Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

Study Notes

HCI is an interdisciplinary field focused on designing, evaluating, and implementing interactive computing systems for human use.
It studies the phenomena surrounding human-computer interaction.
HCI aims to understand how people interact with computers and design technology that integrates seamlessly into daily life.
The field encompasses the abstract interaction model and the technical realization (interface).
HCI is about understanding how people interact with computers and designing technology that fits seamlessly into their lives.

HCI is the study and practice of designing, evaluating, and implementing interactive computing systems for human use.
It also involves studying the phenomena surrounding these interactions.

Interaction is the abstract model of how humans interact with computing devices for a task.
An interface is the technical realization, or means, of that interaction model. Interface is a choice of hardware or software.
The "I" in HCI refers to both interaction and interface, combining the abstract model and technology.

Human: Understanding human capabilities (cognitive, physical, perception, memory, problem-solving, motor skills) is crucial.
Computer: Understanding the capabilities and limitations of the technology (hardware and software) to best serve user needs.
Interaction: The communication channel between the human and computer, including input methods (keyboard, mouse, touch, voice) and output methods (screen displays, sound, haptic feedback).

User-Centered Design (UCD): An iterative process focused on users, involving users at every stage of the design process to create usable products. This includes research and design techniques.
Usability: Making systems easy to use and learn, including factors like effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, learnability, and memorability.
User Experience (UX): A broader concept encompassing all user interactions with a company, service, or product. Aims to improve user satisfaction, ease of use, and pleasure from the interaction.
Accessibility: Designing systems usable by people of all abilities, including various disabilities (visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, neurological).
Interaction Design: Creating engaging interfaces with well-defined behaviors, enabling natural and efficient user interaction.
Feedback: Providing information about actions performed, allowing users to understand the results and make necessary corrections.
Consistency: Similar actions and elements should produce similar results and behaviors. This enhances user understanding and helps quickly learn new parts of a system.

Improving User Satisfaction: Creating systems users find enjoyable and fulfilling.
Increasing Productivity: Designing interfaces that allow users to complete tasks quickly and efficiently.
Reducing Errors: Designing systems that minimize user errors and allow for recovery when mistakes happen.
Ensuring Accessibility: Designing systems usable by a broad range of users, regardless of abilities.

Computer Science: Application design and engineering of human-computer interfaces.
Psychology: Theories of cognitive processes and analysis of user behavior.
Sociology: Interactions between technology, work, and organization.
Design and Industrial Design: Creation of interactive products.

Improved Usability: Easy to learn, efficient to use, satisfying user experience, enhancing productivity, and reducing errors.
User-Centered Design: Understanding user needs, behaviors, and preferences through research to meet users' expectations.
Enhanced Accessibility: Designing to accommodate users with diverse abilities, improving accessibility and inclusivity in digital interactions.
Innovative Interaction Techniques: Exploration and development of new interaction techniques such as touch interfaces, gesture recognition, and voice interfaces.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Combining perspectives from various fields (psychology, cognitive science, design) to understand human behavior and improve system design.
Iterative Design Process: Using iterative processes to allow for testing and refinement based on user feedback.

Subjectivity in User Preferences: Difficult to satisfy all users due to diverse preferences and behaviors.
Complexity of Evaluation: Evaluating usability and user experience is complex, time-consuming. Usability testing may not always fully capture all user aspects.
Emerging Technologies Challenges: Designing interfaces for emerging technologies poses new challenges related to usability, user acceptance, and interaction design for these new technologies.
Ethical Considerations: Navigating ethical issues such as privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and ethical implications of persuasive designs.
Rapid Technological Change: Keeping up with rapid advancements in technology to ensure interfaces remain relevant and usable.