Interactive Systems

Design
Human Computer Interaction
(HCI)

Design of Interactive
System

As products and experiences become

more complicated or gain new
capabilities, designers face new
challenges in helping users use them
effectively.
attempts to improve the usability and
experience of the object or system, by
first researching and understanding
certain users' needs and then designing
to meet and exceed these needs.

Motivation for and background to

Human Computer interaction
(HCI) and Interactive Systems
Design, in particular

Development of computer applications

created the comparatively recent
problems associated with mass-market
systems

We should know HCI

When HCI is considered as an afterthought
on the development process, the worse
the project gets
If the interface is wrong then users suffer

Terms to be familiar
with

HCI - Human Computer Interaction

is concerned with studying and
improving the many factors that
influence the effectiveness and
efficiency of computer use.
Ergonomics is the study of work.
involved the design of the `total
working environment'

Terms to be familiar
with
Human Factors is used to describe
the study of user interfaces in their
working context.

The entire person

Physiology
Perception
Cognition

Looking Back (History)

Middle ages
The early history of computing can be traced
back to the narrow aims of mathematicians,
logicians and astronomers.
There was little or no incentive to improve HCI.

The 18th and 19th Century

The agricultural and industrial revolutions

there was an increasing concern to produce accurate

maps and navigation charts

Babbage's (1791-1871) Difference Engine /

Analytical Engine.

Looking Back (History)

The Early 20th Century

The economic pressures for trade increased
develop a computational device to calculate
general statistics for the immigrant population
and political factors were intervening to create
a greater market for computing devices
the style of interaction was still based around
the techniques pioneered in Babbage's
analytical engine

Looking Back (History)

Mid-20th Century
The Second World War
The Colossus (1943) was perhaps
the first truly interactive computer.
the first machine languages were
beginning to appear

created a new class of novice users

Looking Back (History)

Turning Point

1981
introduced their first PC together with DOS
(Disk Operating System)

A cycle set in, where more people were

introduced to computers

1982
XEROX introduced their STAR user
interface

Beginning of HCI as a conscious design activity

by software companies

HCI a key for current

and future systems

The first is that the user population is

growing.
The application range is growing.
Degree of expertise is growing.

All of these trends indicate the user

interface design will of critical
importance in an increasingly
competitive marketplace.

Computer Systems
Designers Cues

There are very few systems whose

designers are typical of the user population.
One of the reasons for this is the sheer
diversity of many user populations:

Expertise
Age
Disability
Nationality

User Centered Design

Designer's model of an interface may be
very different from that of their users.