system), esoteric devices, virtual devices
 Dialogue techniques
◦ the basic software architecture and techniques for interacting with humans
 e.g. dialog inputs and outputs; interaction styles; issues
 Dialog genre
◦ The conceptual uses to which the technical means are put
 e.g. interaction and content metaphors, transition management, style and
aesthetics
 Computer graphics
◦ basic concepts from computer graphics that are especially useful to HCI
 Dialogue architecture
◦ software architecture and standards for interfaces
 e.g., screen imaging; window managers; interface toolkits; multi-user
architectures, look and feel, standardization and interoperability
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The Development Process
 The construction and evaluation of human interfaces
 Design approaches
◦ the process of design
 e.g. graphical design basics (typography, color, etc); software
engineering; task analysis; industrial design...
 Implementation techniques and tools
◦ tactics and tools for implementation, and the relationship between
design, evaluation and implementation
 e.g. prototyping techniques, dialog toolkits, object-oriented methods,
data representation and algorithms
 Evaluation techniques
◦ philosophy and specific methods for evaluation
 e.g. productivity, usability testing, formative and summative evaluation
 Example systems and case studies
◦ classic designs to serve as example of interface design genres
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Why study human use of computer
systems?
 Business view:
◦ to use humans more productively/effectively
◦ the human costs now far outweigh hardware and software costs

 Personal view:
◦ people view computers as appliances, and want it to perform as one

 Marketplace view:
◦ everyday people using computers
 now expect “easy to use system”
 not tolerant of poorly designed systems
 little vendor control of training
 heterogeneous group

◦ if product is hard to use, people will seek other products

 eg Mac vs IBM (Microsoft Windows)
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Why study human use of computer
systems? (2)
 The system view:
◦ complex human
◦ complex computer
◦ complex interface between the two

 The human factors view:

◦ humans have necessary limitations
◦ errors are costly in terms of
 loss of time
 loss of money
 loss of lives in critical systems
 loss of morale
◦ design can cope with such limitations!

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  The social view:
Computers contribute to critical parts of our society, and cannot be
ignored
◦ educate our children
Why study human use of

◦ take medical histories and provide expert advice

computer systems? (3)

◦ keep track of our credit worthiness

◦ play(?) war games (and help form policies)
◦ control air and ground traffic flow
◦ book travel
◦ control chemical/oil/nuclear plants
◦ control space missions
◦ assist humans with their everyday tasks (office automation)
◦ control complex machines (aircraft, space shuttles, super tankers)
◦ help control consumer equipment (cars, washing machines)
◦ entertainment (games, intellectual stimulation).…
In all these views, economics and human best interests are
aligned
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You know now
 The HCI discipline includes the study of:
◦ the use and context of computers
◦ human characteristics
◦ computer system and interface architecture
◦ the development process
 HCI is worth studying because it aligns
both human interests and economic
interests

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What is HCI?
 Narrowly: 1 user, 1 computer
◦ Focus on software, layout and operation of
User Interface
 Broadly: people and computers
◦ Users’ mental processes,
◦ work practices
◦ Training; collaboration; management
◦ Social/organizational/health issues

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FIELD OF HCI
Why HCI?
 User interfaces matter:
◦ for efficiency,
◦ For convenience,
◦ for commercial success,
◦ Even for life and death
 People time is more expensive than
computer time
 Everyone has stories of bad user interface
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COMPLEX COMPONENTS IN HCI

Ⓑ1

Ⓑ2
COMPLEX COMPLEX COMPLEX
HUMAN INTERFACE SYSTEM
Ⓐ

COMPLETE INTERACTION BETWEEN A& B AND FULL

USER EXPERIENCE RESIDE IN THE HANDS OF DESIGNER!
Six aspects of HCI

 Human abilities (perception, memory, …)

 Technologies (windowing, mouse,VR, …)
 Design methods (prototyping, lifecycles, …)
 Evaluation methods (experiments,
observation, …)
 Guidelines and results (what has been
proven to work in particular situations, e.g.,
typography)
 Implementation tools and techniques

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 Goals for HCI Profession
 Science vs. intuition in interface design …
◦ “There are places for both…”
 But, actually, what is intuition … ?
◦ Does it come from “above”, … or does it come
from training and/or observation…?

 Three goals for HCI (Shneiderman):

◦ Influencing academic and industrial researchers
◦ Providing tools, techniques, and knowledge for
commercial designer
◦ Raising the computer consciousness of the
general public
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Goal: Influencing Academic and
Industrial Researchers
 Apply the “scientific method for interface design
(according to Shneiderman)”:
◦ Understanding of a practical problem and related
theory
◦ Lucid statement of a testable hypothesis
◦ Manipulation of a small number of independent
variables
◦ Measurement of specific dependent variables
◦ Careful selection and assignment of subjects
◦ Control for bias in subjects, procedures, and materials
◦ Application of statistical tests
◦ Interpretation of results, refinement of theory, and
guidance for experimenters
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Goal: Influencing Academic
and Industrial Researchers (2)
 Potential research topics
◦ Reducing anxiety and fear of computer usage
◦ Graceful Evolution
◦ Social media participation
◦ Input devices
◦ Online help
◦ Information exploration

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 Goals for HCI profession, 2/2
 Providing tools, techniques, and knowledge for system
implementers
◦ Rapid prototyping is easy when using contemporary tools
◦ Use general or self-determined guideline documents written
for specific audiences
◦ To refine systems, use feedback from individual or groups of
users
 Raising the computer consciousness of the general public
◦ Many novice users are “unenthusiastic” due to experience with
poor product design,
◦ Good designs help novices by being clear, competent, and
nonthreatening

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