Human-Computer Interaction Quiz

Lecture 1: Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

• HCI is the principle of interaction between humans and computers, aiming to make computers usable.
• Textbooks: Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G.D., & Beale, R. (2004). Human computer interaction (3rd ed.). Resources are available online at http://www.hcibook.com/e3/plain/about/book/.
• Course Marks:
  • Report 1: 5 points
  • Midterm: 10 points
  • Report 2: 5 points
  • Practical: 20 points
  • Semester final: 60 points
  • Total: 100 points

Course Outlines

• Introduction:
  • Technological interaction is integral to daily life.
  • People often have limited time for learning new systems.
  • Computer systems should, therefore, be easy to use, learn, and free of errors.
  • A key concern of HCI is designing and developing such systems.
• What is HCI?:
  • Enabling interaction between humans and computers, thereby improving usability.
  • Key components involved include human cognition, interface, computer processing, and analog/digital input/output.
• UI/UX designer:
• Difference between UI and UX:
• Difference between HCI and UI/UX:

What is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)?

• HCI aims to improve the usability of computer systems.
• HCI involves:
  • The end-user
  • Other members in the organization
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Interactive processes where the user inputs requests & the computer returns results

A. Human (Users)

• Users have diverse needs and abilities.
• The central principle in HCI is that "people should come first."
• User abilities include culture, cognitive skills, experience, and physical attributes such as age, hand size, height, strength, and disabilities.

B. Computer

• Computers are not restricted to traditional computing devices; they encompass embedded systems like:
  • Mobile phones
  • Cameras
  • Cars
  • Washing machines/dishwashers
  • Alarm clocks
  • ATMs
  • Copy machines
• Computer systems comprise various parts that influence interaction:
  • Input devices: E.g., text entry, pointing
  • Output devices: E.g., screens (small and large), digital paper
  • Virtual reality: Special displays and interactions
  • Physical interactions: e.g., sound, haptic, bio-sensing
  • Paper: Print & scan
  • Memory: RAM, permanent storage, capacity, and access
  • Processing: Speed of processing, networks

C. Interaction

• Interaction's central goal is improving the usability of systems, including computers.
• Human-computer interaction should resemble human interaction (open-ended dialogue).

Example of Interaction: Chatbots

• Chatbots are increasingly important for customer service & communication.
• Examples include customer service, payment systems, and various forms of assistance (e.g., Google Assistant, medical chatbots, ATMs).

Importance of Usability: Usable systems improve productivity, reduce costs, enhance sales, and promote customer loyalty..

A Usable System is

• Easy to use
• Easy to learn
• Easy to remember how to use
• Efficient and effective to use
• Safe to use
• Enjoyable to use

4 Dimensions of Usability

• Easy to use: Analyze the level and severity of user errors, along with how readily users can recover from said errors.
• Easy to learn: How readily can users accomplish tasks the first time using the system?
• Easy to remember how to use: How easily can users re-establish proficiency after a period of non-use?
• Likeability: A measure of how enjoyable a product is to use.
• Effective to use: Is the product capable of helping users meet their needs & accomplish tasks.
• Efficient to use: Can the product achieve its intended outcomes without wasting user time or resources.
• Safe to use: Is the product safe and secure for users to interact with it?

UI/UX and HCI

• The diagram shows the intersection of roles and responsibilities related to UI/UX and HCI.
• Different people with varying roles are involved in the design and development of a product based on user needs and usability.

What is UX?

• UX designers prioritize user needs and focus on creating easy-to-use and understandable products enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Key elements in UX design, including defining problems, understanding users, generating task flows, creating sketches and prototypes, and usability testing.

What is UI?

• UI designers focus on making products enjoyable to interact with. This includes:
  • Color schemes
  • Typefaces
  • Iconography
  • Layout

UI vs. UX

• Diagram showcasing visual differences between UI and UX design.

Practical Presses of HCI

• Design and implementation of user interfaces
• Evaluation of user interfaces

The Difference Between HCI and UX Design:

• HCI: Focuses on research and academic principles around human-computer interaction.
• UX: Focuses on practical, industry-related approaches to creating an optimal user experience.

Exercise

• Identify and analyze good and bad design elements in relation to principles of usability.

Information Overload

• Examples like parking signs with excessive information illustrate how too much data can negatively impact the user experience.

Marking Required and Optional Fields

• Making required fields explicit helps users avoid unintentionally omitting needed details, however, this can lead to users neglecting optional fields.
• Marking non-required fields as optional or not visually distinct from required fields avoids this.

Sorting Content (Good vs. Bad)

• Good examples will be those that are well-organized and easily navigable.
• Bad examples are those that involve challenges in organizing or navigating the information.

Good vs. Bad Design (interface examples)

• Good design focuses on minimizing efforts for the intended user experience.

Examples (continued)

• Analysis of various UI design elements, focusing on different interface features like buttons, loading screens, and website navigations, that can be "good" and "bad" from a usability perspective.

These Keys are Useful?

• Emphasizing the importance of making products easy-to-use. The process isn't straightforward.

Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX) design. This quiz covers topics such as usability principles, input devices, and the role of chatbots in customer service. See how well you understand the relationships between users and computer systems.