Introduction to HCI - ITEC80 - Cavite State University

# Introduction to HCI ## Cavite State University - Silang Department of Information Technology ## What is Human-Computer Interaction? Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a cross-disciplinary area that deals with the theory, design, implementation and evaluation of the ways that humans use and int...

# Introduction to HCI ## Cavite State University - Silang Department of Information Technology ## What is Human-Computer Interaction? Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a cross-disciplinary area that deals with the theory, design, implementation and evaluation of the ways that humans use and interact with computing devices. * Interaction is a concept to be distinguished from another similar term, interface. Interaction also refers to an abstract model by which humans interact with the computing device for a given task. An Interface is a choice of technical realization (hardware or software) of such a given interaction model. ## Three Components Human-Computer Interaction * **Human** - could be an individual user or a group of users. * **Computer** - could be any technology ranging from the general desktop computer to a large-scale computer system. * **Interaction** - any direct or indirect communication between a human and computer. ## The Challenges of Human-Computer Interaction ### Human-Computer Interaction: What are the challenges? * **Technology** * What can it do? * How can it be built? * What are the possibilities ? * **People** * What are the people doing? * How would it fit it? * What would they do w/tech? ## Goals of HCI ### Goals of Human-Computer Interaction * **Functional Completeness** - Complete features in one package (device, gadget) * **High Usability** - Efficient and easy to use. * **Aesthetic Appeal** - Look and feel. * **Compelling User Experience** - Immersive experience. ## Principles of HCI ### Principles of Human-Computer Interaction * **Know Thy User** * Coined by Hansen in 1971. * States the interaction and interface should cater to the needs and capabilities of the target user of the system in design. * Remember that while young adults are extremely adept at and open to adopting new interfaces, older generations are much less so. * **Understanding the Task** * Task refers to the job to be accomplished by the user through the use of the interactive system. It really boils down to identifying the sequence/structure of subtasks at an abstraction level appropriate for the typical user within the larger application context. * **Reduce Memory Load** * Designing interaction with as little memory load as possible is a principle that also has a theoretical basis. Humans are certainly more efficient in carrying out tasks that require less memory burden, long or short term. * **Strive for Consistency** * In the longer term, one way to unburden the memory load is to keep consistency. This applies to both within an application and across different applications and both the interaction model and interface implementation. * **Remind User and Refresh Their Memory** * Any significant task will involve the use of memory, so another good strategy is to employ interfaces that give continuous reminders of important information and thereby refresh the user's memory. * **Prevent Errors/Reversal Action** * Supporting a quick completion of the task is important, error-free operation is equally important. As such, the interaction and interface should be designed to avoid confusion and mental overload.