Human-Machine Interfaces (IHM)

• The presentation explores Human-Machine Interfaces (IHM), focusing on optimizing interaction in computer science.
• The course includes an introduction to IHM, cognitive sciences/ergonomics of interfaces, and IHM development tools.

Human Input and Output

• Humans perceive their environment through five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.
• Input senses for communication include vision, touch, and hearing.
• Output methods for communication include speech and gestures.
• Humans interact with machines through media like keyboards, mouses and screens.

IHM Definition

• IHM stands for Interaction Homme Machine (Human-Machine Interface).
• "Interaction" involves a continuous cycle where the user expresses an intention, the software interprets and executes it, displays a result, and the user analyzes it before further interaction.
• "Homme" refers to the end-users.
• "Machine" encompasses hardware and software with technical constraints.
• Human-Machine Interfaces are material and software devices enabling human users to interact with digital systems.
• Human-Machine Interactions are actions allowing communication between digital systems and human users.
• IHM operates between hardware and the human element.
• Hardware devices include computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Operating systems include Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
• Software includes downloaded applications and programs, as well as internet-based sites.
• From an informatics perspective, IHM involves a collection of software and hardware allowing dialogue between the user and the computer system to complete tasks; this shouldn't be confused with Graphic User Interface (GUI) which are often used in IHMs for visualization.
• Cognitively, IHM encompasses physical and cognitive phenomena involved in completing computer tasks.
• The user views the interface as the entire application.

IHM Adaptation to Users

• User characteristics to consider for IHM adaptation include physical differences, knowledge/experience, psychological characteristics, and socio-cultural characteristics.
• Physical differences include age, handicaps, and reaction speed.
• Knowledge/experience relates to the user's expertise in a task (novice, expert, professional) and the type of system use (occasional, daily).
• Psychological aspects include visual/auditory preferences and logical/intuitive styles.
• Socio-cultural factors include writing direction, date formats, and icon/color meanings.
• IHM is adapted based on context, task characteristics, and technical constraints.
• Contexts include general public, leisure, industry, and critical systems.
• Task characteristics may be repetitive, regular, or occasional.
• Technical constraints involve platform compatibility, memory capacity, screen size, sensor use, and code reuse.

Importance and Objectives of Studying IHMs

• Studying IHM is economically important.
• Typically 50-90% of development costs are related to IHM.
• Poorly designed interfaces can be costly, leading to financial loss, decreased user satisfaction, and reduced sales.
• Studying IHM is important for scientific and technical reasons.
• Interfaces are difficult to develop because people are unpredictable and activities are complex.
• Techniques, methods, and rigorous processes exist to address these challenges.
• Studying IHM is professionally important.
• You will work for companies/services that develop applications for users and not just machines.

IHM Objectives

• Designing adapted technical systems:
  • Ensuring systems are useful by meeting needs with relevant features.
  • Making systems usable by facilitating interaction.
  • Providing comfort, efficiency, security, reliability, product quality, and a positive user experience.
• Facilitating visualization and interaction:
  • Presenting real-time data through graphs and dashboards.
  • Providing tracking and supervision of ongoing processes.
• Improving responsiveness and operations management:
  • Detecting and managing alarms.
  • Communicating with programmable logic controllers (PLC) to automate and optimize tasks.
• Optimizing control and performance:
  • Enhancing the productivity and quality of results via data collection.
  • Allowing direct parameter adjustments.

IHM Evaluation Factors

• Utility: Does the product allow users to achieve their work objectives?
• Usability: the quality of human-machine interaction, ease of learning and use. - Ease of learning: easy to learn interface. - Efficiency: allows the user to complete their task with high productivity. - Ease of memorization: allows the user to recall the interface and its use. - Error reduction: minimizes user errors and helps repair errors. - Subjective satisfaction: pleasing to use.

Types of IHM

• Tactile: Interfaces employing a touchscreen, offer simplicity, intuitiveness and are currently dominant.
• Vocal: interfaces using the voice authorize users to interact by speaking.
• Gestural: Interfaces using gestures allow users to interact through movements of their hands.
• Haptic: Integrates haptic feedback offering tactile sensations during interaction, and is under development with the potential to revolutionize the user experience.
• 3D: Uses 3D visualization allowing users to view data more intuitively and is useful for maintenance, formation, and data analysis.

History of IHM

• Techno-centered IHMs (1969-1983):
  • Textual interfaces
  • Command lines, menus, and input screens.
  • Users in the 1970s were engineers and computer scientists.
  • Computers were reserved for an elite clientele and used in professional settings.
• Anthropo-centered IHMs:
  • Graphic interfaces from 1984.
  • GUI helps users interact with computers by manipulating graphic objects, often using a mouse.
  • WIMP includes Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointing, but are seen as artificial.
• Natural User Interface (NUI): emphasizes human capabilities like touch, vision, voice, and gestures.
  • NUI aims to leverage the richness of human capabilities in classical interactions.
  • Interfaces include: keyboards, screens, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch pads, voice recognition and more, while outputs include screens, voice synthesis and 3D printers.

IHM yesterday and today

• IHM yesterday: keyboard, mouse, printers, screens, speakers, remotes with buttons, scanners, and webcams.
• IHM today: virtual headsets, simulators, interactive controls, touch screens, and voice commands.

IHM Tomorrow

• IHMs of tomorrow: neuronal and grafted interfaces, and facial recognition.