Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

• Human Computer Interaction is a multidisciplinary field focusing on the design of computer technology and the interaction between humans (users) and computers.
• HCI has become popular and covers almost all forms of information technology design.
• The goal of HCI is to produce a user interface that is easy, effective, efficient, and enjoyable to use.

History of HCI

• 1970sa: Rise of the Personal Computer
• 1980s: Graphical User Interface
• 1990s: The Internet Era
• 2000s: Mobile Computing and Beyond

HCI Research Fields

• Ubiquitous Communication where computers communicate through high-speed networks and data is accessible in most locations.
• High Functionality Systems have many functions, too many for users to learn through traditional methods.
• Mass Availability of Computer Graphics, with image processing, transformations, rendering, and animation available on general workstations.
• Mixed Media Systems handle images, voice, sounds, video, text, and formatted data, merging consumer electronics and computer worlds.
• High-Bandwidth Interaction increases the speed of human-machine interaction, leading to virtual reality and computational video interfaces.
• Large and Thin Displays that are lightweight, and have low power consumption, leading to paper-like, pen-based computer systems.
• Embedded Computation integrates computing into everyday objects from cooking appliances to car braking systems.
• Group Interfaces allow groups of people to coordinate and will be embedded in systems and will cause increased rationalization of design
• User Tailorability allows ordinary users to tailor applications, driving new applications from their understanding.
• Information Utilities like CompuServe and specialized industry services will proliferate with better interfaces with high-bandwidth interaction

Disciplines Contributing to HCI

• "HCI discipline concern with the design, evolution, and implementation of an interactive computer system for human use with the study of major phenomena surrounding them."
• Ethnography
• Information security
• Psychology
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Design
• Cognitive Science
• Ergonomics & Human Factors
• Speech language pathology
• Sociology & Social psychology

HCI Components

• Human user(s).
• Computer: Any technology from desktop computers to large systems.
• Interaction: Direct or indirect communication between human and computer.

About Interacting Humans

• Humans are limited in their capacity to process information, affecting design.
• Information is received and responses are given via visual, auditory, and haptic channels, as well as movement
• Information is stored in sensory, short-term (working), and long-term memory.
• Information is processed and applied using reasoning, problem-solving, skill acquisition, and error handling.
• Emotion influences human capabilities.
• Users share common capabilities but have differences that should be considered.

About Computers

• Input devices for enabling interactive use, which allows for Text entry via keyboard, phone text, speech, and handwriting and Pointing via mouse and stylus; 3D interaction devices
• Output display devices for interactive use mostly using bitmaps like screens, large displays, situated displays, and digital paper.
• Virtual reality and 3D visualization systems utilize special devices.
• Devices in the physical world control physical elements, sound, smell, haptic feedback, and sensors.
• Memory includes RAM for short-term, magnetic/optical disks for long-term, capacity limits.
• Processing speeds affect system performance.

Interaction Described

• Interaction between user and the system includes User, Input, System, and Output.

Metaphors For Computers

• Computer as a vast library (Memex, 1945)
• Computer as a giant calculator (ENIAC, 40s-50s)
• Computer as an intelligent assistant (Licklider, 1957)
• Computer as sketchpad (Sutherland, 1962)
• Computer as tool or typewriter (Engelbart, 1963)
• Computer as a human pretender (Weizenbaum, '60s)
• Computer as a network (Taylor, 1968)
• Computer as a book (portable) (Kay, Xerox PARC)
• Computer as desktop/windows (Xerox PARC, '70s)
• Computers for the rest of us (Apple, 1984)

Successful Metaphors

• Text editing as using a typewriter.
• Voice mail as an answering machine or mailbox.
• Data as files (in folders or directories).
• Deleting a file as throwing it in the trash.
• Applications as tools (sometimes with icons).
• Programming as building objects.
• Programming as directing actors on a stage.
• Applications as agents.

Interaction Styles

• Interaction is a dialog between the computer and the user with interface styles having a profound effect.
• Command Line Interface is a means of expressing instructions to the computer directly via functions, single characters, abbreviations, or whole word commands.
• Menus are a list of options or commands presented to the user.
• Natural Language is by nature vague and imprecise and allows flexibility and creativity in expression; computers require precise instructions instead.
• Question/Answer and Query Dialog prompts users with a series of questions for the interaction step by step.
• Form-Fills and Spreadsheets are used primarily for data entry in a display resembling a paper form.
• WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers) is a graphical user interface style using common widgets.
• Point-and-Click Interfaces are actions of moving a pointer to a location on screen and pressing mouse button.
• Three Dimensional Interfaces creates virtual reality and more techniques available to interface designers.